One thing that sets Full Circle apart from all other expeditions and journeys is the people who will undertake it. They do not consist of a team of brave young men and women in the prime of their lives, nor are they seeking adventure, achievement, fame, or the discovery of uncharted territory. Rather, on April 2010, setting off from Duluth on an unprecedented journey of a lifetime will be a couple who have been living fruitful lives in nature, wildlife, outdoors and education for decades - retired, but not tired in the least, with grandchildren to share stories with and promise a good future to.

Mike Link has been the executive director of the Audubon Center of the North Woods near Sandstone, MN, since its founding in 1971. He is one of the founders of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness as well, and in 1978 sat next to Sigurd Olson at the infamous hearing in Ely during the contentious public debate preceding the passage of the BWCA Wilderness Act. Following his retirement in May 2009, he has been teaching for Hamline University and acting as Assistant to the President of Northland College. His partner, Kate Crowley, also a veteran naturalist, has lived a life with education and animals, first at Minnesota Zoo, then at the Audubon Center. Together, they have experienced almost every wilderness area in the country and continue to enjoy a wonderful life of adventure, nature, family and teaching from their home in forests near Willow River, MN.

Through 24 books and numerous magazine and newspaper articles, their lives have been chronicled and shared in many ways. Nothing, however, combines their love of nature, their passion for Lake Superior, and their desire to leave a legacy for the future like Full Circle and the opportunities it will provide.


In addition to aid, generosity and companionship of others, they will be shadowed on the expedition by a small support team and "SAG Wagon". They will, at most if not all, points of the circumnavigation be providing logistical support, planning and arranging events and outreach, updating the website, and receiving and compiling the samples and data collected during the hike.

	Expedition Director Naturalist, Educator, Writer, Backcountry guide, Grandfather Mike has just recently retired after 38 ½ years as the Director of the Audubon Center of the North Woods. Starting in 1971 with a simple job description, “see what you can do”, he devoted his career to creating a residential environmental education center that served elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges. The Center became a field campus for Northland College and Hamline University and Mike served as an adjunct faculty for each. During his career, he had a chance to not only define his profession, but also to help design the degrees and training that would prepare his successors. He is also a writer, with over 20 books on travel and nature. He has had the pleasure of sharing his life with his four children and a wonderful group of people, both international and national who crossed his path, looking for career guidance, a place to stay, and a desire to learn. Travels have included paddling, peddling, and hiking in all 50 states and 19 countries. Mike’s life has been devoted to the environment with the belief that education prepares students for the future, but activism protects the environment, until the students are ready to assume responsibility. After a life in Education, retirement will not be a sedentary time, it is instead a new challenge and with it an opportunity to seek new adventures and engage in a new educational effort. It is a time to be focused on the single issue that raises above all others in Mike’s life and career – fresh water. And because of that recognition, his need for adventure, his shared love and experiences with Kate, the energy of his children, the memory of the son he lost in a kayaking accident in 1989, and the focus on the future that comes from his grandchildren – a Walk Around Lake Superior is the perfect lead in to the last chapter of his life and career.
	"Motivator-in-Chief" Naturalist, Writer, Traveler, Grandmother Growing up as a ‘tomboy’, I loved sports, playing outside and exploring by the Minnehaha Creek. After 9 years and two children (Alyssa and Jon) I received my Bachelors Degree in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Minnesota, followed by a job on the Minnesota Zoo’s Monorail, which led to becoming a naturalist and meeting and marrying Mike. That led to life in Willow River, writing books, traveling all over the world, and finally coming to this point of planning a bigger-than-life adventure. Because of my tomboy childhood, I believe I am a healthier 60 year old than I would have been otherwise. In my mind, I am still as fit and capable as I was at 30 – though the mirror is my enemy. Four years ago, my long held dream of becoming a grandmother came true. And in those four short years, I have welcomed four grandchildren – Matthew, Ryan, Aren and Annalise. They are truly the joy of my life, though I live far away from three of them. This Hike Around Lake Superior is as much for them, as for me. I want to set an example for them – to do something grand and almost impossible to imagine, so they will see life as an exciting adventure that is only limited by your own expectations. They will face challenges in the coming years that I cannot even imagine. I worry a great deal about the condition of the world they will live in and that is another reason I want to do this Walk. I want to wake people up to the consequences of our behavior, our lifestyles, our thoughtless consumption and the impact it is having on the resources we absolutely require for existence – in this case, most notably – freshwater. I hope that in some small way, our Walk will bring attention to this resource and the larger issues of climate change. Maybe by setting the example of two old people walking, we can help the next generation create a new, more sustainable path.

