50 Years, 50 Legacies: Jeff Hardwig
50 Legacies: Jeff Hardwig
Jeff and his son Jason after a successful blueberry hunt
Jeff Hardwig’s love for Voyageurs National Park began as a child, spending summers on Rainy Lake as the park was being conceived but before it was formally established.
Jeff has many fond memories from this time, like how he used the money from his paper route to buy a 17-foot square stern canoe with a three horsepower motor, so he could explore the waters surrounding his parents’ cabin (located on the island next to that of acclaimed photojournalist, Jun Fujita). He remembers helping their aging neighbor, Fred Sacket, trap minnows, adventuring and catching northern pike with friends as a teen, and the simple joys of “cabin life” with his family. By the time Jeff graduated from high school, he knew he wanted to live on Rainy Lake. Though he moved away for 17 years to serve in the navy, Jeff eventually realized his dream, returning to live permanently on Rainy and serve his local community as a psychiatrist.
Speaking to his affection for Rainy Lake, Jeff shares, “It is as much about how I feel when I’m on the lake as it is about the lake itself. It is really about a feeling in the soul.”
Like many others, Jeff’s parents sold their family cabin to the National Park Service, finally letting go of it in 2014 when their 25-year lease expired, at which time it was absorbed into the park. Though he initially grieved over losing a place he cherished, he ultimately came to regard Voyageurs National Park as the entity that saved what he loves best about the area. He adds, “The park is still there for me to go in at any time. I just get in my boat and I’m in the park in 15 minutes. There’s no loss.”
For many years, Jeff viewed the park’s role as simply – but importantly – preserving the natural beauty of the area for present and future generations. Over time, he has also grown to deeply appreciate the park’s commitment to historical and cultural preservation. He comments, “The way the park and the Conservancy are preserving the history of the Indigenous people and residents who lived there – and engaging with Indigenous people today and strengthening those relationships – that’s more than preserving the land; it’s preserving human history, which is really interesting and important.”
Jeff was first introduced to Voyageurs Conservancy by a neighbor and friend and was invited to join the board in 2023. Today Jeff enjoys helping to elevate the mission of the Conservancy and preserve the health of the park while deepening the legacy he will leave on Voyageurs. He is especially drawn to the Conservancy’s work around environmental education, astrotourism, and Tribal co-stewardship, and he is committed to making sure gateway community residents are represented in decision-making. He explains, “I said ‘yes’ to being on the Voyageurs Conservancy board because I am a local person, born and raised here, with deep emotional ties to the park and the people here. I represent the citizens of the gateway communities. I want to attract people to our town, to our community, but I want to balance the need for [tourism] with the need to make sure this park is around in the future. ’How many visitors can the park hold before it starts to hurt the park?’ It’s a question I’ve asked a lot. That’s why I serve on the Voyageurs Conservancy board.”
Check out the full list of our 50 legacies!
This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of Voyageurs National Park by sharing 50 inspiring stories of the people who shaped its legacy. Years, 50 Legacies is a yearlong storytelling series highlighting individuals whose lives are woven into the fabric of the park – whether through conservation work, cultural traditions, recreation, research, or personal connection.
Raise a canteen and celebrate this historic milestone with us at our 50th anniversary website. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more inspiring stories and updates!
