What's Up at ECR
What's Up at ECR
Embedded Files
Upcoming 2026 Boundary Waters Canoe Trips
Upcoming 2026 Boundary Waters Canoe Trips
2026 ECR Boundary Waters Trip Application
2026 ECR Boundary Waters Trip Application
Once again we will offer the opportunity for local youth to attend a Boundary Waters Canoe Trip. This trip is on a sliding scale - so you just pay what you can. Cost should not be a barrier for anyone to go.
Advanced 9-Day Trip | August 3 - 12
Must have been on 1 previous trip,
Beginner 5-Day Trip | August 17 - 21
No previous experience required!
IMPORTANT NOTE: For your student to attend a trip, all registration items MUST be completed, signed, and submitted to the trip coordinator, Ryan Stewart, by April 15th, 2026.
You can find more information and sign your kids up here.
Contact Ryan with any questions at ryan@elycommunityresource.org.
Youth Program Coordinator Job Description_Website.pdfIMMEDIATE JOB OPENING
IMMEDIATE JOB OPENING
Elementary Youth Program Coordinator
Elementary Youth Program Coordinator
Immediate Opening:
32 hours per week during the school year, September through early June, with additional summer hours to be negotiated. A successful candidate will be responsible for ECR programs at Washington Elementary School including academic support, reading support, after school program facilitation and co-leadership of Mentoring Youth Program. The position includes volunteer management, trainings, and PTO.
Pay rate: $19/$20 per hour. Find full description to the left.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in applicable field
Experience working with youth
Must be able to maintain confidentiality
Must pass a criminal background check
Deadline:
Email cover letter, resume and list of three references by no later than March 6, 2026 to jill@elycommunityresource.org or mail them to:
ECR
ATTN: Hiring Committee
111 S. 4th Ave East Suite #3
Ely, MN 55731
ECR is Equal Opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations provided upon request.
48th Annual ECR Art Auction
48th Annual ECR Art Auction
Celebration of Artful Living in Ely
Celebration of Artful Living in Ely
You're invited to the 48th Annual ECR Art Auction | March 21, 2026 | Ely State Theater
Hosted by the Ely Historic State Theater, we will be raising money for sustaining and growing programing at Ely Community Resource.
Viewing/Appetizers start at 4:30pm
Live Auction begins at 6:00pm
Tickets are $20, available at the ECR Office, from an ECR Board Member, or at the door.
Questions? Email Jill at jill@elycommunityresource.org.
NOW HIRING: BE ACTIVE SUMMER PROGRAM
NOW HIRING: BE ACTIVE SUMMER PROGRAM
We are looking for new staff to lead our Be Active Summer Program
We are looking for new staff to lead our Be Active Summer Program
We're seeking energetic staff to lead this program of youth sports and team building activities. The program is open to twelve youths, ages 10-13 years old.
Days: Mondays - Thursday mornings
Length of time: 16 hours per week, 8-weeks.
Pay rate: $20 per hour.
Contact Jill Swanson at jill@elycommunityresource.org or 218-365-5254 if interested in applying!
ANNUAL ALL YOU CAN EAT SPAGHETTI FEED 2026
ANNUAL ALL YOU CAN EAT SPAGHETTI FEED 2026
Proceeds help us hire new summer staff for our summer programs
Proceeds help us hire new summer staff for our summer programs
Friday, February 6th is the ECR Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser. We will be hosted again by the lovely members of St. Anthony's Catholic Church from 4pm - 7pm.
Menu:
All You Can Eat Spaghetti
Spaghetti Sauce with Meat or Meatless
Salad
Garlic Bread
Coffee/Hot Chocolate
Cookie
Cost:
Adults - $12
Kids 5 years old to 12 years old - $8
Kids under 4 eat free!
2025 Water Project in Full Swing
2025 Water Project in Full Swing
Students and staff are keeping track of our native and invasive crayfish polulation along the Burntside River and Burntside Lake on a weekly basis; Early AIS Detection on Lake County Lakes; Stream Monitoring on Shagawa and S. Kawishiwi River and more. See below for more details on the Water Project!
If you are interested in participating in our Water Project (for grades 6th and up), please contact jill@elycommunityresource.org
Youth Canoe Paddle Making Class
Youth Canoe Paddle Making Class
This activity was made possible by a grant from Ely’s
This activity was made possible by a grant from Ely’s
Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.
Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.
Ely Students made paddles to use on their 2025 Summer Boundary Waters Trips at the Ely Folk School. Thank you to the Gardner Trust for making this opportunity possible!
2024 Carol Mortensen Award from the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council (MISAC)
Team Achievement Award: Ely Community Resource – Water Project
Ely senior Lauren Rehbein and Jill Swanson attended the Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference in Duluth, MN on November 12th. Ely Community Resource (ECR) started the ECR Water Project in 2016 and it is an ongoing program to this day. This unique program provides enriching, immersive, and authentic opportunities for youth to engage with natural resource issues and investigate the natural world around them. The purpose of these opportunities is to instill understanding and care for the environment
Thank you Ely Youth and Families for another great summer of enrichment programs!
Summer 2025
Summer 2025
Summer 2025
Summer 2025
Fishing at Miner's Lake
Fishing at Miner's Lake
Clubs
Clubs
Cooking and Culture
Cooking and Culture
2025 Summer Boundary Waters Trips Completed Successfully!
2025 Summer Boundary Waters Trips Completed Successfully!
We are very proud of all of the students who completed Boundary Waters Trips! The most recent crew to return did 13 portages in one day!
We are very proud of all of the students who completed Boundary Waters Trips! The most recent crew to return did 13 portages in one day!
Big thanks to Friends of The Boundary Waters and Spirit of The Wilderness for making these trips possible! If you'd like to get on the list to receive information about next year's trip - please reach out to Ryan@elycommunityresource.org
Big thanks to Friends of The Boundary Waters and Spirit of The Wilderness for making these trips possible! If you'd like to get on the list to receive information about next year's trip - please reach out to Ryan@elycommunityresource.org
Outdoor Club
Outdoor Club
The Ely Community Resource Outdoor Club, with help from local volunteers constructed a canoe / kayak rack that will be available at the local public beach (Semer's).
This project was made possible by a grant awarded from the Northland Foundation Youth in Philanthrophy. Thank you Northland Foundation for your continued support!
ECR Summer Water Project Continues to Make Waves
ECR Summer Water Project Continues to Make Waves
Students helping with Early Detection Baseline Monitoring on White Iron Lake
Crayfish Trapping on the Burntside River
Collecting Water Samples on Shagawa Lake
Spiny Water Flea Plankton Tow on White Iron Chain of Lakes
Since 2016, ECR has been actively involved in collecting data in order to prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic invasive species in Lake County. Because of the AIS grant through Lake County, ECR has been able to continue working on outreach and education, early detection and monitoring as well as partnering with community members and organizations such as: Lake and St. Louis County Soil and Water Conservation District, WICOLA, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) in St. Paul.
In summer of 2025, we will be participating in the following:
Trapping to monitor the Burntside River crayfish population.
Monitoring the crayfish expansion on Burntside Lake.
Performing early detection monitoring on various Lake County lakes with Lake County AIS Coordinator Liz Anderson.
Volunteering with WICOLA (White Iron Chain of Lakes Association) to collect water samples that are sent to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
Helping with the Crayfish Expansion Project to detect rusty crayfish along the South Kawishiwi River.
Monitoring 6 sites along Shagawa River and South Kawishiwi River for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Keeping track of water temperature, water clarity, recreation suitability and stream levels.
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