Wisconsin Dells is synonymous with tourism, dating back more than 165 years when the first visitors to the state came for scenic tours of the Wisconsin River with its towering sandstone cliffs hugging pristine shorelines.
It is a landscape that University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumna Brynne Norgard has fallen in love with each summer as she returns home from campus. This summer marks Norgard’s sixth season working at the Dells Boat Tour company. She spent her first two summers as a tour guide and the past four at the helm as captain.
To earn her status as riverboat captain, Norgard had to complete a rigorous training and safety program and complete a minimum of 1,000 hours on the water piloting experience before taking the helm.
Norgard graduated in May 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in English and minors in business administration and creative writing. She has dreams of becoming an English professor.
Working at Dells Boat tours has given Norgard the perfect outdoor classroom to practice her skills as she connects passengers with Native American legends and brings to life the history of lumber rafter Leroy Gates, one of the first entrepreneurs and tour guides of the region.
“My summer position combines my love of nature and history. Studying literature at UWO has taught me about diverse populations of people and how they develop perspectives. I also learned to be an effective communicator which is the most important skill as I have welcomed passengers from all over the world on my tours,” Norgard said.
In the fall, she will head across the Atlantic to Dublin, Ireland, where she will attend Trinity College to earn a master’s degree in Irish literature.
For the rest of this summer, you can find Norgard on the water as she takes on the new challenge of becoming a JetBoat pilot. As an expert pilot, Norgard will be behind the wheel of a 1200 horsepower jet boat, executing spin-outs and power stops, while giving her 50 passengers splashes of history and folklore along the way.
“I’ve enjoyed sharing my passion for the river with passengers and have been fortunate to share the waterways with some of the most amazing people. I can’t imagine a better place to be during the summer,” Norgard said.
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