State Park Friends

October 29, 2017

Clean up the Park Day

Help prepare trails and park facilities for the winter season. Tools will be provided. Register by calling the park so we can plan the workload.
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October 26, 2017

Halloween Howl at Lake Maria

family friendly spooky tales perfect for a chilly fall evening
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Jack O'Lantern
October 17, 2017

Friends of Lake Louise State Park

Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group.Parks & Trails Council cannot accept donations on behalf of this friends group. Friends of Lake Louise State Park Mission Support the operations and increase awareness of the park. Friends Since 1962 (to ...
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bluegrass band in the park
October 17, 2017

Friends pull together to keep park going

“I get by with a little help from my friends.” If a park could sing, Lake Louise State Park would be singing this tune. This park has just one employee who makes a regular appearance in the park (other staff are shared with the nearby …

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people signing up for a raffle
September 13, 2017

Maplewood State Park Sugar Shack Dedication

It's time to say thank you to all who contributed time and money to the project.
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Maplewood State Park Sugar Shack nearly complete
August 1, 2017

Frontenac State Park Association

Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group.Parks & Trails Council cannot accept donations on behalf of this friends group. Frontenac State Park Association Mission To preserve, protect and enhance Frontenac State Park and its surroundings. Friends Since Circa 1956 ...
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four members of the Assoc. standing in grass at Frontenac
August 1, 2017

Long-time group gaining new momentum

Most likely Frontenac State Park wouldn’t exist had it not been for this Association. The group was formed by influential local citizens who rallied around the idea that a state park would be a boon to the local economy.
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Members of Frontenac State Park Association tour land P&TC acquired for the park
August 1, 2017

Friends of Blue Mounds State Park

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for Friends of Blue Mounds State Park.As a fiscal sponsor, we partner to advance their cause and provide the tools and building blocks to run a nonprofit, including receiving, holding and ...
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Blue Mounds State Park by Debbie Kippen
July 26, 2017

Adding a new view to Frontenac?

At the border of Frontenac State Park, near it’s entrance, lays 158.82 acres of land that holds outstanding natural beauty and a view to behold. Earlier this year the owner put the land up for sale, thus presenting a small window of opportunity to protect …

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View through trees of Lake Pepin
March 2, 2017

DNR highlights new parks and trails offerings for 2017

New offerings come after record number of visitors utilize state’s parks and trails system in 2016; DNR seeks moderate fee increases to support increased demand for parks and trails maintenance and services. A variety of new experiences await visitors to Minnesota state parks and trails in 2017. For example, you can:
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February 24, 2017

Volunteer naturalists with a passion for Whitewater

Since re-forming the Friends of Whitewater State Park a few years ago, this group of volunteers have found many ways to put their knowledge and appreciation for the park’s natural resources to use.
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February 9, 2017

Friends of Whitewater State Park

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for Friends of Whitewater State Park.As a fiscal sponsor, we partner to advance their cause and provide the tools and building blocks to run a nonprofit, including receiving, holding and administering ...
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December 9, 2016

Friends of Maplewood State Park

Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group.Parks & Trails Council cannot accept donations on behalf of this friends group. Friends of Maplewood State Park Mission To support and encourage the park’s recreational, interpretive, educational and environmental activities through leadership, ...
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Crafting station in the park
November 26, 2016

Building the Sugar Shack

For years the Friends of Maplewood have been fundraising and coordinating logistics to build a sugar shack for the growing maple syrup interpretive program.
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Workers putting up the siding on the sugar shack
October 1, 2016

Getting more people into the woods

In the three years that Nerstrand Big Woods State Park has made friends with a group of committed volunteers, the park has seen skyrocketing visitor numbers. It could be coincidence, good weather, or part of the system-wide trend, but the park manager says the friends …

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closeup of understory flower