VOLUNTEER - Minnesota Environmental Fund

volunteer

Get involved! Keep an eye on the Minnesota Environmental Fund's Volunteer Opportunities calendar. There are a variety of ways for you and your friends and family to get involved with local environmental organizations. Volunteer opportunities and events are updated regularly.

Here are some volunteer activities:

Under the Surface: A Geologist's Take on Sulfide Mining Near the BWCAW
May 21, 2013 at 5:00 pm (add this)
Bryant Lake Bowl, Minneapolis (map)

Sulfide mining—extracting copper, nickel, and other metals from sulfide ores, is coming to northeastern Minnesota, but environmental groups warn that the risks are much different from Minnesota’s traditional iron ore mining. Several companies are currently exploring mineral deposits, developing mine proposals, and working through the environmental review process in areas along the southern edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and new advances in technology are promising to make sulfide mining a hot-button topic this legislative session. We know where to go to hear what environmentalists and mining companies have to say, but what about a scientific perspective? Dr. Paul Weiblen, professor emeritus in Geology at the University of Minnesota and an associate of the Minnesota Geological Survey, offers a broad and accessible view on the geology, value, and concerns surrounding precious metal deposits in northern Minnesota. Doors open at 6, Program begins at 7. Cost $5-$12. Tickets available at the door or available online. Call 612-825-8949 for reservations.

Caring for your strawberry and raspberry plants
May 21, 2013 at 5:00 pm (add this)
Hope Community (611 E. Franklin Ave) (map)

The strawberries and raspberries you order from the Hubs are bare root. They appear to be dead, but they are just sleeping. Come to this class to learn how to revive them and to help them flourish! The class will be led by Master Gardener Theresa Rooney, who is a Southside Hub member!

Reading of 'Minnesota's Bounty: The Farmers Market Cookbook,' by Beth Dooley
May 22, 2013 at 11:00 am (add this)
Byerly's, 3777 Park Center Boulevard, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (map)

A home chef’s guide to shopping and cooking from Minnesota’s farmers markets. http://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/minnesotaas-bounty

2013 Environmental Initiative Awards
May 23, 2013 at 4:00 pm (add this)
Nicollet Island Pavilion, Minneapolis (map)

Join Environmental Initiative on Thursday, May 23 as we honor 15 innovative projects that have harnessed the power of partnership to produce positive environmental outcomes in Minnesota. http://www.environmental-initiative.org/projects/environmental-initiative-awards

Sierra Club Bike Outing
May 25, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Hopkins to Victoria (map)

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: Joyce Icardo - ladyhiker123@juno.com

Bikes, Birds & Beer Outing
May 25, 2013 at 10:00 am (add this)
Target Field Station next to the end of the Hiawatha LRT on 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis (map)

This is a bike and train outing, starting with a brief Northstar Commuter Train ride to Fridley that shows one way to use transit to reach metro green space. From the Fridley station we ride to Islands of Peace Regional Park, then cross the Mississippi River, ride south along the west side of the river through interconnected riverside parks, and last cross back to the east side of the river, ending at Psycho Suzi’s on Marshall Street N.E. Contact Ron Williams, 763-533-3065, tobie3065@msn.com to RSVP

Free Family Fun Day: Wetland Birds
May 26, 2013 at 12:00 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 5:30 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 5:30 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 7:00 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 7:30 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 10:00 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 12:00 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 2:00 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 5:00 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 7:30 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 5:30 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 5:30 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 6:00 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 6:00 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 6:30 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 6:30 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 7:00 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 8:00 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 8:30 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 10:00 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 11:00 am (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 6:00 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 8:00 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 10:00 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 11:00 am (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 12:00 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 2:00 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 5:00 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 6:00 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 5:00 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

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Jun 15, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Hwy. 96/Gateway Trail to Marine on St. Croix (map)

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: Joyce Icardo - ladyhiker123@juno.com

Soil Saturday: Building on Soils
Jun 15, 2013 at 10:00 am (add this)
Bell Museum of Natural History, Minneapolis (map)

Ever wonder why some cities have hundred story buildings while others might only have buildings that are a few stories tall? It might just be because of the soil below! This Soil Saturday, explore how soil plays an important role in building foundations and making architectural decisions. Build a play city on different soils and see what happens when quick sand sink holes develop. Discover how tall you can go stacking blocks on sand and clay—and even build a mini model sod house! For more information: 612-626-9660 . www.bellmuseum.org

Free Family Fun Day: Turtles
Jun 16, 2013 at 12:00 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. Not all turtles look alike. Meet turtles with skinny snouts and spiky tails. Discover how turtle characteristics help them survive in the wild. Watch the nature center turtles swim and eat.

