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): ...
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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 ...
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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 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 ...
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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, ...
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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.
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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 ...
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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: ...
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Group shot of 12 members outside holding award
October 8, 2019

Runners endured muddy trails at the Leaf Mountain Foot Race

From Friends of Glacial Lakes State Park Friends of Glacial Lakes State Park hosted their 2nd Annual Leaf Mountain Foot Race on September 21, 2019. Thunderstorms passed through during the first loop of the race, but that didn't stop these hearty souls! Runners soldiered on ...
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People trail run
October 7, 2019

Special Places Newsletter – Fall 2019

Photo Contest Winners | Partnering on youth engagement | Tettegouche geology | Cannon Valley Trail Count | Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park

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Cover of newsletter
October 3, 2019

Friends of Oxbow Newsletter

From Friends of Oxbow In This Issue Save the Date for Zoodazzle 50th Birthday Party recap New Cougar TerraLoco Challenge Board Member Spotlight Photo by: Ashley Pethan/P&TC Click to View Go to friends' main page
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snowy creek with animal tracks on bank
October 3, 2019

Rewards and challenges of being a parks and trails manager

An update from Arielle Courtney, DNR Whenever I tell people I work for DNR Parks and Trails, I usually receive one of several reactions. The first reaction is usually delight at the idea of playing with frogs and butterflies all day, what a lucky person ...
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People touring Little Elk Preserve
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
September 30, 2019

Erecting deer exclosure fence

Friends of Zippel Bay State Park constructed a deer exclosure fence around 6 acres of forest to help promote forest regeneration.

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scout troop posing for a group picture
September 30, 2019

Improving forest health

Friends of Tettegouche State Park installed tree cages around 11 trees to help improve long-term forest health.

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Friends volunteers install a tree cage