Traveler - Bring on Winter!

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parks and rec

Traveler

A monthly e-newsletter to encourage “I Can!” program participants and other families to continue learning about the outdoors.

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December 2018


Park Highlight:  Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

 

lighthouse at winter

 

The days are shorter and the temperatures are colder, but you don't need to hibernate indoors all season! There are many amazing sites and exciting activities to be found at Minnesota state parks this winter! For example, on the North Shore of Lake Superior you'll find Split Rock Lighthouse State Parkbest known for its historic lighthouse.  Visitors travel from near and far to photograph this beautiful historic site. Wintertime offers unique opportunities to photograph the landscape with the frozen waves of Lake Superior. 

The park offers numerous recreational opportunities including cart-in camping at pristine campsites along Lake Superior.  Scenic trails along the lake link up to the spectacular Superior Hiking Trail.  Anglers cast their lines for lake trout, salmon, and brown trout. The rocky beach is perfect for skipping stones into Lake Superior.  In winter, the park is a biking destination with more than 8.7 miles of groomed fat bike trails and a warming house equipped with a wood-burning stove and indoor restroom facilities.

 


fat biking

The List: Fat Biking Trails

 

Did you know that winter bicycling is a growing sport in Minnesota?  With the invention of the fat bike, a bicycle with large, low pressure tires designed for travel over snow or sandy soil, bicycling has become a year-round sport.

Groomed snowmobile and ski trails may look appealing, but most of these trails are not open to other uses due to safety concerns and the fact  that their grooming costs are paid through user fees.

Below are some winter trails that welcome fat bikes. 

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Learn more about fat biking in Minnesota


Game Time: Outdoors in Every Language

 

Encourage your family to love the outdoors by exploring a variety of activities and finding ones that you enjoy together!  

Below is an outdoor action word to share with young children and non-native English speakers to build new literacy skills and to experience the joy of connecting with nature.

This month's outdoor action word is catch!  As a family, explore outdoors after a snow fall.  Make a snowball and play catch as you gently toss the snowball back and forth.  Each time you catch the snowball, take a small step backwards.  See how far apart you can get without dropping your snowball.

catch in multiple languages


An excerpt from “Let’s Play Outside! 50 Ways to Connect Kids with Nature,” a project of the 2014 Collaborative Leadership Fellows Program, Rochester, MN.



trails condition guide

Traveler Tip:  Winter Weather Safety Tools

 

Before you head outdoors this winter, it is important to check the winter conditions and plan accordingly to ensure a safe and memorable experience!

Each Thursday afternoon, Snow Depth and Groomed Trails Conditions reports are updated online.  To find current conditions, scan through the list of trails and parks and click on the site you are interested in visiting. 

Staying warm and dry, making simple changes in your activities, and using good judgment can help you remain safe and healthy during cold winter weather.  

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Learn more about winter weather safety.


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Discover:  Give the Outdoors this Holiday!

 

Looking for some creative gift ideas or clever stocking-stuffers?  Why not give the gift of the outdoors this season by shopping online for DNR gifts?

You will find nature books, lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, Minnesota state parks permits and more.  You can also purchase Minnesota state park gift cards that can be used at any of our 75 state parks and recreation areas or at one of several dozen Nature Store locations.

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Find more DNR gift ideas!


Kao Tao

Meet the Field Staff

 

Get to know some of the field staff who take care of your Minnesota State Parks and Trails!

Meet Kao Thao, an Interpretive Naturalist - Outreach Coordinator at Fort Snelling State Park!  Kao has worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources since 1998.  He enjoys sharing his love of the natural world by bringing environmental education activities to community organizations and schools in the area.  Kao feels that he is making a positive difference in the way humans think about wildlife and he loves to share with kids all the great outdoor jobs where they could get paid to canoe, fish, watch birds and more.

One of Kao's favorite spots at Fort Snelling State Park is the top of Steamboat Landing.  It's right on the mighty Mississippi River and during low water is a great place to sit and fish.  From this spot, Kao has observed different wildlife and birds as well as kayakers, paddle boats and huge barges.

Kao loves taking nature walks, where nothing is planned and nature suprises you with new things each time.  His favorite animal is a orange-spotted sunfish, one of the smallest sunfish in Minnesota that prefers backwaters of large rivers.  This fish is seldom seen by humans but is especially colorful during the breeding season. 

Kao is proud that Fort Snelling State Park is an inner city park and has very high and diverse visitation.  With the nearby international airport, many worldwide travelers visit the park.

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Learn more about careers with DNR.


pine cone bird feeder family

December "Make & Take" Events 

 

Looking for some handmade gifts to share this holiday?  Many Minnesota state parks offer "make and take" programs for kids and adults.  From building your own snowshoes, to making bird houses and nature ornaments, you'll find some unique projects to make.

For example, check out:

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Find more programs and events.


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Discover more winter activity ideas at Explore Minnesota!

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