Free Family Fun Day: Amazing Fathers in Nature
Jun 16, 2013 at 2:00 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! Discover examples of remarkable dads in nature in honor of Father's Day! Learn about different animal parenting techniques during this self -guided hike along the Aspen Trail. The trail is approximately ½ mile. Meet one of Richardson Nature Center's captive animals and learn about how it cares for its young!

Do It Green/Bioneers present: Movie night at MGM
Jun 19, 2013 at 5:00 pm (add this)
Midtown Global Market (map)

Join Northland Bioneers and Do It Green! Minnesota on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from January- June, 2013 for free showings of Bioneers Conference DVDs (including speakers such as Paul Hawken, Bill McKibben, Gretchen Daily, Dr. Gabor Mate & Ai-Jen Poo) The film nights/study groups will be held at Midtown Global Market in the lower level conference room. Potluck and networking starts at 6 p.m., 7-9 p.m. film with possible speakers TBA followed by discussion. Bring potluck appetizers or purchase your dinner from the restaurants on the main floor. No RSVP required.

LSP Southeast Summer Picnic
Jun 21, 2013 at 2:00 pm (add this)
DreamAcres Farm, 17289 County Road 8, Wykoff, MN 55990 (map)

LSP’s annual summer gathering in southeast Minnesota, hosted this year by LSP farmer members Todd Juzwiak and Eva Barr at their DreamAcres Farm near Wykoff, MN. The “Celebration of Food, Family, and Farming" will begin at 3 p.m. with a tour of the off-the-grid vegetable farm and short program by LSP staff. Wood-fired pizza starts at 5 p.m. and then at 7:30 p.m., the farm is hosting a Solstice Barn Dance and Summer Sing open to the public. Stay tuned for all the details or contact Lewiston office staff at 507-523-3366 or stettler@landstewardshipproject.org. For directions, please see http://www.dreamacresfarm.org/directions.html.

Mother Earth Banquet
Jun 21, 2013 at 4:30 pm (add this)
Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN 55118 (map)

Join Women's Environmental Institute as they honor 2013 "Mother of the Environmental Justice Movement" Sandra Steingraber, acclaimed ecologist and author of 'Living Downstream' and 'Raising Elijah.' Ms. Steingraber will speak on toxic trespassing and the drastic effects of fracking on our lives. WEI's 2013 "Minnesota Environmental Justice Leader" Sharon Day, Executive Director of the Indigenouse People's Task Force, singer, author, and found of the Women's Water Walk. The event will begin with cocktail hour at 5:30 PM, silent auction, then speeches and entertainment with a dinner prepared by local chefs with organic, fresh produce from WEI's own farm, ending around 8:30 PM with results from the silent auction. Call 651-583-0705 or email wei@w-e-i.org for further information

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Jun 22, 2013 at 8:00 am (add this)
Red Jacket Trail, YMCA (1401 S. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN) (map)

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: Joyce Icardo - ladyhiker123@juno.com

First Annual Parsnip Pull
Jun 22, 2013 at 8:00 am (add this)
Whitewater State Park (map)

Volunteers will gather at the main picnic grounds at Whitewater State Park where they will be assigned work groups and work with a group leader to pull parsnip from heavy-use areas of the park. There will be a potluck lunch and volunteers are encouraged to bring a parsnip dish to share. Volunteers should wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, a hat, good work boots and work gloves and bring a shovel. Rubber gloves will be provided. For more information about this event or to sign up, contact Sara Grover, Interpretive Naturalist, Whitewater State Park, Altura, at sara.grover@state.mn.us or by phone at 507-932-3007 ext 226.

Bike With a Ranger
Jun 22, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Base Camp, Historic Fort Snelling (map)

Join this National park ranger led bike ride with stops along the way to learn about our national park on the Mississippi River. Route: A Confluence of Rivers and Peoples; 14 miles round trip Cost: $8 for general ticket price; $5 for Mississippi River Fund Members; Kids under 10 ride free. SPACE IS LIMITED to the first 20 people who register. Questions? Email info@missriverfund.org or call 651-291-8164.

Free Family Fun Day: Dragonflies
Jun 23, 2013 at 12:00 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. Fascinating dragonflies fly forwards and backwards at up to 60mph. Have fun catching and identifying them in the prairie and open field. The data collected will be submitted to the Minnesota Odonata Survey Project, a statewide dragonfly monitoring effort.

Free Family Fun Day: Remarkable Reptiles
Jun 23, 2013 at 2:00 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! Touch a scaly snake, feel a turtle's shell, and watch these reptiles move. Find out what makes reptiles special animals. Cameras are welcome.

