The Friends of Lake Shetek State Park, the Parks & Trails Council field trip grantee, recently completed their project. P&TC is proud to support a grant program that encourages youth engagement in Minnesota parks and trails. We recognize that meaningful outdoor experiences can inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Friends Groups promote this goal through their dedication to stewardship, relationships with park staff and the community, and ongoing efforts to connect people with public lands. The goal of this grant program is to offer engaging outdoor experiences for K-12 youth, with the Friends Group responsible for planning and executing the project.
The Friends of Lake Shetek State Park organized a field trip for a local elementary school, where 2nd-grade students visited both Lake Shetek State Park and the End O’ Line Railroad Park in Currie, MN. The grant helped cover expenses for about 185 students, 10 teachers, and 20 parents. The Friends of Lake Shetek State Park coordinated bus transportation, lunches, and park entrance fees, and also provided natural and historical learning opportunities about Lake Shetek alongside park staff. Most of these 2nd graders had never visited a state park, so this field trip provided a rare educational experience and their first chance to explore one. We were excited to partner with the Friends of Lake Shetek State Park and happy to see the enjoyment the group experienced on their trip.