05-06-2008, 11:10 AM
If free admission to Wild River State Park isn't enough to lure you to the park on Saturday, May 17, consider the other attractions available that day. Minnesota native wildflowers will be available for purchase, so you can get a start on a butterfly garden or enlarge an existing landscaping-for-wildlife planting on your property. You can experience a taste of the history of the Ojibwe in Minnesota with Bruce White, author of "We Are At Home: Pictures of the Ojibwe People", enjoy an Ojibwe cultural celebration with traditional songs and dances, help enrich the restored prairie habitat in the park or visit with "Ripley", the park's nearly six-foot long captive bull snake.
All programs are free and open to the public. Wild River State Park is located 3 miles north of Minnesota Highway 95 at Almelund, halfway between Taylors Falls and North Branch. For park information, call (651) 583-2125 or visit <a href=http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/wild_river/index.html>our website</a>. For naturalist program information call (651)583-2925.
Here's the schedule of events for Seegwan* 2008:
*Ojibwe word for spring
Open House Day! MN State Park Vehicle Permit is NOT Required on May 17th, 2008. FREE Admission to the Park! A Day of Family Fun and Hands-On Learning ~ Pack a picnic lunch & come out to the park!
Saturday, May 17th
The 25th Annual Celebration of Spring at Wild River State Park
7:30 - 9 a.m. Spring Bird Hike at the Boat Landing (River Access)<br />
â— Led by Sue Leaf, Wild River Audubon Chapter<br />
â— Bring binoculars if you have them
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. At the Trail Center<br />
â— Native Plant Sale by the Friends of Wild River - Come find the perfect native plant for your garden or prairie restoration area<br />
â— Chisago County Master Gardeners - Locally grown plants, answers to your gardening questions<br />
â— Kids for Saving Earth and seed matching activities for kids
11 - 11:45 a.m. - BIG SNAKES at the Visitor Center<br />
â— A brief summary of Wild River's slitheriest critters and a chance to touch Minnesota's biggest species - the prairie-loving bull snake
1 - 2 p.m. - Bruce White at the Trail Center<br />
â— Meet local historian, anthropologist, and author of "We Are at Home: Pictures of the Ojibwe People." Mr. White will share photographs of Ojibwe people in the St. Croix Valley and Mille Lacs area.
2 - 3 p.m. - Help bring back a prairie at the Trail Center<br />
â— Help sow some of last fall's volunteer-collected seed in new locations. Easy and fun to do for any age.
3 - 5 p.m. - Performance by Mille Lacs band of Ojibwe at the amphitheater<br />
â— Join several singers and dancers from the Mille Lacs Band who will share traditional stories, dances, artifacts and pictures.
Seegwan is sponsored by Friends of Wild River State Park. Additional funding provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and a Minnesota Sesquicentennial grant.
Also coming this summer: more programs supported by Friends of Wild River State Park<br />
* denotes Minnesota Sesquicentennial event
Slithery Snakes<br />
June 8 through August 24,<br />
Weekly on Sundays, 11 a.m.
Stephanie "The Bat Lady"<br />
June 21, 7:30 p.m.
The Art of Blacksmithing in 1858<br />
June 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Big, Bad and Beautiful Bugs<br />
July 5, 2 to 3 p.m.
*The Ancient Art of Stone Tools<br />
July 12, 1 to 4 p.m.
*Logger's Tales - The Story of the Great White Pine Logging Era Told in Photos<br />
July 19, 9 p.m.
Nature and Campfire Stories Told by Dwight Wilcox<br />
July 26 & August 16, 7:30 p.m.
*Wildflowers of the 1850s on the Old Military Road<br />
July 26, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
*Historical Herbs for Health<br />
August 2, 2 p.m. Call for registration
Prairie Skies & Perseid Meteors<br />
August 8 & 9, 9 p.m.
*Visit with Anna Sheldon, 1876<br />
August 23, 2 p.m.
