Friends of Itasca Event and Raffle
Date and Time
Saturday Oct 1, 2016
Saturday, October 1st
Location
Itasca State Park
Fees/Admission
Park Car Ticket - $5
Website
Description
Friends of Itasca State Park invite you to a day in the park Oct. 1
Join the Friends of Itasca State Park during the peak of fall colors for an assortment of activities Saturday, Oct. 1.
All are welcome to attend the Friends of Itasca State Park’s annual meeting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center classroom, visit a special art exhibit, learn more about an educational touch screen exhibit, join on a hike and learn more about Our Changing Minnesota Climate in a presentation by Dr. Mark Seeley.
Chicago artist John Salhus will bring pieces from his exhibit at the Nemeth Art Center in Park Rapids to show at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center. Salhus’ work depicts a struggle between the manmade and the natural, but it’s a repressed, artificial nature that seems to be overtaking the manmade. In many of his recent works, water is the natural element that seems to be “winning.”
The Friends are raising money toward the purchase of a Mississippi Multimedia Gallery in partnership with the Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University, St. Paul. Check out the kiosk that offers a museum-quality, immersive exploration of the Mississippi River from the Headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico. The 55-inch format of the table-top touch screen features interactive, educational river games and offers an exploration of the river through the arts and through time and place.
Join the 10th of 12 hikes in celebration of 125 years of Minnesota State Parks and Trails and 100 years of the National Park Service for an afternoon hike along the North Country Trail. Meet at the North Country Trailhead parking area at the South Entrance to Itasca State Park at 12:30 p.m. and carpool to the trailhead. The route will follow the North Country Trail west, from the Anchor Matson trailhead and conclude at the overlook at Tim-Don-Dell hill (elevation 1,750 feet). Portions of this 2.5-mile route will be strenuous. Notes: Dress for being outdoors, including sturdy boots that can get wet/muddy, water, energy snack, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, insect repellent, including tick gaiters, and hiking/trekking poles. The route may change based on weather and trail conditions. The hike is sponsored by Itasca State Park and the Itasca Moraine and Laurentian Lakes Chapters of the National North Country Trail.
Following the hike, Dr. Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota Extension Climatologist and Professor of Meteorology and Climatology, will present Our Changing Minnesota Climate: A Challenge to Managing Our Water Resources. His presentation, sponsored by the Friends of Itasca State Park, will start at 4:30 p.m. at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center classroom. Hotter summers, heavier rain events, droughts, more storms. In recent years people are recognizing changes in our weather and climate. In the Great Lakes Region there are measurable changes going on, including warmer temperatures, more days with tropical-like dew points, and an increase in fluctuating precipitation, including extreme rainfall events. There are links between these weather extremes and changes in the landscape. Seeley will show how climate models suggest continued changes in the direction shown by recent trends.
It has been a busy and rewarding year for Itasca Park and the Friends with the purchase of five park benches to be located along the new bicycle trail and sponsoring Itasca’s Music Under the Pines entertainers. Friends members also served ice cream at special events in connection with the 125th anniversary celebration.
Since 1993, the Friends of Itasca State Park has raised funds and used membership dues and donations to build playgrounds, complete park restoration projects and purchase amenities for park visitors to enjoy.
This year, the Friends are sponsoring a raffle - an Itasca Getaway. Proceeds will be used toward the purchase of the educational touch screen exhibit for the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center.
First prize is a weekend park package including three nights at Douglas Lodge Cabin 4, four evening meals at Douglas Lodge, four breakfasts at Douglas Lodge, four adult tickets for the Chester Charles History and Wildlife Tour, a $100 gift certificate at Itasca Sports and one annual park permit. Second and third prizes also will be given when the tickets are are drawn at noon Saturday, Oct. 1. Tickets will be available at the Park Rapids Chamber Visitor Center until noon Friday, Sept. 30.
Annual membership in the Friends is $10 per person or $25 per family. Donations also are welcome. Either may be mailed to Friends of Itasca State Park, 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, MN 56470. The Friends is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.
For more information about the Friends, go to www.friendsofitasca.org or visit the Friends of Itasca State Park on Facebook.