'Make and Take' Rain Barrel Workshop
Jun 26, 2013 at 5:00 pm (add this)
Dakota County Western Service Center, Apple Valley (map)

Save water, save money and help protect our watershed by using a rain barrel to collect and store rainwater for use on your lawn and gardens. Coca-Cola Refreshments in Eagan, Minnesota has provided FMR with 25 used 55-gallon syrup containers. During the course of this workshop, participants will be provided with the necessary parts ($30 per kit) and guided through the process of converting these containers to rain barrels. The workshop will begin with a presentation on the many ways in which home lawn and garden practices impact the health of our waters and what we can do to make a difference. We’ll discuss the watershed-friendly benefits of rain barrels, how to build them, and how to incorporate them into your yard, including installation, maintenance and safety. With guidance from FMR and Coca-Cola staff, participants will then build a rain barrel to take home. The registration fee is $30 which includes the barrel and installation kit. Visit www.fmr.org to register.

Worknight in the Rare Prairie
Jun 27, 2013 at 5:00 pm (add this)
Sand Coulee Scientific & Natural Area, Hastings (map)

Volunteers will learn to identify and help halt the spread of cow vetch and spotted knapweed with Friends of the Mississippi River Restoration Ecologist Karen Schik. The Department of Natural Resources has identified this encroaching plant as a threat to the health of this important area. Working together, volunteers and staff will remove a patch of the weedy invasive. In a couple hours, volunteers will have enhanced the area's ecological integrity — helping to protect the prairie's threatened native plant species and improve wildlife habitat. To ensure a high-quality experience, capacity is limited and preregistration required. To sign up, contact FMR Volunteer Registrar Lindsay Hefferan at lhefferan@fmr.org

Prairie & Oak Woodlands Walk
Jun 29, 2013 at 8:30 am (add this)
3M Natural Area, Cottage Grove (map)

Come explore the oak woodlands and high-quality native prairie remnants of 3M's Cottage Grove site (not normally accessible to the public) with FMR Ecologist Joe Walton and River Stewardship Coordinator Adam Flett. Learn about the local ecology, flora and fauna of this new restoration site, as well as upcoming events and activities to help protect and restore it. Located near the Mississippi River, the 3M Cottage Grove facility includes an extensive buffer area of fields and natural areas, some of which retain high-quality and rare native plant communities. One of those areas, a roughly 26-acre oak savanna/prairie remnant, was identified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as an area of high biological integrity. FMR has completed natural resource management plans for much of the natural area, and will soon be hosting public events at this site. To ensure a high-quality experience, capacity is limited and pre-registration required. To sign up, contact FMR Event Registrar Lindsay Hefferan at lhefferan@fmr.org, 651-222-2193 x24.

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Jun 29, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Cannon Falls Trail to Red Wing (map)

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: Joyce Icardo - ladyhiker123@juno.com

Free Family Fun Day: Frogs
Jun 30, 2013 at 12:00 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. How far does a frog jump? Can you call like a frog? See if you can do the Frog Walk Challenge.

Free Family Fun Day: Raptors in the Yard
Jun 30, 2013 at 2:00 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 us at North Mississippi Regional Park and discover all the fun that life in and around the river has to offer. See live birds of prey, learn their survival strategies, and find out why they live in captivity. Cameras are welcome.

Living the Land Ethic
Jul 1, 2013 at 5:00 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/

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Jul 6, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Fort Snelling (map)

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: Joyce Icardo - ladyhiker123@juno.com

Free Family Fun Day: Snakes
Jul 7, 2013 at 12:00 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. Discover the unique adaptations that snakes have, see what a snake feels like and learn to hold one.

Free Family Fun Day: Amazing Amphibians
Jul 7, 2013 at 2:00 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! Find out what makes these animals so unique by meeting Richardson's captive amphibians up close.

Sierra Club New Member and Volunteer Night
Jul 9, 2013 at 5:00 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.

Rain Garden & Community Garden Workshops for Congregations
Jul 11, 2013 at 5:30 pm (add this)
St. Peter Claver Church 375 Oxford St N Saint Paul, MN 55104 (map)

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

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Jul 13, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Hwy. 96/Gateway Trail to Marine on St. Croix (map)

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

Dragon Festival
Jul 13, 2013 at 12:00 pm (add this)
Lake Phalen, St. Paul (map)

Wilderness Inquiry will be at Dragon Festival providing free Voyageur canoe rides. Come join us! The Twin Cities' Dragon Festival has transformed the ancient Chinese Dragon Boat Festival into a vibrant, pan-Asian celebration of cultural heritage. From booming drums to traditional dancers, the cultural performances are sure to captivate. Other highlights include martial arts exhibitions, arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations, authentic cultural displays and food! Of course, don't miss the dragon boat races where teams of paddlers, sitting two abreast in ornate boats, paddle fiercely to reach the finish line!

