State Park Friends

April 20, 2018

Cleanup the Park at Lake Maria State Park

By Friends of Lake Maria State Park — Volunteer Park Cleanup Day Saturday, April 28 from 10am to 2pm Please join other park volunteers as we help prepare the park for the summer season. Volunteers will be raking, working on trails and planting trees. Lunch …

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April 20, 2018

Totally turtles program at Lake Maria State Park

By Friends of Lake Maria — Totally Turtles! On Saturday, April 14, naturalist Emily Roberts’s program covered all of Minnesota and Wisconsin’s native turtles. Kids learned what makes turtles so unique when a volunteer “transformed” into one! Kids even had the opportunity to hand-feed a …

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March 19, 2018

Friends of Wild River State Park and area school students are a perfect match

CHISAGO — Friends of Wild River State Park has partnered with the Chisago Lake School District Life Work Center (LWC) to engage with students in the outdoors, in safe and enjoyable ways, during all seasons. At their annual meeting and pancake breakfast, the Friends Group …

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March 15, 2018

Loon Program at Lake Maria State Park

By Friends of Lake Maria MONTICELLO – Lake Maria State Park will host an outdoor photography program at the park’s nature center on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 1p.m. Noted outdoor photographer John Pennoyer returns to Lake Maria to share tips on Common Loons and …

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February 5, 2018

Meet Friends of Father Hennepin

They created the Friends of Father Hennepin, a group that continues to work closely with park staff as a source of volunteer labor, fundraising and community support for the park.
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Friends and GreenTouch volunteers cleaning up the park
February 5, 2018

Friends of Glacial Lakes 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. Banner photo: zjohnson16/FlickrCC Friends of Glacial Lakes State Park Mission Help promote, protect and preserve the natural beauty and natural ...
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February 5, 2018

Meet the Friends of Glacial Lakes State Park

“This place is a hidden gem,” says Glacial Lakes State Park president Jolene Moen. Part of the beauty is perhaps the quiet nature of the park, where visitors can often look across miles of rolling hills and not see a soul. Yet, these Friends know that the more people visit, the more they value it and invest in its preservation.
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January 29, 2018

Candlelight Hike at Lake Maria State Park

Lake Maria State Park’s annual Candlelight Hike will be held on Saturday, February 3,2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. An approximately one-mile of trail through the Lake Maria forest will be lit by candle luminaries.  The trail begins and ends at the heated trail …

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January 10, 2018

Frontenac State Park Association to Host Candlelight Ski Party Jan 27

From Frontenac State Park Association Everyone is invited to Frontenac State Park’s Candlelight Ski / Showshoe / Walk Party on Saturday January 27 from 5 – 8 p.m. Come join in the annual candlelight event. Enjoy a hike, ski, or snowshoe on 2 different lit …

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Woman skiing at Frontenac

Winter Fun Day at Lake Maria State Park

By Friends of Lake Maria MONTICELLO — Please join the Friends of Lake Maria for our annual Winter Fun Day at Lake Maria State Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday January 20, 2018. A number of indoor and outdoor events are planned, …

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January 3, 2018

Plans focus on upgrading Camden residence

By Marshall Independent LYND — The Minnesota State Park System is working toward a plan that will re-purpose Jason Holm’s boyhood home. Plans are in place to convert the former park manager’s residence into a guesthouse. It will be available to families, youth groups, community …

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Swimming area at Camden by Jon Wood
November 27, 2017

Retirement Open House/Coffee & Cake

Saturday, December 9, 2017 1 to 4:00 p.m. Nerstrand Big Woods Visitor Center It has been a privilege to serve the last 12 years as manager at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. As visitors you also play an important role in the stewardship of the …

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Retiring park manager Elain Feikema
October 30, 2017

Shooting Star State Trail Extended Three Miles

This fall, the Shooting Star State Trail got a little closer to its goal of connecting into the city of Austin. On September 15 a ribbon cutting was held for the 3-mile extension running north from the town of Rose Creek, along County Road 56. …

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Group cutting ribbon on new segment of Shooting Star State Trail
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