Special Places Newsletter – Winter 2022
From the President | 2022 Legislative Priorities | Land Project for William O'Brien State Park | Earth Day event | Lake Shetek State Park and its friends
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Parks & Trails Fun Quiz: February 2022
What happens with Minnesota's wildlife in winter? Test your knowledge of how animals survive in Minnesota parks and trails during winter.
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Priorities for 2022 legislative session
Letter from Parks & Trails Council President. If we've learned anything during the pandemic it is how important parks and trails are to all of our lives. And while the explosion in their use has been especially pronounced over the past two years, the truth of the matter is that growth in visitation is well evidenced over the past decade.
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2022 Legislative Monitoring: Community-driven trail projects
We support volunteer friends groups to advocate for trail projects in their communities. The table below highlights key actions that have been taken on this priority issue during the 2022 Legislative Session. We will work to update this table throughout the session. Casey Jones State ...
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2022 Legislative Monitoring: BIPOC Programs
We encourage legislative efforts to develop new programs that welcome more BIPOC communities into parks and trails. The table below highlights key actions that have been taken on this priority issue during the 2022 Legislative Session. We will work to update this table throughout the ...
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2022 Legislative Monitoring: No OHVs in state parks
We oppose all efforts to introduce or expand the use of motorized, off-highway vehicles in state parks and alongside state trails. The table below highlights key actions that have been taken on this priority issue during the 2022 Legislative Session. We will work to update ...
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Tracks & Trails – Winter 2022
From Glendalough Park Partners In This Issue Walk for Glendalough Friends Group Impact Report Lights Out Migration Winter Animal Tracks Year 1 at Glendalough history Click image to read newsletter Go to friends' main page
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2022 Legislative Monitoring: Capital Improvement Projects
We support funding the agencies' requests for capital improvement projects at state and regional parks and trails. The table below highlights key actions that have been taken on this priority issue during the 2022 Legislative Session. We will work to update this table throughout the ...
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Friends of Scandia Newsletter 2022
From Friends of Scandia Parks & Trails In This Issue Gateway extension Plant Walks Lilleskogen Invasive Shrub Removal Click image to view newsletter Go to friends' main page
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Lake Maria Messenger – Winter 2022
From Friends of Lake Maria State Park In This Issue Trumpeter swans Winter animal adaptations Trail conditions New member welcome Animal tracks Click image to view newsletter Go to friends' main page
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Friends have embarked on ambitious $1,000,000 fundraising campaign
A new nature center is getting built at Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo, and the Friends of Oxbow is rallying support to enhance the nature center experience once it's constructed. Since the '80s, Friends of Oxbow has been supporting the park's educational, environmental, and recreational ...
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Special Events
Details One way that friends groups engage community members is through special events. These events provide people with a connection to the park or trail, they may help raise funds for the group, and they promote the stewardship work the friends group provides. Hear from ...
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Friends’ long-term interventions to manage invasive buckthorn
From Friends of Chester Woods Much of Chester Woods is infiltrated with buckthorn and other woody invasive specis, especially in the undeveloped areas of our park. We have forested areas where buckthorn is almost the exclusive species on the forest floor. The Friends of Chester ...
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Volunteering with the DNR – Survey
An update from Arielle Courtney, DNR Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed a safe, healthy celebration of the winter holidays and got the opportunity to spend a bit extra time at our state parks and trails. As I write this, I’m planning ...
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Welcome along on a forest bath
Forest bathing: what an intriguing term. Have you heard about this idea? If you’re like me, you’ve seen the idea popping up here and there, but have never come across a satisfying explanation of what it is, exactly. So, when I saw an opportunity to participate in a 2-hour, guided forest-bathing session at a nearby park, I jumped at the chance to finally figure out this mystery.
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