UP WILD
2026 Branch Calendars
Marquette (EST)
June
Thursday, 6/18 7PM: Tree Planting Fundraiser with Michael Waite
Join us for a peaceful evening among 100 candles for our celebration of trees. Michael Waite will perform and we will have blessing and words offered by local forester, Jeff Noble, Lanni Lantto and Jon Magnuson of the Cedar Tree Institute. Funds collected will go towards 1,000 nothern white cedars to be planted in Marquette County. Messiah Lutheran Church.
Saturday, 6/20 9:30AM: Tree Planting Adventure
Meeting point is the Presbyterian Church in Big Bay where we will have some muffins and coffee before heading out to our planting site. We will be done by 12:30. Bring work gloves and a spade if you have one, not required. Dress for mosquitos, which may or not be present.
Sunday, 6/28 4PM: Wild Church Service
Meeting at Presque Isle Gazebo (structure closest to break wall). Please BYO mug & folding chair.
Theme: Surrendering our will to a Higher Power
Activity: Making nature sailboats we will release into Lake Superior
July
Sunday, 7/26 4PM: Wild Church Service
Meeting at Presque Isle Gazebo (structure closest to break wall). Please BYO mug & folding chair.
Theme: Nature's Quiet Prayers
Activity: Building a Inukshuk/Cairn + rock painting
August
Fri. 8/21- Sun. 8/23: Intergenerational Peace Camp (Indigenous Lead)
Fortune Lake Camp, Crystal Falls, MI
Sun. 8/23- Tues. 8/25: U.P. Wild Leaders & Branch Convocation & Retreat
Fortune Lake Camp, Crystal Falls, MI
Sunday, 8/30 4PM: Wild Church Service
Meeting at Presque Isle Gazebo (structure closest to break wall). Please BYO mug & folding chair.
Theme: Christ, the Light of Creation
Activity: Found object art + making a card for a friend
September
Fri. 9/11 - Sat. 9/12: A Refreshing Retreat
Held at the Garden Grove in the Garden Peninsula, MI
Sunday, 9/27 4PM: Wild Church Service
Meeting at Presque Isle Gazebo (structure closest to break wall). Please BYO mug & folding chair.
Theme: The Web of Life
Activity: Making a stick TV remote to watch the natural world
*Coffee & Crafting in Community will resume again in the Fall.
Munising (EST)
June-September
Saturday, June 20 1:30PM: Contemplative Wilderness Walk
We will be meeting at the Pavillion at Mcquisten Park. Easy level for all ages and stages. Contact person is Alicia. Please come to our first ever inaugural event!
Wild West (CST) Ironwood
June-September
Details coming for end of June Service
Menominee (CST)
Schedule TBA
Keweenaw (EST)
June
Wednesday, 6/17 7pm: Wilderness Walk
Boston Pond Nature Area within the Keweenaw Land Trust. Directions HERE.
Dress for weather/bugs. We will meet at the trail head before walking together.
July
Wednesday, 7/15 7pm: Wilderness Walk
Location to be determined
August
Wednesday, 8/12 7pm: Wilderness Walk
Location to be determined
Delta County (EST)
June
Saturday, 6/27 3PM: Nature Prayer Gathering
We meet at Rapid River Lodge (13149 S 15 Road) off of US 41 also known as Old Dutch Mill. Very quiet and scenic location next to the Rapid River, there is a porto-potty and fresh spring well to refill waterbottles. Please bring a folding chair as this is an outdoor service.
The Bridges (EST)
June
Sunday, June 28 4PM: Nature Prayer Gathering in De Tour
Meeting spot is Detour Botanical Garden. Send a message through branch page for additional info.
TBA July in Soo
TBA August in Cedarville
TBA September in St. Ignace
Paradise (EST)
June
Sunday, June 28 11AM: Blessing in Nature Gathering
Blessing of the Plants! We will do a short nature walk to meet the white lady slippers. Meeting at Sawmill Park (one block north of the light in town).
July
Sunday, July 26 11AM: Blessing in Nature Gathering
Blessing of the Water! Meeting at Clark Point (at the mouth of theTahquamenon, 6 miles south of Paradise).
August
Sunday, August 30 11AM: Blessing in Nature Gathering
Blessing of Sound! Meeting at Andrus Lake (5 miles north of Paradise and a left on Vermillion Rd. 1/4 mile.) It is a spring-fed lake that is a national state forest campground, we will gather right where yiou turn in.)
September
Sunday, September 27 11AM: Blessing in Nature Gathering
Blessing of the Trees! Meeting at River Mouth campground (at the end of the river on the river...follow the signs.)
*Contact Branch Leader on Paradise Branch page for more specific directions*
Paradise is a wild place!
WANT TO BE A BRANCH LEADER?
Our annual Leaders Retreat & Training
will take place August 23-25, 2026
at Fortune Lake Camp in Crystal Falls, MI
I am so happy to announce that we are having our 3rd U.P. Wild Leaders Retreat for branch leaders, active core team members, and those wanting to be more involved. We will provide training, nurture capabilities, experience new offerings, share ideas and get to know each other more! I invite you to share this opportunity with those in your community wishing to commit and get more involved. Unfortunately, because of a capacity threshold, this retreat is not for people just wanting a cozy wild church retreat- maybe we can dream and co-plan that for next year.
The retreat is taking place at Fortune Lake Camp: 138 Fortune Lake Camp Rd. Crystal Falls, MI https://fortunelake.org/. Beginning Sunday, August 23 with a 6pm arrival time, we will open with a fire circle (and sauna will be available) and night prayers. We conclude our time together Tuesday, August 25 after lunch. This will be an amazing community time for us to get to know others in our branches, to be able to ask questions, and share what you are doing in your area, and take some personal quiet time in nature.
If you are wondering if this is right for you- email info@upwild.org
Registration (and room availability) is on first serve basis:
