Guest Speaker: Natalie Warren

In 1930, two brave young men paddled from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay and documented their odyssey in the book Canoeing With the Cree. For the 75th anniversary of this historic adventure, two men canoed the same route in 2005, followed by two other men in 2008. Ann Raiho and Natalie Warren became the first two women to canoe this route.
Today, Natalie Warren shares with us tales from her historic 2, 250 mile journey from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay. This expedition to Hudson Bay inspired her to start an organization called Wild River Academy that focuses on watershed education and outdoor recreation. 
Natalie grew up in Miami, Florida where she attended the New World School of the Arts for saxophone performance. In 2005, she flew to Minneapolis and headed north to Menogyn. After a two week canoeing trip in the BWCA, Natalie fell in love with the wilderness and later decided to pursue an Environmental Studies degree at St. Olaf. In the fall of 2010, Natalie participated in a Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA) program in Minneapolis where she delved further into the world of environmental sustainability. Last fall, Natalie organized a group of 11 young adults to paddle the entire Mississippi River under the name Paddle Forward. She spends her free time playing the saxophone, dressing up as a bear, and working on organic farms. After a year of public speaking about Hudson Bay Bound, Natalie started Wild River Academy to provide river trips for teenagers. Natalie is currently living in Minneapolis, MN where her business is based. She still gives presentations on the Hudson Bay Bound expedition.