Listing of upcoming events

Free Family Fun Day: Wetland Birds
May 26, 2013 at 1:00 pm (add this)
Carl Kroening Interpretive Center, 4900 Mississippi River Ct, Minneapolis (map)

Bring the kids but leave your pocketbook at home - Three Rivers offers family fun for free! Join us at North Mississippi Regional Park and discover all the fun that life in and around the river has to offer. Learn about different types of birds that call a wetland home. There will be mounts, books, photos and more to help you along. Walk along the river to look for herons, egrets and other wetland birds. Drop in anytime.

Rain Garden & Community Garden Workshops for Congregations
May 30, 2013 at 6:30 pm (add this)
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 956 Forest St, St Paul, MN 55106 (map)

Great for Church pastoral and Maintenance staff, Youth and Adult volunteers alike. Visit www.afors.org for more information and to RSVP.

Butterfly & Pollinator Garden Tour
May 31, 2013 at 6:30 pm (add this)
Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 7th Street East, Maplewood (map)

Tour the Maplewood Nature Center butterfly and rain gardens to see the colorful flowers. Find out how you can attract butterflies to your yard with pocket gardens of native plants with leaves that grow caterpillars and flowers for adults. Learn which flowers attract bees and hummingbirds so you can design garden patches for specific pollinators. FREE. Call 651-249-2170 for reservations.

Bird walk at Wood-Rill SNA in Orono
Jun 1, 2013 at 8:00 am (add this)
Wood-Rill SNA, Orono (map)

Join Madeleine Linck on Saturday, June 1 at 8 am for a bird walk at the Wood-Rill Scientific Natural Area in Orono. Meet at the parking lot on the south side of Old Long Lake Road, which is a turn-off of old Highway 12 (now Highway 112) east of the city of Long Lake. Wood-Rill SNA is 150 acres of the Big Woods with many trees older than 200 years. There is the possibility to see & hear Big Woods species such as Red-Shoulder Hawks, Scarlet Tanagers and Yellow-throated vireos. The walk is free and open to everyone but space is limited. Please call Madeleine to register: 763-475-0485 http://audubonchapterofminneapolis.org/

Spring Lake Regional Park Planting Event
Jun 1, 2013 at 8:30 am (add this)
Prior Lake, MN (map)

Come out and join us in restoring a portion of this new 374-acre park. Hosting an array of natural features such as a rare maple basswood forest, beautiful lakes, and important wetlands, Spring Lake Regional Park is quickly becoming a favorite of local residents. Volunteers will assist with the restoration of these natural features by planting native oak trees, savanna shrubs, and wildflowers. http://www.greatrivergreening.org/events_calendar.asp

Lake Phalen Waterfest
Jun 1, 2013 at 11:00 am (add this)
Lake Phalen, St. Paul (map)

Join Wilderness Inquiry for Voyageur canoe rides on Lake Phalen for the annual Waterfest celebration, a festival dedicated to promoting clean water education through hands on learning. In addition to canoe rides, the festival will have a number of stations which include fishing lessons, storm water pollution displays, and more!

Free Family Fun Day: Track the Naturalist-Summer Edition
Jun 2, 2013 at 1:00 pm (add this)
Carl Kroening Interpretive Center, 4900 Mississippi River Ct, Minneapolis (map)

Bring the kids but leave your pocketbook at home - Three Rivers offers family fun for free! Join us at North Mississippi Regional Park and discover all the fun that life in and around the river has to offer. The naturalist is missing! Follow the trail she left to find out where she went and what she saw. Enjoy a sweet prize.

Free Family Fun Day: Pond Exploration
Jun 2, 2013 at 3:00 pm (add this)
Richardson Nature Center, 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington (map)

Bring the kids but leave your pocketbook at home - Three Rivers offers family fun for free! Meet a naturalist at the Nature Center's dock and use a net and bowl to scoop critters out of the pond. Discover the many small animals that live in a pond and make up the aquatic food chain.

