Parks & Trails Council’s Advocacy Day is a day to gather with fellow advocates of Minnesota’s parks and trails. We start with a light breakfast and end with lunch.
We will equip you with information to meet with your legislator. You can schedule a meeting with your legislator by calling their office directly. Find your legislator here.
The day will be filled with educational sessions on how to be an advocate at the state capitol for parks and trails. Learn about our top legislative issues for parks and trails, meet and hear from Friends Groups across the state, and hear and ask questions to key legislators.
Time | Agenda |
9:00 AM | Light Breakfast and socializing |
9:30 AM | Welcome and opening remarks |
9:40 AM | P&TC’s Legislative Agenda |
10:15 AM | Keynote Speaker (Remote Presentation): George Wuerthner on the science of OHVs impacts on natural areas |
11:00 AM | Break |
11:05 AM | Facilitated small group discussions |
11:45 AM | Moderated Legislator Panel - Sen. Carrie Ruud (R - Breezy Point) - Sen. David Senjem (R - Rochester) - Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL - St. Paul) - Rep. Jason Metsa (DF: - Eveleth) |
12:30 PM | Catered Lunch |
Afternoon | Consider scheduling your meetings with legislators |
George Wuerthner is the ecological projects director for the Foundation for Deep Ecology, where he does research and writes about environmental issues. He has published thirty-eight books on natural history, conservation history, ecology, and environmental issues. He is editor of “Thrillcraft: The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation,” which exposes the lasting damage done to our land, water, and air from the growing plague of jet skis, quads, dirt bikes, dune buggies, snowmobiles, and other motorized recreational craft that are penetrating the last bastions of wild America.
Wuerthner will deliver an engaging and educational presentation through a remote presentation. He will discuss how OHVs (such as ATVs, dirt bikes, and jeeps) contribute to wildlife habitat fragmentation, disturbance of sensitive wildlife, soil erosion, spread of invasive weeds, loss of silence, as well as water and air pollution.