Mia Divecha was seven months pregnant and short on sleep when she stepped outside her tent one morning on a Boundary Waters canoe trip and saw two of her favorite people leaning over the makeshift kitchen sink, washing dishes together.

Nima, Mia’s husband, and Leyla, her eldest daughter, got up early that morning. Mia remembers, “I stepped outside after having slept in, and I see both of them just leaning over the kitchen sink, washing dishes together. She added, “I loved that scene. It was such a sweet moment seeing my kid participate in all of the activities.”

Mia said, “That’s what I love about the Boundary Waters – it is hard work. You’re constantly cleaning up, organizing something, setting something up, or taking it down. Having your kids participate in that and enjoy the fun in the hard work is really special.”

An intergenerational connection that started with her mother

Mia’s relationship with the Boundary Waters began before she was born. Her mother grew up in Two Harbors and spent her childhood camping in the Wilderness, paddling and portaging starting in the 7th grade. Those early trips gave her a fortitude and confidence that she passed on to Mia.

Mia didn’t grow up in Minnesota, and she didn’t grow up camping. The Boundary Waters wasn’t part of her childhood the way it was for her mother. But when she moved to Minnesota later in life, she found her way to the same Wilderness her mother had loved decades earlier, and she fell in love with it, just as her mother had.

She even had the beautiful experience of bringing her mom back. Decades after her mom’s first childhood trips, the two of them took a Boundary Waters trip together. “It was amazing to see her reconnect with this place,” she says.

But, the story doesn’t stop there. Mia has two little girls, and she has brought them to the Boundary Waters from the earliest age she could, including that trip with a toddler and a baby on the way. Three generations of women enjoying this one Wilderness.

Protecting the BWCA for the next generation

For Mia, protecting the Boundary Waters is about everything the place makes possible: young girls discovering the Wilderness and the confidence that comes with it, and families returning year after year to make new memories.

Mia has shown up for that in many ways. She has served on the Save the Boundary Waters board of directors, helping shape the decisions of the organization. She has traveled to Washington, D.C. with our team to meet with federal lawmakers and make the case for permanent protection. And, today, she attends events, invites her friends along, and, most importantly, brings them to the Boundary Waters so they can experience it for themselves.

She also gives through a donor-advised fund, a simple and tax-advantaged way for her family to make a lasting impact. It’s one more way she can support this place year after year, not just in the moments when it’s top of mind.

Most importantly, Mia will keep working to protect the Boundary Waters for herself, for her mother, and for her girls.

“This place is for you.”

Mia’s belief that the Boundary Waters is a Wilderness for everyone comes partly from knowing how it can feel from the outside.

"I've met a lot of adults who grew up with a long legacy of BWCA trips with their parents, and their parents before them, and it can sometimes feel like you need to ‘earn’ your way into this exclusive club with experience, equipment, or legacy. But that's not true. Our first trip required some serious hand holding, which we got thanks to Hungry Jack Outfitters, who fully outfitted and coached us, as they continue to do today."

Her message to anyone who has felt that way: “This is your Wilderness. This place is for you.”

Her advice is simple: “Get out there!”

Plus, she wants people to know a trip doesn’t have to look a certain way. “I think sometimes people think that it needs to be a full-on, intense, high-rigor trip. It doesn’t have to be.” A one-night trip counts! So does a day trip from a cabin or resort just outside the Wilderness. Or, you can work with an outfitter to help you plan the trip, secure permits, and give you advice for all levels of experience. Outfitters can be especially helpful for first trips, since they are local experts who know the ins and outs of the Wilderness.