Friends Groups

Two Friends Groups receive funding for field trip grants in 2024

Parks & Trails Council decided to pilot an updated version of its youth engagement grant in 2024. Two Friends Groups were selected for this initial year of funding, with projects intended to foster a greater appreciation for Minnesota's rich natural heritage in the next generation. ...
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Fifth graders on a biking field trip

DNR Update: Next Steps in the MOU Process

Arielle Courtney, DNR Parks & Trails Partnership Development Consultant, shares an update on the DNR's Memorandum of Understanding with Friends Groups.
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The Friends of Minnehaha Park seek 4 New Board Members

From Friends of Minnehaha Park   Position: Board Member The Friends of Minnehaha Park is looking for nature and outdoor lovers, civic-minded individuals, people from all backgrounds with passion and vision and people willing to share their talents and time fulfilling key roles within the ...
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Frontenac State Park Association

Passionate and dedicated volunteers for the park

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Try, try again: the Gitchi-Gami Trail Association takes on erosion

In 2021, the DNR constructed a trail segment between Grand Marais and the Cut Face Creek State Wayside. While this was good news for the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, it came with an unexpected, weather-related hiccup: the native seed mix applied to both sides of the ...
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July 3, 2024

Friends Groups invited to participate in photo contest

Parks & Trails Council is hosting its 2024 Photo Contest and there are two ways Friends Group Partners can get involved. Promote the Photo Contest All P&TC's Friends Group Partners are encouraged to share our photo contest with their membership. It's a great way to ...
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Improving the view at Frontenac State Park

The Frontenac State Park Association couldn’t have picked a better day. Sandwiched between days of forecasted rain, Wednesday, May 29th dawned clear and sunny, with a cool breeze that alleviated the early-summer heat. Frontenac State Park was in its element, bursting with green foliage, colorful ...
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Volunteers pose in front of Frontenac Pond.

The Friends of Scandia Parks & Trails start work at Liten Park

About a dozen residents of Scandia braved cold winds, wet ground, and prickly ash on April 20th in the name of restoring Liten Park. The park, recently acquired by the City of Scandia, is currently an irregularly shaped trapezoid of long grasses and woody bracken. ...
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Nine people stand in front of a pile of cut branches, smiling.

Three Friends Groups receive funding for habitat restoration in 2024

Three Friends Groups have received funding for habitat restoration in 2024. These projects will address a variety of habitat-related issues at state and regional parks, including the restoration of bird habitat around a wildlife blind, creative erosion control measures at a high-traffic picnic area, and ...
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Meet the Friends of Munger South

Dave Auchter saw a problem that he couldn’t afford to ignore. A longtime user of the historic Willard Munger State Trail, he had had front-row seats to the slow degradation of the trail’s asphalt surface. A popular thoroughfare for hikers and bikers, the trail had ...
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March 7, 2024

Friends of Munger South

Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group.Parks & Trails Council cannot accept donations on behalf of this friends group. Friends of the Munger South Mission A grassroots organization of cycling enthusiasts that advocates for improvements of the Willard Munger ...
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Webinar: Friends Groups & Volunteer Appreciation Events

Details Hear from Friends Group leaders Jon Slock (Gateway Brown's Creek Trail Association) and Tony Manzara (Friends of Sunfish Lake Park) about holding successful volunteer appreciation events. More Webinar Recordings
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January 16, 2024

Friends of Minnehaha Park

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for Friends of Minnehaha Park.As their fiscal sponsor, we partner to advance their cause and provide the tools and building blocks to run a nonprofit, including receiving, holding and administering funds ...
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Meet the Friends of Minnehaha

The Friends of Minnehaha Park came into being in early 2023.  Susan Glenn, a resident of Kenny neighborhood and a lifelong nature and history lover and park user, spent many hours outdoors exploring the park and sharing the love of the park with family and ...
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October 25, 2023

Webinar: Habitat Restoration Panel

Details Friends Group leaders Steve Dietz (Frontenac) and Beth Hayden (Gateway), with long-distance assistance from Gitchi-Gami Trail Association's Michelle Pierson, provide advice to prospective Friends Group applicants for P&TC's 2024 grant round. More Webinar Recordings
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