Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park

December 14, 2021

700 people listen to music at Lake Bemidji summer concert series

From Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park At Lake Bemidji State Park this summer, park visitors had the opportunity to listen to live music 13 times in July, August, and September. Local musicians, like the Bemidji Bogtrotters and Not Your Average Family Band, took to ...
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Attendees watch live music in visitor center
February 3, 2021

2019-2020 Youth Engagement Grant Projects In Review

In 2019, Parks & Trails Council launched a grant program designed as a partnership with friends groups to engage youth in parks and trails. In this first year of the program we began working with eight friends groups who identified innovative ways to engage youth ...
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Kids bike away from the park building
January 29, 2020

Partnership restores patches of habitat at seven state parks

In 2019, Parks & Trails Council partnered with seven friends groups to spearhead habitat restoration projects at state parks. This work was made possible by a generous grant from the Henry S. Crosby Foundation. 2019 by the Numbers $25,364 7 237 11 493 Funds granted ...
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friends and youth celebrate having planted a tree
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 ...
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kids wading in the river with nets
October 2, 2019

Energizing the park with innovative ideas and community programs

Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park More often than not, cutting-edge ideas come from those outside the rank-and-file of an organization. This is part of the reason friends groups are such an asset for parks and trails. They bring a wealth of perspectives and energy ...
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woman stands behind pile of volleyball sand
July 25, 2019

Working with Friends to improve landscapes at seven state parks

Trees, trees, trees! Earlier this spring, volunteers, young and old, could be found with shovels in hand at seven state parks—Blue Mounds, Lake Bemidji, Minneopa, Sibley, Tettegouche, and Whitewater—where they were planting and protecting trees (and shrubs) in key areas of the landscape.
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volunteers planting trees
March 15, 2019

P&TC Issues Grants to Seven Friends Groups to Complete Habitat Restoration Projects

Seven volunteer-led friends groups will implement habitat restoration projects at state parks this year, with support from the Minnesota DNR and funds issued by Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC). The projects include planting trees, protecting young saplings, and diversifying tree canopy.
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Oak savanna restoration project tree planting on June 2, 2018
November 29, 2018

Friends prepare to install nature playground in Lake Bemidji State Park

From Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park has embarked on a long-term to build a new nature playground in the park. They did much of the work in three weekends, with the help of members of the friends group, boy ...
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A young girl rakes the soil