RRV Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The annual community-wide Red River Valley Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be held at the University of Minnesota Crookston on Monday, January 15, 2018. The day’s events commence at 10:30 a.m. with a Unity Walk beginning at the Crookston Inn and ending on campus at the Kiehle Auditorium with a celebration program. Everyone is invited to join the walk and the celebration and lunch that follow.

The celebration program includes speeches, performances, and the announcement of the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Award. The award is a special honor that was first presented in 2013. It recognizes a Red River Valley native or resident who has actively impacted their community by promoting diversity, multiculturalism, equality, and human rights through demonstrated leadership, service, and advocacy on behalf of underrepresented populations and diverse individuals.

A free lunch social follows the celebration program in Brown Dining Room.

The Red River Valley Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is sponsored by the University of Minnesota Crookston Office of Diversity and Multicultural Programs, Crookston campus academic departments, and student clubs in collaboration with regional community partners.

For more information, contact Lorna Hollowell, U of M Crookston director of Diversity and Multicultural Programs at lhollowe@umn.eduor 218-281-8580.

The University of Minnesota Crookston now delivers 34 bachelor's degree programs, 22 minors, and 40 areas of emphasis on campus as well as 14 degree programs entirely online.  These degrees are offered in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from more than 20 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

La Salle Lake SRA celebration Aug. 12

It took citizen input and lots of planning, but it’s open, it’s beautiful, and it needs visitors. A celebration of the 940-acre La Salle Lake State Recreation Area in Hubbard County will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12.

The Minnesota state parks and trails celebration includes activities ranging from a pontoon boat ride on La Salle Lake to guided tours of the facilities and a host of activities and presentations. Visitors can check out the picnic pavilion, expanded parking area, nature play area and River Overlook interpretive hiking trail that leads to the confluence of the Mississippi River and La Salle Creek. Those feeling especially energetic, can head off to hike the narrow, rugged, 6.5-mile Challenge Trail that circles the lake.

Events include:

10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – Pontoon Tours
Ride on the pontoon to hear about the unique qualities of La Salle Lake, the deepest lake (213 feet) entirely within the state. Meet at the boat ramp.

10 a.m. – Scientific and Natural Area Tour
Learn about the jack pine blow down and current resource management, and walk to the confluence of the Mississippi River and La Salle Creek. Meet at the River Overlook Trailhead at the SNA (north side of County Road 9).

10 a.m. – Facilities Walking Tour
Walk through the picnic area, cabin area and campground to view current facilities and hear a bit of site history. Meet at the picnic shelter.

10 a.m. - noon (ongoing) – Archery
Try shooting an arrow with a youth bow. Ages 8 and up. (Young children may like to play at the nearby Nature Play Area.) Meet at the picnic shelter/parking lot area.

11:30 a.m. – Refreshments
Meet at the picnic shelter.

Noon – Speakers
Meet at the picnic shelter.

These activities are free, but vehicles must have a permit ($7/day or $35/year) to enter Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.

La Salle Lake SRA is managed cooperatively by the Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails, Fish and Wildlife, Forestry and Ecological and Water Resources divisions, and is a satellite unit of Itasca State Park, which is located about 8 miles away.

Established in 2011, La Salle Lake SRA offers hunting, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing and wildlife viewing. It includes La Salle Lake Scientific and Natural Area, which supports numerous rare plant and animal species.

The forested landscape features red and jack pine forests and woodlands, large white pine, balsam fir and white spruce forests, and a high quality old-growth northern white cedar forest. In addition to La Salle Lake and La Salle Creek, it also features more than one-half mile of Mississippi River Headwaters shoreline.

The Trust for Public Land, a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization, partnered with the DNR to transfer the property to public ownership. The property was purchased with funds dedicated to environmental projects.

The majority of the $8.49 million in funding came from the 2008 Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Act – specifically the Outdoor Heritage Fund through a grant from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. Additional funding was provided by the Parks and Trails Fund and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.

Driving directions

La Salle Lake State Recreation Area is 233 miles northwest of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and 8 miles northeast of Itasca State Park.

From the north: From Shevlin, take Clearwater County Road 2 south 13.5 miles to Clearwater County Road 40 and continue east on Hubbard County Road 9 for 2.5 miles.

From the south: From the north entrance of Itasca State Park, take Clearwater County Road 2 north 6 miles to Clearwater County Road 40 and continue east on Hubbard County Road 9 for 2.5 miles.

From the east: From Highway 71, take Hubbard County Road 9 west for 12 miles to Becida, then continue west for 4 miles.

For more information, contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us or 888-646-6367 (8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday).

2014 Arbor Month celebration encourages nature play

A decline in nature play has prompted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to put this year’s Arbor Month (May) focus on encouraging kids to climb trees and play with nature in their back yards and within the community.

The 2014 state Arbor Month celebration on Sat., May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at Oak Hill Park in St. Louis Park, will give families a chance to play with nature, while watching some of the best tree climbers in the state compete at the Minnesota Tree Climbing Championship.

Schedule of events
-- 9 a.m. -- Ceremony with state dignitaries.
-- 9:30 a.m. -- Ceremonial tree planting.
--10 a.m. -- Musical performance by Kidtime with Rachel.
--10 a.m.–noon -- Nature play activities, exhibits and presentations.
-- 8 a.m.–5 p.m. -- Minnesota State Tree Climbing Championships.

According to the Children & Nature Network and the Commission on Education and Communication, 88 percent of children reported using a computer almost every day, while only 11 percent of children reported visiting a local park or natural area almost every day. In some cases, the use of electronic media has disconnected children and their parents from nature.

Nature play is easy, affordable and safe. Frequent, unstructured play in diverse natural settings promotes overall physical and emotional health, cognitive development, creativity, physical ability and coordination, the Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood reports. It also reduces stress and forms the foundation for responsible environmental behavior.

For more information, visit www.mndnr.gov/arbormonth.