Living the Land Ethic
Jun 3, 2013 at 6:00 pm (add this)
REI - Bloomington (map)

Each month, Tracy Sides, founder of Bravely Be, leads a small group (max. 12) to discuss selected readings from Aldo Leopold’s timeless book, A Sand County Almanac, and reflect on their application to our day-to-day lives. Unique to this program, the practice of “ecological restoration” is extended to oneself through fun exercises that restore and strengthen our natural capacities to experience the world. Book is available at a special discount during online registration. Refreshments provided by Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op. Register at http://www.bravelybe.com/event/

Sustainable Infrastructure: Calculating Costs, Evaluating Returns, Making Decisions
Jun 5, 2013 at 8:30 am (add this)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota 1750 Yankee Doodle Road, Eagan (map)

From lighting updates to onsite energy generation to native planting, there are many options for businesses looking to reduce the environmental footprint of their facilities. Hear from local experts and business leaders, and engage in peer-to-peer learning and small group discussions, about measuring cost-savings, weighing tradeoffs, and making sustainable infrastructure decisions that benefit your company’s bottom line. The session will be followed by an optional lunch and tour of the sustainable features of Murphy Warehouse in Eagan. Please indicate your intention to attend the lunch and tour when registering for the session. http://www.environmental-initiative.org/events/event/business-environment-series-sustainable-infrastructure Questions? Contact Georgia Rubenstein at grubenstein@environmental-initiative.org or 612-334-3388 ext. 107

Rain Garden & Community Garden Workshops for Congregations
Jun 6, 2013 at 6:30 pm (add this)
Lumen Christi Church 2055 Bohland Ave St Paul, MN 55116 (map)

Great for Church pastoral and Maintenance staff, Youth and Adult volunteers alike. Visit www.afors.org for more information and to RSVP.

Riverside Park Restoration and Tending
Jun 6, 2013 at 6:30 pm (add this)
Riverside Park, Minneapolis River Gorge (map)

Volunteers will work with Friends of the Mississippi River to remove invasive species then replant areas with native grasses, flowers and small shrubs. Although this event is just two hours in length, volunteers can rest assured their work is part of a larger, long-term restoration and will continue to be built upon. To sign up, contact Lindsay Hefferan at lhefferan@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x24. Please include: the name of the event, your name, address and phone number and the number in your party.

Not Just for Scientists Anymore: Why the Public Should Care About the Connection Between Groundwater and Lakes, Streams and Wetlands
Jun 6, 2013 at 7:00 pm (add this)
St. Paul Student Center (map)

A lot of people think groundwater aquifers are big underground lakes and that surface lakes and rivers get all their water from rain and snowmelt flowing across the land. In fact, groundwater normally is packed between grains of sand and gravel or captured in cracks in bedrock. And – especially in winter – rivers get most of their flow from groundwater discharge. Don Rosenberry, a U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist with Minnesota roots, has spent his career researching the groundwater-surface-water connection in waters across the country. He will talk about the physical, chemical and biological processes linking groundwater and surface water and their impact on humans during floods and droughts. Sponsored by the Freshwater Society and the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences. http://freshwater.org/

2013 Urban Birding Festival
Jun 6, 2013 at 7:00 pm (add this)
throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul (map)

The 2013 Urban Birding Festival will be held June 7th-9th at various locations throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul. Join us for a free celebration of springtime birds, especially those which inhabit urban areas. http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/

Free Guided Bird Hike
Jun 7, 2013 at 7:30 am (add this)
Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, St. Paul (map)

The 2013 Urban Birding Festival will be held June 7th-9th at various locations throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul. Open Water, tall trees, and a location in the Mississippi River corridor make the sanctuary an attractive refuge for birds. This guided hike will be led by Julian Sellers and Clay Christensen. Meet at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary Parking lot, corner of Commercial and East Fourth Street, Saint Paul. http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/