	Amanda Hakala Education Coordinator & SAG Wagon Support "I am the Education Coordinator and Sag wagon support for the expedition. I will be creating curriculum and educational materials along with our education partners, working with teachers and classrooms through our online education programs, helping teach graduate classes with Mike, helping with the research projects and doing educational programs in communities around the Lake with Mike and Kate. I will also be navigating the Sag wagon vehicle and providing general support throughout the expedition. "I am from Cromwell, MN. I love Lake Superior and have spent a lot time exploring its MN shores and the rivers that flow into it with my family. I have always been passionate about the outdoors and wildlife and I am so happy to be part of this amazing team working to protect this Great Lake and teaching about fresh water. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and History from St. Olaf College and a Master’s of Arts degree in Environmental and Science Education from Hamline University. I met Mike and Kate through the Audubon Center of the North Woods and I am blessed to have them as part of my life and to be able to be a part of their adventure."
	Tobias WH Tan Technical Coordinator, Webmaster Tobias is a student of environmental and conservation biology at the University of Alberta in Canada. He supports the expedition from behind the scenes, designing Full Circle's website and information infrastructure, and helping with other technical aspects of the hike. "Formerly a full-time emergency response specialist, I returned to university on a new path to pursue deep interests in wildlife, environmental conservation, and the great outdoors. On a field course on the North Shore, I very rapidly fell in love with the rugged backcountry of Minnesota and Lake Superior itself. When the opportunity came around, I view my contribution to this amazing expedition as a way of fulfilling a responsibility to step up to the plate and make a stand for environmental and water conservation, whether through research, advocacy or outreach. None is better able to do that for an entire great lake than Full Circle, and no body of freshwater is more important than the great lakes, especially to its millions of inhabitants and ecosystems. I'm honoured to be a part of this effort."
	Todd Starling Canada Segment Coordinator (Thunder Bay, ON) "I am Mike and Kate's North Western Ontario contact. I will be recruiting and coordinating sponsers in North Western Ontario. I will also be finding locations for the presentations in Thunder Bay. My main order of business will be welcoming Mike, Kate, and the team into this great country. "I grew up in a small farming community (Delisle) in rural Saskatchewan. Here, thanks to countless outdoor adventures with my family and friends, a great love and respect for the natural world blossomed. My journey began in Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories where I studied Natural Resource Technology, and then to southern Alberta where I studied Environmental Science at the University of Lethbridge. After that, I continued my way farther south and found my self at the Audubon Center of the North Woods in Sandstone, MN. "This is where I met Mike and Kate, and ultimatly started my environmetal education career. After 11 months at the Audubon Center of the North Woods, I returned to Canada and had the opportunity to teach environmental education in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Canmore, AB. I knew living in the Canadian Rockies would be hard to top. I had only one option; the North Shore. In mid December 2009 I found myself packing a Uhaul trailer, traveling across the prairies, and settling in Thunder Bay, ON. Here in Thunder Bay I am blessed with the opportunity of seeing the greatest of lakes every single day."
	Niko Economides Marquette Segment Coordinator (Marquette, MI) "Like many people who live near Superior, Jill and I have developed an emotional relationship with The Lake. Collecting stones, swimming and watching the magnificent displays of sun and stars on water that have literally changed our lives. As a professional captain I have been in situations when I felt guidance from hidden hands; a dangerous lake which I deeply respect has let me pass, once again. And for this I owe the lake a great Tribute."
	Dick Glattly Lake Superior & GPS Expert
	Kate Conners Google Earth Expert Kate is a long-time colleague of Mike and Kate. She teaches video production and is the Instructional Technology Coordinator for Hamline University. After migrating from television to educational documentaries, she moved north to be closer to Lake Superior and the BWCA canoe area. Over the last 20 years, she has paddled many miles along the shores of Lake Superior... and it never occurred to her to walk it!
	Jennifer Johansen Expedition Photographer Jennifer is a middle school science teacher by trade and a full-time tennis instructor during the summer. She currently lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with her husband, Nikolai, and their cat, Laerke. She grew up just north of the Twin Cities in a (then) smaller town called Forest Lake and spent the summers of her youth on the North Shore of Lake Superior and at her cabin on the Gunflint Trail. It was there where her appreciation for nature and photography started. Photography has always been a point of interest for Jennifer, but only recently has she begun to approach it as a business venture. She was very excited when Mike asked her to be a part of Kate & Mike's adventure around the lake and is looking forward to the adventure!
	Jim Radford Expedition Videographer Jim is a Twin Cities special events videographer, who will document the Full Circle Superior Journey from a variety of carefully selected locations around the lake. "It's going to be a challenge to document these veteran documentarians," he said "... and to capture their passion and story of pursuit. I hope to bring our viewers up close to the landscape, the people of the lake, and the emotions of Kate and Mike as they travel." As a child Jim learned to walk at Little Girls Point near Ironwood, and it was not long before his Finnish grandfather led the family on their first trip around the Lake. That was over 60 years ago. He discovered photography early, built a home darkroom, and became a reporter in Chicago and Ohio. He traveled the world with a 30-year career at 3M Company, and launched a new career as a video producer for news, training and marketing. He is married to Donna, with three daughters, and eight "incredible" grandchildren. His passion is paddling the kayak quietly along Minnesota shores, making images of wildlife -- a full circle back to his youth.