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Our Goals
The Fortune Bay Expedition Team participates in wilderness exploration, outdoor education and provides support to other outdoor organizations. The team is open to everyone, regardless of skill level or ability.
Expedition activities include hiking, kayaking /canoeing, mountain biking, sailing, boating, bushwhacking, rock & ice climbing, and research. Most expeditions require a multi-disciplinary approach to the outdoors. The majority of our activities take place in the Great Lakes watershed to include Michigan, the surrounding states and Canada. Members are as far away as Guam, Great Britain and Grenada, but most are from the Great Lakes Region.
We provide organizational assistance to local groups like the local chapter of the North Country Trail by trail scouting, building and mapping or training assistance and equipment to Search and Rescue Teams. We hold outdoor classes in a variety of outdoor skills. Examples of these courses include a wide array of land navigation skills, technical rope rescue, rock climbing, ice climbing, outdoor skills, water rescue, kayaking/canoeing, survival/improvisation, search and rescue skills training and outdoor leadership. We provide services for hiking groups, outdoor businesses, youth groups, government bodies, search and rescue teams, trail groups, scout organizations, the public, and most organizations with ties to outdoor pursuits.
Our Team Staff Our Senior Staff participates in unique expeditions. They also provide instruction and support for other organizations and the public. Together they form the “core team”. Staff credentials include Certified Search and Rescue Technicians, ACA instructors, Certified Water Rescue Specialists, National Geographic Certified Land Navigation Professionals, Certified Divers, Licensed Pilots, Wilderness EMTs, Merit badge counselors, Certified Mountain Guides, Wilderness Instructors, Wilderness Medical Staff and a wide range of other specialties. FBET also supports a growing staff of “Professional Members” who carry out team activities and expand our services as independent contractors.
History of Our Team The Fortune Bay Expedition Team was formed in 1996. At first, it was formed as a social organization for the purpose of wilderness trekking to seldom visited locations. Founding members included a wide variety of experienced outdoor disciplines Founding and Senior members have participated in expeditions around the world, including summiting Kilimanjaro, crossing the Darien Gap in Latin America, exploring the all seven continents, the Arctic and Antarctic regions, thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, exploring archaeological sites in every country in Central and South America, and many other corners of the earth.
As new members were added it became clear that it was important to have an avenue to share the skills and experience needed to join expeditions. Courses, classes, competitions and short trips were organized so new members could experience the team and its activities without the “danger, misery and expense”. These educational and competitive events also provide a source of revenue for the team to cover costs, offer free participation in expeditions, and to provide low cost support to other service organizations to help pursue their mission.
The “expeditions” are arduous affairs. These travels are usually performed in the Great Lakes region. They take members to rarely explored places and highlight activities that are unique and innovative. It is not the intention of an expedition to travel to “popular” spots by common means. It is to explore the “little known” with the “rarely used” techniques.
In 1996, the team filed as a social/service organization to endeavor various activities as a legal and insured entity.
In 2003, the team added the Fortune Bay School of Expedition Skills while retaining its status as a social/service organization.
In addition, the team provides services for field research including locating items or geographic features, scouting rivers and trails, assisting in search and “recovery” operations. The team will gather pictures, samples or field notes for travel brochures or tourist information. The team also helps university projects and companies locate abandoned mine shafts, decades old crash sites or setting up a camp or remote observation equipment. We provide organizational assistance to local groups.
Current projects include: – The local chapter of the North Country National Scenic Trail by trail scouting, building and mapping. – Training assistance, equipment and volunteer members to the Kent County Search and Rescue Team. – Open enrollment training for regional Search and Rescue Teams. – Logistics support for Adventure Racing Events and Organizations. – Field Truthing for various government GIS projects – Promotional support for outdoor products business – Team building activities for organizations – Merit Badge Counselling and activities for Scout Organizations and Venturing – Man Tracking Search Team We hold outdoor classes like land navigation, technical rope rescue, outdoor skills, water rescue, kayaking/canoeing, survival/improvisation, search and rescue skills training and outdoor leadership.
We provide services for hiking groups, outdoor businesses, government bodies, search and rescue teams, trail groups, scout organizations, the public, and most organizations with ties to outdoor pursuits. The team has formed partnerships with education institutions and other organizations. Senior members are kept busy with classes, courses and expeditions. New members take courses, participate in short trips and competitions. After a while, new members become senior members, share their knowledge and experiences, and participate in expeditions.
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