 Door County is a place known for its beautiful sunsets, its cherries, and its picturesque small towns. However, this year, something unique is visible in the night sky. The NEOWISE comet is paying Earth a visit before it vanishes into space. While comets are notoriously unpredictable, NEOWISE is expected to return to Earth in about 68,000 years. The great thing about this particular comet is that it is visible in the evenings so you don’t have to worry about setting an alarm for two in the morning to catch a glimpse of this unique phenomena. To find this comet you can look almost directly below the Big Dipper constellation. Photo Credit to NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/how-to-see-comet-neowise  While this comet may not be as bright as the famous Hale-Bopp in 1997 which was visible for over a year to the naked eye, NEOWISE is still a sight to see. This fast moving object made up of rock and ice which is visible in the night sky to everyone in the northern hemisphere may be a once in a lifetime experience. Door County is one of the best places to stargaze. Not that I am biased or anything, being born and raised in Wisconsin. However, the county’s dark zones reduce light pollution, allowing millions more stars to be observed with the naked eye. This makes viewing the NEOWISE comet extra special and extra bright on your Door County trip. You can catch a glimpse of the final frontier with no expensive equipment and maybe feel like you’re in Star Trek for a moment.
You can even enjoy this comet and the stars on our sunset kayak tour out of Egg Harbor. There’s nothing better than watching the sun sink beneath the horizon and watch the stars come out. Click here to book your next adventure with us. To learn more about the NEOWISE Comet, click here.
0 Comments
 You don’t need to travel to thousands of miles to engage in extravagant experiences, you can find so many right here in Wisconsin! Door County, Wisconsin in particular is filled with endless hidden gems and adventurous outdoor activities! One such gem is the Niagara Escarpment! An escarpment is caused by erosion and faulting that results in two separate and level surfaces. Sometimes this happens between two land surfaces, and sometimes it occurs along waterways. The Niagara Escarpment in particular runs from New York through Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin, and ending in Illinois. The erosion and faulting in these areas causes the cliffs and caves that run all the way through. One very famous part of this escarpment is Niagara Falls! Door County is lucky enough to have a great deal of this escarpment throughout the peninsula! Much of this part of the escarpment is filled with tree covered cliffs and gorgeous caves!  At Door County Adventure Center, we offer a fantastic way to experience the Niagara Escarpment first hand! Get up close and personal to the caves on our Whitefish Dunes Cave and Dunes Tour! This tour is by far the most popular kayak tour that we offer. Guests can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Michigan, and kayak into the caves of the Niagara Escarpment! There is so much to learn and see on this tour!
Book your Cave and Dunes tour today by going online to or by calling us at (920)746-9539!  Looking for a sweet treat in Door County? Look no further than Grandma’s Swedish Bakery at Rowley’s Bay Resort. The bakery has been serving the Door County area for more than 50 years. The recipes have been passed down from generation to generation, so you’ll get the same authentic Swedish taste each time you visit. The most popular item on the menu is the half-pound pecan roll, which was voted number one in the state by Wisconsin Trails Magazine. Along with the pecan roll, Grandma’s Swedish bakery also offers cinnamon rolls, cardamom coffee cake, Swedish limpa bread, bagels made from scratch, and many more delicious treats.  Currently, the bakery is open Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and taking orders for next-day pick up from Mondays to Fridays. You can order bakery goods to mail home as well. If you’re looking for a place to stay in the area, Rowley’s Bay Resort offers traditional rooms, suites, cottages, and vacation homes. Click here to find out more about their lodging options. Across the street from Grandma’s Swedish Bakery is our location at Rowley’s Bay Resort. After grabbing breakfast at the bakery, head over and rent a kayak or paddle board from us. We’re open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. If you’re looking to learn a little more about the area, book a Mink River Eco Tour with us to experience the beautiful nature and wildlife of Rowley’s Bay. Our professionally trained guides will guide you down one of the most pristine estuaries in the country. Book a kayak tour today here.  If you’re wanting to try something more on the adventurous side, take a ride on our Canopy Zip Line Tour. This thrilling zip line takes you right through the trees at Rowleys Bay. The 30 ft suspension bridge leads to a 40 ft platform with a beautiful view. Book your adventure today here.