Macalester-Groveland Neighborhood Rain Garden Planting Event
Jun 8, 2013 at 7:30 am (add this)
Hewitt Ave. and Tatum St, St. Paul (map)

Help Great River Greening staff, volunteers and residents plant boulevard rain gardens in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood of Saint Paul! To improve water quality in our lakes and the Mississippi River, the City of Saint Paul Public Works has partnered with Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) to install boulevard rain gardens in Macalester-Groveland neighborhood. Pre-registration is required, so sign up today! If you have any questions, please contact Josh Kriz at jkriz@greatrivergreening.org or 651-665-9500 ex. 11

Early Morning Bird Hike
Jun 8, 2013 at 8:00 am (add this)
North Mississippi, Kroening Interpretive Center Minneapolis (map)

Morning is one of the best times to go out birding. Take a nice morning hike along the Mississippi Flyway with an expert birder, learn about birds that use this flyway, get tips on how to improve your birding, and practice your identification skills. Bring your own binoculars or use ours. Ages 15+ Reservations required call 763-559-9000. http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/

Bird Banding and Hike
Jun 8, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Tamarack Nature Center, White Bear Lake (map)

The 2013 Urban Birding Festival will be held June 7th-9th at various locations throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul. This program is Free! Here is your opportunity to learn about Minnesota’s Urban Birds and how scientists track and study them. Bring your binoculars and join a naturalist for a relaxed bird walk where we will observe birds in different habitats and talk about bird behaviors and adaptations. Then, the group will return to the Nature Center for a bird banding demonstration. http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/

Brush Haul and Cleanup
Jun 8, 2013 at 9:30 am (add this)
Indian Mounds Park, St. Paul (map)

Volunteers will spend some time pulling invasive garlic mustard and weeding and tending to the native shrubs planted on the west side of the overlook last year, as well as picking up trash that may have accumulated over the winter. Tools, gloves and water will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to work on steep and uneven terrain. While most FMR activities are family friendly, due to the tools and terrain this particular event is not suitable for small children. To sign up, contact Lindsay Hefferan at lhefferan@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x24. Please include: the name of the event, your name, address and phone number and the number in your party.

Sierra Club Outing
Jun 8, 2013 at 11:00 am (add this)
Organic Farm/Wind Powered Brewery (map)

Organic Farm/Wind Powered Brewery Tour! You don’t have to be a Sierra Club member to participate in Outings! Just show up with adequate food, water, and clothing. Field guides, snacks, and humor are welcome. Unless otherwise noted, for day trips, expect to return to Minneapolis no later than 5pm. RSVP directly to the trip leader. Trip Leader: Margaret Elkins - margaret.elkins@gmail.com

National Get Outdoors Day Event
Jun 8, 2013 at 12:00 pm (add this)
Powderhorn Park - 3400 15th Ave. S Minneapolis, MN 55407 (map)

Try canoeing, stand up paddleboarding, roast marshmallows, play camp games, go geocaching, fishing, birding, make nature crafts, try archery, mountain biking, kids' outdoor activities, climbing wall, food, music and more! We are ready to have some fun outside and hope that you will join us. Bike technicians will be on hand to do a free safety check on your bike for all attendees who ride to the event. The event is completely free. There are numerous bus routes to reach the event by public transport and we encourage riding your bike to the event. Plenty of parking is available on side streets.

Bike Walk Week
Jun 8, 2013 at 7:00 pm (add this)
Minnesota (map)

Spring into a new you with commuting to work by bicycle or walking. Join your friends and co-workers to team up and encourage people to see how simple biking to work can be. Bike to work, walk to the library. Keep your car parked! http://bikewalkweek.org/ and http://www.commuter-connection.org/

Guided Bird Hike
Jun 9, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Como Lake, St. Paul (map)

The 2013 Urban Birding Festival will be held June 7th-9th at various locations throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul. Join Saint Paul Parks, the National Forest Service, & Woodsy the Owl for Urban Birding activities. Participants can make a bird feeder craft and participate in a self-guided birding scavenger hunt around Lake Como. This program is free. http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/

