Welcome to the Aurora Summit: Celebrating the Art, Folklore, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis! Aurora Summit 17 is the leading conference on Aurora Borealis in the U.S.
Mike Shaw Photography, LLC, in partnership with Melissa Kaelin and Dixie Burbank, will hold the Aurora Summit from Oct. 27-29, 2017, in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Join us for an exciting weekend on Lake Superior's shore featuring the Northern Lights!
There will be presentations on the art, folklore, science, and photography of Aurora Borealis, as well as an informal dinner on Friday and an Aurora Banquet on Saturday. Some events may be subject to change. Speaker presentation summaries will also be provided upon check-in at the summit.
Plan to come in the afternoon! It all starts with Registration from 2-5 p.m. on Friday, and there are several things planned for Friday evening. Registration is limited to the first 200 people. Lodging is not included in registration.
Please register by September 20, 2017.
Get event updates on the Aurora Summit Facebook Page or the Aurora Summit 17 Event. You can also share the excitement on social media with the hashtag: #AuroraSummit17
Grab Your Gear and Look North!
Held at Superior Shores Resort with a stunning view of Lake Superior, the Aurora Summit is packed with awesome opportunities! From the moment you arrive, you'll find countless ways to connect with fellow Aurora Enthusiasts.
Will we see the Aurora Borealis? The natural phenomenon is extremely hard to predict, and we have no way of knowing whether it will appear during the retreat. Even if we don't see anything, we'll create our own light show and you'll learn how to find the northern lights on your own.
Whether you enjoy the educational sessions, spend your nights watching the sky or relax on Lake Superior's shore, you're sure to have a great time. Take a look!
Conference Schedule
A preliminary schedule for the weekend has been set! From the panel presentation to the Aurora Sessions and the keynote speaker, there's something for everyone. To add to the fun, we'll also have a travelogue and grande finale on Sunday.
Friday
2 – 5 p.m. Registration
5 – 6 p.m. Meet & Greet | Cash Bar Opens
6 – 8 p.m. Welcome | Aurora Slideshow | Taco Buffet (included)
7 p.m. Opening Remarks
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Aurora Matters! Panel, followed by Q&A
End at 9 p.m.
Saturday
Continental Breakfast with Muffins, Yogurt & Coffee (included)
(A breakfast buffet will also be offered on site for a charge)
Aurora Sessions (9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
9 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Session I
10:30 – 11:40 a.m. Session II
11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Lunch on your own
(A lunch buffet will be offered on site for a charge)
2:00 – 3:10 p.m. Session III
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. On the Map: Travel Companions Meet-Up
5:30 p.m. Group Photo | Cash Bar Opens
6 – 8 p.m. Aurora Banquet (included)
7 p.m. Summit Presentation
7:30 – 9 p.m. Keynote Speaker Bob King, followed by Q&A
End at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday
Continental Breakfast with Breakfast Rolls, Bagels & Coffee (included)
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Travelogue: Group Presentation
10:30 a.m. Break with activities, including check-out, book signing
11 a.m. Final Event with Show & Tell Feature
11:45 a.m. Giveaways
Noon: Farewell
End by 12:30 p.m.
Opportunities After Hours:
If you're interested, there will be time for you to enjoy other activities on your own, before and after each conference day. Though our guests are sure to have a lot of fun at the Superior Shores beach in Flood Bay, we will not offer Steel Wool Spinning as part of this event. The opportunities after hours include:
• Sunrise Photography on Lake Superior's North Shore
• Bonfire on the pebble beach at Superior Shores
• Night Photography, Aurora Chasing & Light Painting
Events may be subject to change. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a weekend jam-packed with events centered on Aurora Borealis and the night sky!
Aurora Sessions
Nine sessions will be offered on topics related to Aurora Borealis and night sky photography. The 70-minute sessions will be held between 9 a.m. and 4:30pm on Saturday, with various presenters. The sessions are organized by the time of day when they will be offered, with three sessions occurring during each time slot. In addition, there will be an opportunity to meet other Aurora Chasers in your area!
When you register, you'll have the opportunity to select three sessions to attend – one from each set listed below. The sessions may be subject to change.