To learn more about our other rental locations and tour offerings go to dcadventurecenter.com or call 920-746-9536.  Growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, my family often took short vacations in Door County. We frequently stayed in the waterside Village of Egg Harbor which, like many places in Door County, is a summer hot-spot. However, it wasn’t always brimming with resorts and tourists from all over the world. While it may be difficult to imagine, Egg Harbor has been home to many native residents long before it received its current name. Evidence suggests that people have inhabited this area since 10,000 B.C.E., while nomadic peoples have briefly settled the land as early as 12,000 years ago and about 2,000 years ago people have made permanent settlements in Egg Harbor and around Door County. The dominant tribes of the area include the Potawatami, the Winnebago, the Ojibwe, the Sauk, the Menominee, and the Ottowa. There are many stories that go along with how Egg Harbor received its name. Some say it was derived from the story of the first outsider to settle in Egg Harbor. They reportedly found an egg upon landing on the beach; others say it was because local seagulls nested on the shore. However, a more exciting story involves a food fight between four boats who were racing toward the land. The trailing boats began throwing food from their food baskets at the leading boat and in turn the food was flung back. The food fight continued until all the eggs were gone and thus the name Egg Harbor was given to the town. Soon after, Egg Harbor became an important lumbering area. People from all over the world began to establish their lives in the town, further developing housing, shops, saloons and restaurants.  Egg Harbor became the 10th organized town in Door County in July of 1861. The Village of Egg Harbor was created in August of 1964. As Egg Harbor developed, changes to the community came as well. In the 1950’s and the 1960’s Egg Harbor became a seasonal destination and many shops followed suit, only opening for the warmer months. Many buildings that stand today are sites of the first business owners that began their lives in Egg Harbor.
Despite my family’s frequent vacations to Egg Harbor, I thought I had seen everything this village had to offer, however, looking at Egg Harbor from the water as the sun is setting is a whole new experience. You can discover Egg Harbor like you’ve never seen it before when you’re paddling. Door County Adventure Center at Egg Harbor Beach offers both guided tours to watch the sunset and rentals so you can explore the harbor at your own pace! Book your tour today HERE. You can also check out Egg Harbor Village to see all it has to offer HERE.  The Abundant Uses of the Zip Line Zip lines are a popular tourist activity throughout the world that emerge guests into a birds eye view of the beautiful sights of the area. But throughout history, the zip line has had a wide array of uses that are more than just thrill seeking. Going back in time, it is a fuzzy picture of exactly when and where the first zip line was created. But, many historians credit mountainous regions, such as the Himalayas and the Alps, as well as areas in China, as all contributing to the beginning of the zip line’s history. Back then, zip lines were used less for entertainment and thrill seeking and more for practicality. One way a zipline was popularly used was for transportation, especially over dangerous terrains. Zip lines were often favored over building bridges because it was much quicker to build zip lines, as well as to use them. Along with transportation, zip lines were very heavily used as a way to transport goods and supplies from one place to another.  Nowadays, the zip line is a common attraction found in the ecotourism world. It is used as a way to sight-see without disrupting the ecosystems that are being explored. This idea was brought about in the 1970’s by wildlife biologists who wanted to study forest canopies without disturbing the environment. From there the zip line world we know today took off! Starting in Costa Rica, zip lines for entertainment purposes and a tourist activity have become a trend among many countries and many types of terrain worldwide.
Here at Door County Adventure Center, we offer three unique zip line experiences throughout the peninsula! At the Egg Harbor Fun Park, you can enjoy our 4-span zip line, along with a rock wall climb to the first platform! Our Team Leadership Center location offers the highest zip line in Door County! And last, but certainly not least, at Rowley’s Bay Resort, dive into the classic zip line world with our new 8-span zip line canopy tour! Learn more about our zip line adventures on our website or by calling us at 920-746-9539. Zip on!   Endangered Species
The Hine’s emerald dragonfly is an endangered species that can be found in our very own Door County, Wisconsin. The species was added to the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants on January 26, 1995. This means that it is illegal to harm, collect, harass or kill the dragonflies because they are in danger of becoming extinct. It is also the only dragonfly protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. Appearance The Hine’s emerald dragonfly can be spotted by its bright-emerald green eyes and metallic green body with yellow stripes. Its wings are clear with red-brown coloring at the base. The creature’s body is about 2.5 inches long, and its wingspan is about 3.3 inches. Lifespan During its lifespan, the dragonfly goes through an egg stage, larval stage, and adult stage. The dragonflies live in the water as nymphs for 2 to 4 years after they hatch from their eggs. After this, they emerge from the water and shed their skin becoming a flying adult. The adult dragonflies may only live for 4 to 5 weeks. Reasons for Endangerment The dragonfly was originally found in Alabama, Indiana, and Ohio, but is now completely eradicated in these states. Today, it can only be found in Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan. The species became endangered due to habitat destruction. Most of its wetland habitat has been destroyed by urban and industrial development. The dragonfly lives in spring-fed marshes and meadows with high levels of calcium carbonate. Another threat to the Hine’s emerald dragonfly are pesticides and pollutants that contaminate the water. The species needs pristine wetland areas with clean water to grow and develop. Door County The largest population of the Hine’s emerald dragonfly is found in Door County, Wisconsin. The coastal springs and wetlands of the area provide a rich habitat that the species is able to thrive in. The dragonflies can be found in multiple areas of the county, including the Mink River Estuary, Three Springs Creek, North Bay Marsh, Bailey’s Harbor Swamp, Piel Creek, and a few others locations. Mink River Estuary One way that you can find this beautiful endangered creature is our Mink River Estuary Kayak Tour. This tour will take you down one of the most pristine freshwater estuaries in the country. An estuary is an area where river water mixes with water from a large lake or ocean. In this case, the Mink River mixes with Lake Michigan at Rowley’s bay. The conditions of the large wetland in the Mink River Estuary allows for the Hine’s emerald dragonfly to breed and develop. In addition to the Hine’s emerald dragonfly, an estimated 200 species of birds pass through the area annually, as well as lots of other wildlife. This tour is perfect for all nature lovers! Click here to book your tour and explore the beautiful wildlife of the Mink River Estuary.  