Friends Groups
Meet the Friends of Camden State Park
Friends of Camden State Park playground project The Friends of Camden State Park became active in 2000 in order to add playground equipment at Camden State Park. The group raised about $24,000 to build a new playground. Many fundraisers were held including a night hike, ...
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Demystifying DNR management and master plans
An update from Arielle Courtney, DNR Management and master plans—sounds familiar, right? You may have heard park and trail staff talk about their management or master plans. Perhaps you have even seen one of these plans or provided input during the planning process. We view ...
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Fall Festival at Anderson Park on Sept. 21
From Friends of Anderson Park Anderson Park’s 10th Annual Fall Festival is happening on Saturday, September 21! Both old and new activities are planned, with something for everyone: live animals, a climbing hill, a climbing wall, a wetland plant tour, canoeing/kayaking, new spotting scopes on ...
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Community members fix donated bikes to give to kids
From Friends of the Jackson County Trails Thirty bikes of all sizes were donated by the police department and other in order to be cleaned and fixed and given to local kids. Volunteers gathered at the Jackson Fairgrounds to transform the bikes and ensure they ...
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William Kelley Students Combine Cycling with Science
From Gitchi-Gami Trail Association Gitchi-Gami Trail Association received a $1,000 youth engagement grant from Parks & Trails Council. They are partnering with William Kelley school to get kids on bikes for a field trip on the Gitchi-Gami Trail and to a nearby state park. Learn ...
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Off-road cycling trail coming to Belmont Park
From Friends of the Jackson County Trails Friends of the Jackson County Trails has been working hard to develop an off-road trail for mountain biking, hiking, and snowshoeing. Read the article in The Globe August 21 edition: "Off-road cycling trail coming to Belmont Park" Read ...
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NorthStar Trail Travelers
Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group.Parks & Trails Council cannot accept donations on behalf of this friends group. NorthStar Trail Travelers Mission The NorthStar Trail Travelers is a unique Folkssports club that holds walking and snowshoeing events primarily ...
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Border Bike: The Official Interstate Ride IA/MN on August 24
Bike the to the border and beyond! Prairie Visions is supporting the Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail Association in hosting an Iowa to Minnesota bike ride. The event includes multiple bike route options. Family Route: 22 miles round trip, entirely on the Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail ...
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Fly tying and fishing at Maplewood State Park
Maplewood’s first fly fishing class was presented by fly fishing enthusiast and Friends of Maplewood member, Scott Stenshoel. The program introduced participants to the “art” of fly fishing , along with instruction of the “art” of “home-made” fly-tying. Each participant geared up with fly rods ...
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Youthful Stewardship and Other News at Glendalough State Park
From the Glendalough Park Partners summer 2019 newsletter: During the past few years, Walk for Glendalough participants have witnessed the enthusiasm and involvement from a growing number of young people. In fact, a few area students have become annual award recipients for pledges they have ...
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Gitchi-Gami’s Annual Bike Ride – Through the Years
This year's ride On August 17, 2019, Gitchi-Gami Trail Association (GGTA) will host its 19th Annual North Shore Bike Ride. The recreational ride starts at Gooseberry Falls State Park and takes you along the scenic Gitchi-Gami State Trail. There are multiple route options: 55-mile, 34-mile, ...
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Friends steadfast support continues to help trail
The Gitchi-Gami Trail Association (GGTA) continues to bolster support for and development of the state trail along Minnesota's North Shore. When completed, the trail will run for approximately 86 miles, from Two Harbors to Grand Marais (see map). Currently, just over 30 miles are completed ...
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Top 3 reasons to attend a Friends Group Regional Workshop
An update from MN-DNR, Arielle Courtney I hope everyone is enjoying the peak of summer and finding extra excuses to spend time outdoors as August brings thoughts of back-to-school time and fall’s approach. August is also a great time to be thinking about upcoming Friends ...
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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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Heartland Trail Spur gets county support
From Heartland Itasca Spur Citizen Committee A member of the Heartland Itasca Spur Citizen Committee presented a resolution in support for the Heartland Spur Trail at a county commissioners meeting, which was approved unanimously by the board of commissioners. Read the full article in the ...
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