Free Guided Bird Hike
Jun 9, 2013 at 11:00 am (add this)
Como Woodland Outdoor classroom, St. Paul (map)

The 2013 Urban Birding Festival will be held June 7th-9th at various locations throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul. There will be two guided bird hikes in the Como Woodland Outdoor classroom at 11am and 1pm. Meet at the Joyce Kilmer fireplace for guided tours (park on Como Ave one quarter mile past the Como Regional Park Pool). This program is free. http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/

Take a Kid Fishing
Jun 9, 2013 at 12:00 pm (add this)
Thompson County Park, North Picnic Shelter, West St. Paul (map)

For all ages: Learn how to set up a rod, tie on tackle and cast a line. See a live fish exhibit from the MN DNR. Supplies provided. 952-891-7000 or parks@co.dakota.mn.us

Free Family Fun Day: Backyard Birding
Jun 9, 2013 at 1:00 pm (add this)
Carl Kroening Interpretive Center, 4900 Mississippi River Ct, Minneapolis (map)

Bring the kids but leave your pocketbook at home - Three Rivers offers family fun for free! Join us at North Mississippi Regional Park and discover all the fun that life in and around the river has to offer. Learn about the common birds we see and hear in our area, and make a hummingbird feeder made out of recycled materials to attract hummingbirds to your backyard. This program is being held in conjunction with the Urban Birding Festival.

Free Family Fun Day: Insect Collecting on the Prairie
Jun 9, 2013 at 3:00 pm (add this)
Richardson Nature Center, 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington (map)

Bring the kids but leave your pocketbook at home - Three Rivers offers family fun for free! Join a naturalist on the prairie and try your hand at catching some of the insects that call our beautiful prairie home.

Sierra Club New Member and Volunteer Night
Jun 11, 2013 at 6:00 pm (add this)
Sierra Club Office, 2327 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis (map)

Have you been looking to get involved in the Sierra Club, but don't know how? Attend one of their New Member and Volunteer Nights and learn about the variety of ways you can get involved in the Sierra Club in Minnesota! Start the night with a brief overview of the chapter's conservation work, outdoor activities, and other volunteer opportunities, and then spend an hour or so helping active volunteers with a critical environmental action that month (i.e. writing letters to the editor, inviting members to an event, etc.) This is your best starting point if you want to learn how to get active! Please RSVP by emailing north.star.chapter@sierraclub.org or calling 612-659-9124.

Brake for Breakfast!
Jun 12, 2013 at 7:00 am (add this)
Greenway Building, 2801 21st Ave S, Minneapolis (map)

As a part of Bike Walk Week, stop by a Minnesota Environmental Fund sponsored breakfast along the greenway. The event is Co-Sponsored by: Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), Civia, Energy Center of Wisconsin, Envision Minnesota, Eureka Recycling, Great Plains Institute, Headwaters Foundation, Midtown Greenway Coalition, Nonprofits Assistance Fund, Peace Coffee, SOS Building Services, Inc., The Energy Conservatory, Wellington Management. For more information and to register for the free event go to http://brakeforbreakfast2013.eventbrite.com

Explore Urban Wetland Ecology
Jun 13, 2013 at 6:00 pm (add this)
Crosby Park, Mississippi River Gorge, St. Paul (map)

Join experts from Friends of the Mississippi River and Capitol Region Watershed District to learn about the fascinating ecology of an urban wetland! We will explore the plant life in and around Crosby Park's Upper Lake and the surrounding marsh, and learn about the important role these plants play in providing habitat and filtering pollutants from water. We'll also use dip nets to get a closer look at macroinvertebrates living in the lake, and discuss what these tiny creatures reveal about the impacts of water pollution. Pre-registration is required and early registration encouraged. To sign up, contact sue rich at srich@fmr.org