Little did I know when I was at the Team Leadership Center as an elementary, middle school, and high school student, I would be back working on the other side of the company. As Door County Adventure Center’s Sales Intern, I’ve had the privilege to work with an amazing team that has helped guide me through my work. Throughout the summer, I was able to work with clients and organizations that were interested in team building and leadership development programming and join us at our Team Leadership Center. Part of the internship included choosing different markets to reach out to and provide information on what Door County Adventure Center has to offer. Lets just say there were NUMEROUS emails drafted, revised, sent, and followed-up. I also dipped into a bit of marketing, always focusing on driving sales. The company LinkedIn page will always be my pride and joy, and if you don’t already follow us, please do to see what we do in regards to programming! Additionally, I was able to shadow various team building programs throughout the summer and witness how groups worked together to overcome challenges. In all, there were many valuable lessons to take away from the short three months I was part of DCAC, learning something new everyday up until the very end.
When I wasn’t working behind my computer or in meetings, I was at our many sites as a reservationist answering phone calls, booking tours, and answering endless questions about zip lining and kayaking. Being versatile in many different areas was a must. Need someone to kayak to make sure guests are safe? I was out there! Rack Cards low at sites? My car was always stocked with posters and rack cards for weeks. Egg Harbor Village Beach has given me some major muscles from pulling in rentals and giving countless paddle lessons, and my tan lines can vouch for the many adventures I was able to take part in. This internship opened my eyes to the fast-paced industry of tourism and impact weather can make. The DCAC team is the definition of “work hard, play hard,” and it was never a dull moment. When I came back from school, I had one family, but as I leave, I’m leaving two families in Door County. I have never been part of a team that was more willing to help each other succeed through the many challenges that arose throughout the season. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to intern with Door County Adventure Center because there was no other way I would have wanted to spend my summer, being back in the place I call home and getting to work alongside people help me pursue my future career options and learn valuable skills to take with me. It’s bittersweet to leave but this is one summer I will never forget.  There comes a time in every college student’s life where they’re forced to leave behind the fun summer job for the resume-boosting, professional-looking, office-bound internship. Luckily for me, I found an internship that allowed me to sharpen my skills while working at the beach.  I was torn between staying in Milwaukee for one of those previously mentioned internships and spending my last summer back home in Door County. With that being the case, I decided to look into potential jobs a few months prior to the onset of summer for once in my life. That decision made all the difference, and allowed me to find the one position that gave me the best of both worlds — a Marketing Internship with the Door County Adventure Center. Like most summers, the past four months have gone by in a flash. I’ve accomplished and gained so much through this internship that it’s hard to condense it all down into words. Rest assured, I’ve managed to come up with three main categories that illustrate all that the Adventure Center has to offer its interns:  A family-like team structure Relationships like this are hard to form in any situation. Whether it’s work, social life, or even your intramural dodgeball team, it can be hard to set aside your personal agenda to meet the needs of those who depend on you. That’s certainly not the case with this business. The Adventure Center establishes a welcoming atmosphere right away and provides you with a group of co-workers who quickly become great friends. Likewise, the input provided by employees actually gets listened to. It’s the all-for-one and one-for-all mindset that allows this place to succeed year after year and keeps people coming back. Unmatched, real-world Experience Like most others my age, the last thing I wanted to do with my summer was push paper and run coffee around. That type of internship doesn’t justify the time and effort we put into our education all the other months of the year. Being an Advertising major at Marquette University, I’ve been trained in a wide variety of things like Graphic Design, Social Media Strategy and Editing all of which I was able to apply to this position. As a Door County Adventure Center Marketing Intern, you will find yourself managing nearly every aspect of the company’s marketing campaign. Whether it be designing brochures, running social media accounts, or person-to-person marketing, you will be utilized and appreciated to the fullest extent.  The ability to do what you love
One of the biggest benefits of working at the Adventure Center is the fact that it’s a tourism-based company, meaning they’re in the business of having fun! They specialize in kayak tours, paddle boarding, and zip lining and offer all three opportunities to their employees at any given time. Want to catch the sunset after work on a paddle board? No problem! Want to face your fear of heights on the County’s highest zip line? Go for it! These are just a few of the fun things I got to do with the team in addition to camping retreats and experiencing the Door County nightlife scene. So, why? If you’re a Door County local looking for a real-world experience at home, apply for this position. If you’ve never been to Door County but you’re looking for something beyond the ordinary internship, apply for this position. It will be stressful at times, but it is definitely worth the effort in the end. Just go into it with an open mind and a strong work ethic, and I can promise that you’ll leave with lasting relationships, portfolio pieces, and endless stories to tell.  Being a marketing intern for Door County Adventure Center has made the summer of 2019 an unforgettable summer. I worked with a great group of people who offered me nothing but support and encouragement. Door County Adventure Center taught me that teamwork is what makes a business run successfully. In a fast moving company catering to a diverse group of people, teamwork was key to addressing all aspects of this business, from managing a cash box handled by multiple people, to answering phones that never stopped ringing and even communicating with the customers seeking information and guidance as to how they we could maximize their time to fully enjoy everything this company had to offer.
