Community brush haul & bonfire at newly protected Houlton Farm

Saturday, February 25, 2017 - 9:00am to Sunday, February 26, 2017 - 11:45am
William H. Houlton Conservation Area, Houlton Farm, Elk River
Winter river landscape at Houlton Farm

Join us for our first volunteer event at the newly protected William H. Houlton Conservation Area. We'll learn about this new restoration site, haul out precut invasive buckthorn to make way for upcoming habitat restoration efforts, and then enjoy lunch around a bonfire!

All are welcome at this family-friendly gathering. But advanced registration is required and space is limited. See below for more information.

More about this site

Houlton Farm, officially named the William H. Houlton Conservation Area, is a 347-acre property located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk rivers and is one of the largest undeveloped riverfront properties between the cities of Elk River and Hastings.

FMR had been working with the city and other partners to help protect and restore the property. In December 2016, the Trust for Public Land was able to purchase it and transfer ownership to the city (thanks to funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). And FMR has been working with the city to restore this property into high-quality wildlife habitat. This event is the first hands-on, volunteer step in the habitat restoration process!

Ready to register?

To sign up and receive directions to the meeting spot, contact FMR Volunteer Coordinator Amy Kilgore via the contact form (please select Amy by name from the staff list under "Category") or at akilgore@fmr.org, 651-222-2193 x31. Please include the name of the event, your name, address and phone number and the number in your party.

You will receive a confirmation email from akilgore@fmr.org within two business days. (If you don't, please check your SPAM folder.)

Can't make it?

To receive notices of future volunteer events, contact FMR Volunteer Coordinator Amy Kilgore at akilgore@fmr.org. Or, visit our events calendar for our most up-to-date listing of upcoming events. To receive a twice-a-month e-newsletter including all FMR activities and news, sign up for Mississippi Messages.

Thank you to our partners and funders: 

Thank you partners and funders: the Friends of WHHCA, Connexus Energy, Three Rivers Community Foundation, the Trust for Public Land, the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, and the City of Elk River.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
West River Parkway and 36th Street/44th Street, Minneapolis
Applications due Friday, May 3 by 5 p.m.
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Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area