Volunteers create piles for habitat in the Minneapolis river gorge
Facing a steep climb up tall stairs, FMR staff and River Gorge Stewards opted for a creative way to dispose of invasive buckthorn at a recent volunteer event along the river: create habitat piles. >>
Spring Lake regional park master plan open house Oct. 14
What's next for this special place (and FMR restoration site) on our great river? You can help decide. >>
'Land conservation key to bringing back Minnesota bird population'
We didn't pay MPR to write that headline, but it's exactly the message we want people to understand. >>
Collect them all: Invasive species identification cards
At this field season's volunteer events, we handed out invasive species collector's cards as a guide (and a thank you) for our intrepid, invasive-busting volunteers. Now that the field season is drawing to a close, we're sharing them with everybody. >>
The first Youth Empowerment Program's final projects
Our first Youth Empowerment Program participants worked on capstone projects this summer. From butterfly booths to videography, their projects were impressive and impactful.
In 2019, we debuted our Youth Empowerment Program, an 8-week summer program aiming to bridge the gap between passion and accessible experience for metro youth who care about our environment. Together with our education program staff, 11 high school students explored environmental work and created their own independent projects. On their final project presentation day, our office hosted monarch butterflies, jars of Mississippi and Minnesota river water, and even a baby painted turtle nestled in a yogurt container. We were a little blown away and wanted to share a glimpse into their excellent work. >>
FMR graduates its first Youth Empowerment Program participants
Naomi Nickel, one of the participants in the Youth Empowerment Program, removes invasive species on a rainy day at Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary. The program features a mix of hands-on experiences, guest speakers, discussions and projects to help students learn more and build skills in the environmental field.
Through canoe trips, guest speakers, pollinator surveys and more this summer, we worked with high-school aged youth from the metro area to explore career possibilities and build skills in the environmental field. Learn more about our new Youth Empowerment Program and see these leaders' capstone projects (which included monarchs, jars of river water, and even a baby painted turtle). >>
Thanks Akia, our shared summer intern
Akia Vang, our Green Team Alumni summer intern, did a little bit of everything in our office and out in the field, all in two short weeks. (Photo: Tom Reiter and Will Stock for FMR)
Akia Vang, our Green Team Alumni summer intern, woke up early to survey breeding birds and stayed late to assist at volunteer planting events. Akia stayed busy during his two short weeks with us. >>
Intern Daniel features FMR in environmental documentary
FMR intern Daniel Schmidt, left, helped with the 2019 Earth Day river gorge cleanup. (PIctured here with FMR outreach assistant Sophie Downey, FMR outreach coordinator Amy Kilgore and FMR volunteer Kelly Neal.)
This year we hosted DeLaSalle senior Daniel Schmidt as an intern, who not only helped with a variety of projects but also created his own documentary about major environmental issues and what you can do about them. >>
Thanks Akia, our shared summer intern
Akia Vang, our Green Team Alumni summer intern, woke up early to survey breeding birds and stayed late to assist at volunteer planting events. Akia stayed busy during his two short weeks with us. >>
New podcast features FMR ecologist and invasive earthworms
Three Rivers Park District's new podcast, The Wandering Naturalist, covers fun Minnesota ecology topics from tracking owls to maple syruping. In this episode, FMR ecologist Alex Roth joined the conversation about the effects of invasive buckthorn and earthworms on Minnesota's wildflowers. >>