Immerse yourself into the beautiful surroundings of Porphyry Island Lighthouse and Nature Reserve. For a century and a half light keepers have been calling this place home.

Is your group into arts, photography, travel, nature, rock hounding, bird watching, yoga or a writer groups? If so get your friends together and use the lighthouse dwelling as your base camp.

Porphyry Island lighthouse is located 45km east of Thunder Bay and is only accessible by boat. Your retreat begins on Thursday morning and returns on Sunday afternoon that take advantage of the scheduled charter route and discounted rate. The cost for four people including charter fee from Silver Islet and the three day house rental comes to a total of $870, or $217.50 each.

With your transportation and house rental taken care of, your group is given a safety orientation, a guided lighthouse tour and introduced to many amazing features of the Island. The black sands beach is a great place to do some suntanning while enjoying the scenic walking trails.

Enjoying a day out in a freighter canoe!

Members of the Save Ontario Shipwreck Group – Superior Chapter. From L to R – Chris Berner, Michelle Willows, Chris McEvoy, Laura Beer, Richard Harvey, Dan Kuss and Rob Valley.

While on the island you can learn what it took to be a light keeper on an isolated island surrounded by the changing moods of Lake Superior. Step into the role of Light Keeper for a weekend and embrace Lake Superiors’ history, awe and beauty. Follow in the footsteps of former keepers and immerse yourself in history or make up your own schedule and do a session on photography, yoga, fitness, lighthouse book reviews, environmentalists issues or do some art.

By day, enjoy the light keepers experience while engaging in your own programming. Do morning and afternoon sessions at our many learning locations, such as the boathouse, lighthouse dwelling, campgrounds, beaches or at the Gordon Graham Gallery & Theater. By night enjoy relaxing in the sauna, sitting by the campfire or be dazzled by the illumination of stars in the dark sky. The keeper’s dwelling provides basic amenities for your four-day stay including a kitchen helper and an opportunity to order in your own supplies.

Enjoy the nature of the Lake Superior environment that keepers embraced. Visit the black-sand beaches to see where wrecks have come ashore. Spot the sea-glass from broken bottles and pottery left behind by former keepers. You’ll find out time runs at a different pace! c

As a Group Retreat visitor, you’ll need to pack your sleeping bag and pillowcase for your overnight stay; bring layered clothing for changing conditions. The dwelling accommodates six people, 1 double bed, 2 single-beds, and another room with 2 single beds, includes on-site solar & generator power (on occasionally) and running water, wood stove, propane stove and fridge. The experience is like glamping, but inside a house. You are responsible to provision your own food for your stay. WiFi is available for people who have no connection to the local cellular service provided by Rogers. Once you have received your basic orientation and tour you can start your retreat programming or just hang out. If there is more of you, you can book the prospector tent.