Aquatennial Beach Bash
Jul 14, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis (map)

Come on down to Lake Calhoun and participate in some of Aquatennial's traditional events: Wilderness Inquiry Voyageur canoe rides, milk carton boat races, sandcastle competition, Art Fair at the Beach, and more!

Free Family Fun Day: Stump the Naturalist: Bugs
Jul 14, 2013 at 12:00 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. Use microscopes, see real insects, learn about them and bring in a Minnesota bug to try and stump the naturalist!

Free Family Fun Day: Pond Exploration
Jul 14, 2013 at 2:00 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.

Free Family Fun Day: Turtle Talk
Jul 21, 2013 at 2:00 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! Enjoy watching turtles eat and discover their ways of survival.

Mississippi River Challenge
Jul 26, 2013 at 6:00 pm (add this)
44 mile stretch of the Mississippi River (map)

Paddle 44 miles of urban waterways on a fully supported, guided tour of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers! The Mississippi River Challenge gives canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard paddlers of all levels a chance to paddle in good company for a great cause. Spot an eagle, paddle past wilderness and urban skylines, and experience history while camping in Historic Fort Snelling, where the two rivers meet. http://mississippiriverchallenge.org/

Free Family Fun Day: Dragonfly Hunt
Jul 28, 2013 at 2:00 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 pond to discover dragonflies and damselflies. Use a net to catch the flying adults and aquatic young; observe them up close and discover their unique characteristics.

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Aug 3, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Flicek Park (Maplewood) to Pine Point (map)

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: Joyce Icardo - ladyhiker123@juno.com

Free Family Fun Day: Science in Action
Aug 4, 2013 at 12:00 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. Join volunteers and scientists from the Ecology Society of America as they survey a few key zones at the park creating and plant and animal species record.

Free Family Fun Day: Reptile and Amphibian Feeding
Aug 4, 2013 at 2:00 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 some of Richardson's resident reptiles and amphibians. Get up close and watch some of them eat.

Living the Land Ethic
Aug 5, 2013 at 5:00 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/

Green Fair Folk Festival
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:00 pm (add this)
St. Francis Campus, Little Falls (map)

Join us for a FREE family-friendly event that promotes a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. The Green Fair Folk Festival is a free family-friendly event that promotes a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. In 2012, we hosted over 55 exhibitors featuring organic foods, renewable energy, green building, recycled/green art, fashion, eco-gifts, earth-friendly products, wholistic health and much more! http://www.fslf.org/pages/GreenFair

Free Family Fun Day: Little Critters
Aug 11, 2013 at 12:00 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. Come discover the amazing diversity of bugs and other little critters found in the prairie. Learn how easy it is to catch these amazing creatures and even how to identify what kind of a bug it is!

Free Family Fun Day: Minnesota Mammals
Aug 11, 2013 at 2:00 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! Learn about mammals found in Minnesota during this ongoing program. Feel furs, see skulls, and learn about tracks and signs you may find in the park.

Sierra Club New Member and Volunteer Night
Aug 13, 2013 at 5:00 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.

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Aug 17, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Hwy 96/Gateway Trail Parking Lot (map)

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

Free Family Fun Day: Rocks Rock
Aug 18, 2013 at 12:00 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. Explore a rock collection and learn how to identify Minnesota rocks.

Free Family Fun Day: Reptile and Amphibian Feeding
Aug 18, 2013 at 2:00 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 some of Richardson's resident reptiles and amphibians. Get up close and watch some of them eat.

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Aug 24, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Cannon Falls Trail to Red Wing (map)

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

Free Family Fun Day: Hey Ho H20
Aug 25, 2013 at 12:00 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. What?s so special about water? Investigate water properties while doing experiments. Travel through the water cycle and check out the water in our pond and river.

Free Family Fun Day: Insect Collecting on the Prairie
Aug 25, 2013 at 2:00 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.

Living the Land Ethic
Sep 2, 2013 at 5:00 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/

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Sep 7, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Flicek Park (Maplewood) to Pine Point (map)

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: Joyce Icardo - ladyhiker123@juno.com

Sierra Club New Member and Volunteer Night
Sep 10, 2013 at 5:00 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.

Sierra Club Hike Outing
Sep 14, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Whitewater State Park (map)

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

Sierra Club Bike Outing
Sep 28, 2013 at 9:00 am (add this)
Hopkins to Victoria (map)

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: Joyce Icardo - ladyhiker123@juno.com

Sierra Club New Member and Volunteer Night
Oct 8, 2013 at 5:00 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.

Sierra Club New Member and Volunteer Night
Nov 12, 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.

Sierra Club New Member and Volunteer Night
Dec 10, 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.

Sierra Club New Member and Volunteer Night
Jan 14, 2014 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.