Dramatic sunset over a marsh at Lake Maria State Park
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Meet our Friends Group Partner

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for
Friends of Lake Maria State Park.

As 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 on behalf of the friends group.

Friends of Lake Maria State Park

pinpoint of Lake Maria State Park on Minnesota

Mission

The Friends of Lake Maria State Park work together to preserve the park’s environment and support park activities

Friends Since

1996

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Online Donation Page
Friends on field trip at Lake Maria with Master Naturalist program
Dramatic sunset over a marsh at Lake Maria State Park
Sunset over ponds at Lake Maria by John Dykstra

Friends of Lake Maria State Park

Events

A Blandings Turtle on a lakeshore

The Mysterious Blandings Turtle

Lake Maria State Park
November 11, 2023

Mushroom Messenger

Lake Maria State Park
September 9, 2023

Universe in the Park

Lake Maria State Park
July 14, 2023
A view of pond water under a microscope

Microscopy in the Park

Lake Maria State Park
June 10, 2023

Hug a Tree and Survive

Lake Maria State Park
April 15, 2023
Garter snake in leaves

Snake, Rattle and Roll

Lake Maria State Park Trail Center
March 11, 2023
Luminaries light the ski trail

Candlelight Walk

Lake Maria State Park
February 4, 2023

Free Park Friday: Lake Maria

Lake Maria State Park
November 25, 2022
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park by Marcella Chester

Universe in the Park

Lake Maria State Park
August 13, 2021
Scavenger Hunt Banner

2021 Scavenger Hunts

MN Parks
June - Sep. 12, 2021
buckthorn leaves

[CANCELED] Invasive Species

Lake Maria State Park
April 11, 2020

[CANCELED] Minnesota Orchids

Lake Maria State Park
March 28, 2020
candle within an ice holder

Candlelight Hike

Lake Maria State Park
February 1, 2020
The log cabin looks warm amidst the snow in the winter

Winter Fun Day

Lake Maria State Park
January 18, 2020
woods with yellow fall colors

Opt Outside at Lake Maria

Barred owl in tree

Howl at the Moon – Raptors and Night Hike

runners on a paved trail

Otter Trotter 5k

Two wolves in the winter snow

Wolves at our Door

people looking at a marsh marigold patch

Open House

Lake Maria State Park
June 8, 2019
Trees looking up. Lindsey Kramer/P&TC Photo Contest

Trees and Shrubs

Lake Maria State Park
May 18, 2019
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Friends of Lake Maria State Park

News

Friend overlooking frozen pond at Lake Maria.by Michael French

March 15, 2022

Friends joined park manager interview process

LakeMariaMessenger-banner-Winter2022

February 7, 2022

Lake Maria Messenger – Winter 2022

LMMessenger-Heading-Fall2021

October 12, 2021

Lake Maria Messenger – Fall 2021

LakeMariaMessenger-Summer2021

July 21, 2021

Lake Maria Messenger – Summer 2021

Kids bike away from the park building

February 3, 2021

2019-2020 Youth Engagement Grant Projects In Review

P&TC staff member presents award to president of Friends of Lake Maria in socially distant manner

January 13, 2021

Lake Maria Messenger – January 2021

volunteer in a bright yellow vest

April 10, 2020

Friends of Lake Maria State Park

A number of people are putting on snow shoes

February 24, 2020

Lake Maria Messenger – February 2020

Fall walk with the pup. By Jeff Moravec

October 25, 2019

October Newsletter – Friends of Lake Maria

Fifth-graders explore the woods at Lake Maria

October 11, 2019

Getting youth outdoors by partnering with Friends Groups

IMG_20190830_160539597

September 11, 2019

Find Wild Mushrooms at Lake Maria on Sep. 15

kids looking over bog through binoculars

June 24, 2019

Youth Engagement Grant Awards – Round 1

Volunteers stand by the water with the trash they collected during the clean up

April 9, 2019

Spring Clean Up at Lake Maria on April 27

girl with snake

April 1, 2019

Snake, Rattle, and Roll at Lake Maria on April 13

Early morning along the St. Croix River at Wild River State Park's Sunrise Landing. Backlit trumpeter swan--another Minnesota wildlife success story. by Chuck Kartak

February 25, 2019

Trumpeter Swan Photography Program on March 23

The log cabin looks warm amidst the snow in the winter

January 6, 2019

Winter Fun Day at Lake Maria on Jan. 19, 2019

Snowy Itasca State Park by Jelieta Walinski Ph.D

November 19, 2018

Lake Maria Candlelight Hike on Feb. 2, 2019

Girl hiking trail HP copy

November 5, 2018

#OptOutside with Friends of Lake Maria

April 20, 2018

Cleanup the Park at Lake Maria State Park

April 20, 2018

Totally turtles program at Lake Maria State Park

March 15, 2018

Loon Program at Lake Maria State Park

January 29, 2018

Candlelight Hike at Lake Maria State Park

January 5, 2018

Winter Fun Day at Lake Maria State Park

October 29, 2017

Clean up the Park Day

Jack O'Lantern

October 26, 2017

Halloween Howl at Lake Maria

Dramatic sunset over a marsh at Lake Maria State Park

May 24, 2015

Friends bring programs to this wooded wonder

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Friends of Lake Maria State Park

Our Partner Grant Project

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota offers grants to support friends groups' projects.

Meet Another Friends Group