Being a marketing intern helped me gain experience and a better understanding of the hospitality and tourism business, as well as marketing for the outdoor industry. I have learned how to tailor and highlight specific information you want to share to your target audience, how to promote and boost social media posts, how to create ads on social media and google, how to better multitask and have gotten to work on my customer service skills. I saw the intricate process that makes a business run behind the scenes and it has opened my mind to the world of business in a great industry. While learning so many new things, I got to experience a summer in a picture perfect place that made me feel that I was sent back in time.. I was able to take full advantage of the beautiful outdoor experiences of Door County and what the community offered, while working outside. In addition to making new friends, earning money and gaining work experience, I got a free suntan and I’m the tannest I’ve ever been! Now that’s my bonus!! I am not sure if my next job can top the memories and experiences I have created here. However, the one thing I won’t miss, is dragging along my heavy camera to all the different sites to shoot some pictures as the intern.  The programs at our Team Leadership Center challenge teams to solve problems collaboratively; hence we see a lot of collaborative leadership with the efforts to overcome obstacles. What is collaborative leadership? This type of leadership refers to when every participant works together to solve a problem. At Door County Adventure Center, our facilitators address the seven functions of a collaborative team for individuals and teams to take away from programming. Here are the seven functions that this is focused on: TEAM FORMATION: The formation of a team is based on common ground of members. The needs of team members unify each other to pick a goal and strategy and work collaboratively to accomplish that goal. Competition can come out between teammates but unified teams working together will get to the end goal faster. TEAM UNITY: Unity is based on the membership of the team. On every team there are natural leaders and followers, all in which are important roles to play. With a unified team, each individual member must answer the question, “what’s in it for me?” Being part of a collaborative team has meaning to membership where personal outcomes are addressed. TEAM TRUST & RESPECT: Typically within a team, there is one conflict and obstacle that occurs frequently. With that, the conflict needs to be addressed along with the negative behavior that becomes part of that issue. Blame can arise and drag down a team and its membership. By being aware of each team members’ beliefs, perspectives, and their role on the team, respect and trust will be demonstrated. TEAM RESOURCES: Diverse work teams allow members to bring new ideas, different experiences, and more knowledge to be shared. Individuals have talents and skills that can be a resource to others when working collaboratively to overcome an obstacle. In order to work effectively as a team, each member needs to address how they contribute to the team. TEAM STANDARDS: Each team has standards that are expected from each member to follow and abide by. Members must be committed to their team by investing time and effort into the team itself. To work collaboratively, teams have to be congruent in their goals and how they will complete them. TEAM PURPOSE/OUTCOMES: Collaborative teams have to know what is expected of them and what is wanted from each other. There has to be some type of measurement to know how they will succeed, so setting goals with a way to measure success is important. Once a team knows its purpose and why each member belongs on that team, collaborative leadership will come easily. TEAM COLLABORATION: With team collaboration, members take part in strategic development. The collaborative leadership model allows inclusive input where every member expresses their thoughts through diversity; hence, a strategy will be agreed upon with each member owning their membership to the team. Collaborative leadership is achieved at our site because of the complex challenges on our high and low ropes course that are presented to teams, both mentally and physically. Not one person can solve the problem. Instead, all of our challenges are meant to allow teamwork and strategy. The sense of community is nurtured by collaborative leadership because no man is left behind. Have your group join us and experience these functions of a collaborative team! Contact us for a reservation request or pricing quote at 920.746.9539 or at adventures@teamleadership.com.  |
door county adventure centerJoin us on our adventures! Archives
August 2021
Categories |
RSS Feed
|
Door County Adventure Center
4497 Ploor Road, Sturgeon Bay WI 54235 adventures@teamleadership.com 920.746.9539 |
|
|
|
Proudly powered by Weebly