Session I
a) How to Set Your Camera for Aurora Photography, with Heidi Pinkerton
b) What to Photograph in the Night Sky, with Matthew Moses
c) Phenomenal Light Painting, with Jamie Rabold, Kirk Schliefe & Amber Nichols
Session II
a) How to Post Process Aurora Photographs, with Les Conrad
b) Aurora Folklore & Mythology, with Melissa F. Kaelin
c) Shooting the Milky Way, with Mike Shaw
Session III
a) Planning Trophy Nightscapes, with Mike Shaw
b) Intro to Forecasting Aurora, with Bob Conzemius
c) Bizarre Nights: Fireballs, Proton Arcs, Iridium Flares and More, with Matthew Moses
Aurora Banquet
The Aurora Banquet will be held in the Superior Shores ballroom in the evening on Saturday. It will include:
• An Invited Keynote Speaker
• The chance to mingle with fellow Aurora Enthusiasts
• Your choice of one of three catered meals* with dessert
• Bar service will be available at an added cost
The Aurora Banquet is a great opportunity to make connections and share your experiences! Dinner choices come with a house salad, bread and coffee service, and are served with seasonal vegetables. Dessert is also included.
Choose from one of three plated dishes:
• Lasagna Bolognese — Beef, pork, ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, tomato, layered on fresh sheets of pasta
• Alfredo Rapini Pasta with Chicken — Fresh garlic, sherry, cream and butter simmered in Asiago cheese with chicken
• Pasta Aglio Olio — Made with gluten free pasta, olive oil, lemon, fresh herbs and veggies, and cream free butter
The cost of admission includes two full meals on Friday and Saturday, as well as breakfast rolls on Saturday and Sunday. Lunch will be on your own, but a buffet will be offered in the hotel restaurant for an extra charge. There will be a cash bar during dinner on both nights of the conference.
Aurora Slideshow
If you plan to attend Aurora Summit 17, you're invited to submit a photograph to the Aurora Slideshow! For details, visit the Facebook event or read on.
Choose one photo you've taken of the Aurora, from anywhere in the world. Include your name, the date the photo was taken, and the location of the photo including city and state/province, and email the photo in a high resolution format to: AuroraSummitMN@gmail.com
We'll show the Aurora Slideshow on Friday evening during the buffet dinner, displaying your photograph for all guests to see! The slideshow will also be posted publicly on the web following the Aurora Summit. Submit by Sept. 30, 2017.
Apparel
Any apparel for the Aurora Summit will be handled separately. You can order shirts, sweatshirts and mugs online from TeeSpring at https://teespring.com/aurora-summit-17.
Please watch the Aurora Summit 17 Facebook Event or this website for details.
Lodging & Camping
Guests are responsible for booking their own lodging. Rooms at the host hotel will sell out fast! We've reserved a block of rooms at Superior Shores Resort, at a discount for Aurora Summit guests. The two-night reservation requirement has been waived for lodge rooms only; other rooms require a two-night minimum. Until rooms sell out, these rates are available for the evenings of Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28, 2016:
Guest Lodge Rooms...........$79/unit/night
Superior Lodge Rooms.......$89/unit/night
Jacuzzi Rooms.....................$129/unit/night
One Bedroom Suites..........$149/unit/night
To get the discount, call Superior Shores at 1-800-242-1988 and mention the "Aurora Summit." These rates are not available online. A deposit for the first night will be required to hold the reservation. The listed rates are subject to a resort service and state sales tax.
Make your reservations now! October comes at the end of fall colors season on the North Shore, and the rooms will be released to the public one month before the event. There are many other hotels and lodging options in the area, including Grand Superior Lodge, Country Inn and AmericInn in Two Harbors, nearby lodges, cabins, campgrounds and many other options.
The closest Minnesota State Parks with campgrounds include Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Gooseberry Falls State Park and Tettegouche State Park, but there are many others in the region.
FAQ
Will we see the Northern Lights?
We sure hope so! Of course, there is no way to predict what will happen this far in advance, but if there are clear skies and the Aurora make an appearance, we'll be in one of the best locations in the U.S. for viewing.
Do I have to register?
Yes. Registration is required to attend the Aurora Summit's activities and meals.
Does registration include the hotel?
No. You'll need to book your lodging separately. Please make sure you have a place to stay before you register.
Can I bring my partner, friend or family member?
Yes! The retreat is designed for adults, and you are welcome to bring registered guests. We request that all attendees register individually.
*If you require a vegetarian or gluten-free meal during the banquet, please choose this option when you make a dinner selection.
