Outdoor Adventures – East Metro Water

Growth and change at William O’Brien State Park

By: angiehongmn February 16, 2023February 14, 2023

Outdoor Adventures, Partners and Updatesfeatured, Minnesota State Parks, William O'Brien State ParkLeave a Comment

By 1947, there were 30 state parks in Minnesota but none located close to the Twin Cities area. That’s when Alice O’Brien stepped up to donate 180 acres of land near Marine on St. Croix, which formed the seed for a new park to grow.

Woman’s best friend

By: angiehongmn February 2, 2023January 31, 2023

Outdoor Adventuresdogs, featured, outdoors1 Comment

As a lifelong lover of both the outdoors and dogs, my fondest memories of the two are inextricably linked.

Beating the winter doldrums – events and activities to keep you moving

By: angiehongmn January 19, 2023January 17, 2023

Outdoor Adventuresfeatured, Minnesota, recreation, winter1 Comment

Winter is a great time for star gazing, full moon hikes, skiing and snowshoeing, and winter festivals.

Mysterious creatures of the St. Croix River

By: angiehongmn August 4, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Outdoor Adventuresbryozoans, featured, fish, freshwater mussels, St Croix RiverLeave a Comment

Bryozoans are just one of the many strange and unique animals that call the St. Croix River home.

3 Moms + 3 Boys + 1,000,000 Mosquitoes: A Boundary Waters Adventure

By: angiehongmn June 30, 2022June 29, 2022

Outdoor Adventuresboundary waters, bwca, camping, canoeing, featuredLeave a Comment

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) encompasses more than one million acres of forest, 1175 lakes, and 1200 miles of canoe routes in northeastern Minnesota.

Touring Wakáŋ Tipi at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary – Same View, New Perspective

By: angiehongmn August 19, 2021August 19, 2021

Outdoor AdventuresBruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, Dakota, featured, habitat restoration, Mississippi River, Wakáŋ Tipi1 Comment

“We’ve never lost our connection to this space but it’s important to bring native people back here and have them making decisions on how the land in managed,” says Keeli Siyaka, Environmental Justice Educator at the Lower Phalen Creek Project.

In the Woods and on the Water

By: angiehongmn July 8, 2021

Outdoor Adventures, Uncategorizedfamily fun, featured, nature, outdoorsLeave a Comment

Here is a lineup of some of the many FREE, fun, outdoor events scheduled in Washington County during the coming month.

A flower’s fleeting charm

By: angiehongmn April 8, 2021

Outdoor AdventuresEarth Day, featured, native plants, spring, spring ephemerals, spring wildflowers, woodland wildflowers1 Comment

Of all the flowers that exist, spring ephemerals are the ones that I hold dearest in my heart.

Frozen fish and salty toes

By: angiehongmn January 7, 2021February 4, 2021

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Outdoor Adventureschloride pollution, featured, fishing, ice fishing, Minnesota lakes, road salt, saltLeave a Comment

One growing concern for urban lakes and streams is pollution from winter road salt. Currently, there are 50 lakes and streams in Minnesota that are listed as impaired due to elevated chlorides and another 75 that are “nearly” impaired.

Getting older shouldn’t mean staying indoors

By: angiehongmn December 17, 2020December 15, 2020

Outdoor Adventuresfeatured, getting seniors outdoors, healthy living, mental health, outdoor recreation, senior health1 Comment

Randy Thoreson, a retired National Park Service employee, has traveled the country advocating for new programs to help get seniors outdoors in nature.