Friends Groups

December 11, 2019

2019 Friends Group Workshops – In Review

Looking back at the friends group regional workshops In 2019, four regional workshops brought together friends group leaders from across Minnesota to network and discuss topics relevant to friends groups. Let's look back at those workshops to see what we've learned! 139Participants 38Friends Groups Represented ...
Read More
Group gathered outside
November 25, 2019

Friends help upgrade tent pads at Nerstrand

From Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park On Thursday 11/14/19, a crew consisting of five volunteers and two park staff improved a total of eight tent pads in three hours! The pads, located at group camp and walk-in sites, were first cleared of leaves ...
Read More
volunteers rake pea rock in a campsite
November 21, 2019

“Milkweed and Monarchs” and other news at Glendalough

From Glendalough Park Partners fall 2019 newsletter Hikers and bikers observed two resurgences along the Glendalough trails in the summer of 2019 – milkweed and monarch butterflies. The interdependence of these two prairie natives cannot be overstated. Click to read full newsletter The monarch butterfly ...
Read More
November 21, 2019

Engaging Younger and More Diverse Audiences

From Ashley Pethan, Friends Group Coordinator, P&TC A common question I hear from friends groups is: How do we get more young people involved? You're not alone. This question is being asked by organizations all over the country in the outdoor recreation and conservation sector. ...
Read More
kids sit in meditation with park ranger outside
November 20, 2019

Friends of Zippel Bay shifts to year-round park support

A couple years ago, Friends of Zippel Bay State Park started to shift focus away from primarily supporting nordic ski activities to a more inclusive, broad vision of support for the park. Courtesy of Friends of Zippel Bay State Park In 2019, they successfully secured ...
Read More
November 15, 2019

Eagle Scout Creates Two Canoe-In Campsites at Chester Woods Park

From Friends of Chester Woods It's no longer necessary to travel all the way to the Boundary Waters to experience primitive camping with your canoe. On a Saturday in September 2019, Preston Satzke along with family and friends installed two canoe in campsites on the ...
Read More
boy scouts pose with a campsite sign
November 14, 2019

Creative Income for Chester Woods Park

From Friends of Chester Woods When the Friends of Chester Woods board was considering possible projects for generating income and enhancing the park, a Friends volunteer, Georgia Northdurf, came up with the idea of having private watercraft racks available for rent. We immediately realized that ...
Read More
Kayak and canoe storage
October 29, 2019

A wide range of support from Friends of Minneopa

Since 1998, the Friends of Minneopa State Park has supported a wide variety of opportunities for community members and visitors to experience Minneopa State Park. Their past year of activities demonstrates the group's lasting commitment to this special park near Mankato. Annual Events Winterfest (January): ...
Read More
Friends pose under their banner
October 25, 2019

October Newsletter – Friends of Lake Maria

From Friends of Lake Maria State Park See what the friends group has been up to this summer! Also, learn about upcoming events they will be holding. (Click image below to view full newsletter.) Click to view full newsletter Banner image: Jeff Moravec / P&TC ...
Read More
October 25, 2019

Getting more kids outside through youth engagement grants

Three more friends groups will be getting kids to their state parks for field trips, with support from grants issued by Parks & Trails Council. One of the biggest barriers that schools and youth groups face with getting kids outdoors and going on field trips ...
Read More
kids wading in the river with nets
October 21, 2019

North Branch Students explore Wild River State Park

About 50 kids from North Branch's "Youth Connections" program descended upon Wild River State Park Thursday. Friends of Wild River State Park, through a grant secured from Parks & Trails Council, partnered with the park naturalist and the Youth Connections program to build a field ...
Read More
kids and naturalist walk along a gravel path
October 14, 2019

Volunteers Needed to Clean Bird Houses

From Lake Wobegon Trails Association Would you like to enjoy the last of the fall days outside on the Lake Wobegon Trail? Stearns County Parks could use your help! Throughout the trail there are bluebird houses that need to be opened and cleaned out. Biking, ...
Read More
bird silhouette
October 11, 2019

Getting youth outdoors by partnering with Friends Groups

School is back in session. And for some lucky students this fall, their classroom happened to be a park or trail for a day.
Read More
Fifth-graders explore the woods at Lake Maria
October 9, 2019

Silver Bay Students Bike to Split Rock

From Gitchi-Gami Trail Association Gitchi-Gami Trail Association received a grant from Parks & Trails Council to partner with a local school for a bike field trip on a state trail and to a state park. Read the article in the Lake County News Chronicle October ...
Read More
group picture on bikes back at school
October 8, 2019

Lake Vermilion Trail Executive Director Search

From Lake Vermilion Trail Work Group The Lake Vermilion Trail Joint Powers Board is recruiting for a part-time Executive Director. Resumes must be received by October 31, 2019. See Position Description below. Interested applicants can email their resume to lvtinfo@yahoo.com or mail their resume to: ...
Read More
Group shot of 12 members outside holding award