The only trip of its kind, Tour La’Agam (Tour to the Lake) is a spectacular bicycle ride around Lake Michigan. You will bike more than 1,000 miles as you travel through the upper loop of Wisconsin and Michigan, exploring the byways, forests, dunes, and the simple enormity and beauty of the lake.

Tour La’Agam is a traveling community that builds itself a little more each day. Your first week will be spent in camp, training and preparing for the trip, as well as visiting the Trek bicycle factory in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Then you will set off northeast, meeting the lake near Sheboygan. From there you will make your way north to legendary Door County, ferry over to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, cross the Straits of Mackinac, pass through the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and head down to the ferry boat from Muskegon back to Wisconsin. Once arriving there you will feel the thrill of the last bike leg of the trip as you pedal right back into Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, with the camp community celebrating your return!

Services are part of each day and Jewish learning directed toward a better understanding of ecology and the land will round out your experience.  Of course Shabbat, the highlight of the week, will be a well-deserved day of rest and community.  This remarkable ride will be a celebration of the power of the lake and its vitality as well as an exploration of your physical, emotional, and spiritual self.

Tour La’Agam will be led by Yoni Simmons, an experienced bicycle tour guide, along with other specially trained staff. Each night will be spent camping out in tents at campgrounds along the way. A van for support and gear will accompany the group. Bicycles will be provided by OSRUI, as will tents and cooking gear. Personal gear will be the responsibility of each participant. A separate gear list may be printed out below. 

Participants in this program must be prepared to ride up to 50-60 miles each day, and thus must be in very good physical condition with no medical limitations of back, leg or ankle.

Applicants must submit a Recommendation Form from your rabbi and high school counselor. Fill out the top portion of these forms and then give them to your rabbi/counselor. The forms can be faxed to our office, or you may want to include a stamped envelope addressed to OSRUI's Deerfield office.  Print these forms out below:

Tour La'Agam Counselor's Recommendation Form
Tour La'Agam Rabbi's Recommendation Form

Tour La'Agam Packing List
Letter from Yoni Simmons