Get Your Dancing Shoes<br />
August 23, Dance Workshop from 5 to 6 p.m.<br />
Performance at 6:30 p.m.
*From Prairie to Potatoes and Back Again - Restoring the Landscape at Wild River<br />
September 7 through October 26, Saturdays only, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
All programs are free and open to the public. Wild River State Park is located 3 miles north of Minnesota Highway 95 at Almelund, halfway between Taylors Falls and North Branch. For park information, call (651) 583-2125 or visit <a href=http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/wild_river/index.html>our website</a>. For naturalist program information call (651)583-2925.
Here's the schedule of events for Seegwan* 2008:
*Ojibwe word for spring
Open House Day! MN State Park Vehicle Permit is NOT Required on May 17th, 2008. FREE Admission to the Park! A Day of Family Fun and Hands-On Learning ~ Pack a picnic lunch & come out to the park!
Saturday, May 17th
The 25th Annual Celebration of Spring at Wild River State Park
7:30 - 9 a.m. Spring Bird Hike at the Boat Landing (River Access)<br />
â— Led by Sue Leaf, Wild River Audubon Chapter<br />
â— Bring binoculars if you have them
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. At the Trail Center<br />
â— Native Plant Sale by the Friends of Wild River - Come find the perfect native plant for your garden or prairie restoration area<br />
â— Chisago County Master Gardeners - Locally grown plants, answers to your gardening questions<br />
â— Kids for Saving Earth and seed matching activities for kids
11 - 11:45 a.m. - BIG SNAKES at the Visitor Center<br />
â— A brief summary of Wild River's slitheriest critters and a chance to touch Minnesota's biggest species - the prairie-loving bull snake
1 - 2 p.m. - Bruce White at the Trail Center<br />
â— Meet local historian, anthropologist, and author of "We Are at Home: Pictures of the Ojibwe People." Mr. White will share photographs of Ojibwe people in the St. Croix Valley and Mille Lacs area.
2 - 3 p.m. - Help bring back a prairie at the Trail Center<br />
â— Help sow some of last fall's volunteer-collected seed in new locations. Easy and fun to do for any age.
3 - 5 p.m. - Performance by Mille Lacs band of Ojibwe at the amphitheater<br />
â— Join several singers and dancers from the Mille Lacs Band who will share traditional stories, dances, artifacts and pictures.
Seegwan is sponsored by Friends of Wild River State Park. Additional funding provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and a Minnesota Sesquicentennial grant.
Also coming this summer: more programs supported by Friends of Wild River State Park<br />
* denotes Minnesota Sesquicentennial event
Slithery Snakes<br />
June 8 through August 24,<br />
Weekly on Sundays, 11 a.m.
Stephanie "The Bat Lady"<br />
June 21, 7:30 p.m.
The Art of Blacksmithing in 1858<br />
June 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Big, Bad and Beautiful Bugs<br />
July 5, 2 to 3 p.m.
*The Ancient Art of Stone Tools<br />
July 12, 1 to 4 p.m.
*Logger's Tales - The Story of the Great White Pine Logging Era Told in Photos<br />
July 19, 9 p.m.
Nature and Campfire Stories Told by Dwight Wilcox<br />
July 26 & August 16, 7:30 p.m.
*Wildflowers of the 1850s on the Old Military Road<br />
July 26, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
*Historical Herbs for Health<br />
August 2, 2 p.m. Call for registration
Prairie Skies & Perseid Meteors<br />
August 8 & 9, 9 p.m.
*Visit with Anna Sheldon, 1876<br />
August 23, 2 p.m.
Get Your Dancing Shoes<br />
August 23, Dance Workshop from 5 to 6 p.m.<br />
Performance at 6:30 p.m.
*From Prairie to Potatoes and Back Again - Restoring the Landscape at Wild River<br />
September 7 through October 26, Saturdays only, 1 to 2:30 p.m.