MN Nature in St Paul, Minnesota, is helping you enjoy March, and maple syrup season! This is the time of year when the sun feels warmer outside, maple sap starts flowing, the days are getting longer, and you may start hearing more bird songs on the trail! Soak it in and enjoy these last days of our lovely white and bright SNOW!
All events here are listed FREE, unless otherwise noted. Events at state parks require state park permits (available upon entry into the park as day pass or annual pass). Remember to share your experiences on facebook with #MNnature — get out and explore!
Note: Most cities do not allow tapping of boulevard or park trees. Certain species of trees are best for syruping, so consider taking a class to learn more about this traditional craft. Contact your city Forestry department within Parks & Rec to ask about allowances. Enjoy syrup responsibly. With pancakes. Wild blueberry pancakes. #MNnature
02/01/18 – 04/30/18
Mentored Firearm Hunt: Learn to Turkey Hunt
The DNR and National Wild Turkey Federation are teaming up to offer a mentored hunt for participants new to the sport of turkey hunting. This is a two morning hunt with a mandatory clinic. Turkey license and FAS are required. Class is open to adults, youth and/or families. Register by mid-February at www.mndnr.gov/discover
03/01/18
Full Moon Walk
6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Full Moon Walk
Snowshoeing or walking under the light of the full moon! This is a program for all experience levels. Bring your own snowshoes or call to reserve a pair. Reservations 651.231.6968 or linda.radimecky@state.mn.us. If poor snow conditions exist, we will not use snowshoes.
Afton State Park
03/03/18
Northland Fat Bike Rally
11 am The fourth annual Northland Fat Bike Rally is coming! The rally will begin with a mass start on Lake Bemidji, then head up the Rocky Point Trail for either 10K or 28K routes. All levels of riders welcome to participate. Spectators will enjoy watching and learning about this growing sport too. This weekend is the only time during the winter that park trails will be open for fat biking. Registration will be in person, beginning at 9 a.m. at the park visitor center. A mandatory meeting for all participants will be held at 10 a.m. with the start at 11:00 a.m. All riders must wear helmets. The event is free but vehicle permit ($7 daily/$35 annual) required to enter the park. Sponsored by Bemidji Area Mountain Bikers.
Lake Bemidji State Park
03/03/18
Maple Syrup Making for the Whole Family
10-11:30 Celebrate spring in Whitewater State Park?s sugar bush! This activity will introduce the long history of maple syrup and sugar making, as well as the equipment and procedures used. Participants will tap trees, gather and boil sap and best of all taste pure maple syrup! Reservations are required. Sign up by calling 507-312-2308 or email sara.holger@state.mn.us.
Whitewater State Park
03/03/18
Maple Syrup Making for the Whole Family
1-2:30 Celebrate spring in Whitewater State Park?s sugar bush! This activity will introduce the long history of maple syrup and sugar making, as well as the equipment and procedures used. Participants will tap trees, gather and boil sap and best of all taste pure maple syrup! Reservations are required. Sign up by calling 507-312-2308 or email sara.holger@state.mn.us.
Whitewater State Park
03/03/18
Tapping the Magnificent Maple
1-2 Pay a visit to Wild River State Park?s Sugar Bush and see how the maple syrup process begins. Learn how to tap a tree and collect the sap for some sugary sweetness. You will also get a chance to check out the equipment used by the park. You will need a vehicle as we will be driving to another location to tap the trees. Note: Syrup will not be processed at this program. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Wild River State Park
03/04/18
Tapping the Magnificent Maple
1-2 Geared for those with little or no fly tying experience, this clinic is designed to teach you basic fly tying skills with “hands on” instruction. Materials provided.
Wild River State Park
03/10/18
Fly Tying for Women
9:30-11:30 Geared for those with little or no fly tying experience, this clinic is designed to teach you basic fly tying skills with “hands on” instruction. Materials provided.
Afton State Park
03/10/18
Maple Syrup Making for the Whole Family
10:30-11:30 Spend some time spinning fibers into flies that you use for fly fishing! We’ll provide materials and equipment and discuss how flies imitate the preferred food of a fish. If you wear reading glasses, they will be helpful for this activity. State Park vehicle pass is required. Open to all ages 8 and up.
Whitewater State Park
03/10/18
1-2 Maple Syrup Making for the Whole Family
Celebrate spring in Whitewater State Park’s sugar bush! This activity will introduce the long history of maple syrup and sugar making, as well as the equipment and procedures used. Participants will tap trees, gather and boil sap and best of all taste pure maple syrup! Reservations are required. Sign up by calling 507-312-2308 or email sara.holger@state.mn.us.
Whitewater State Park
03/10/18
Becoming a Outdoors Woman – Fly Tying
omen Tying Flies for Fun and Fishing
Spend some time spinning fibers into flies that you use for fly fishing! We?ll provide materials and equipment and discuss how flies imitate the preferred food of a fish. If you wear reading glasses, they will be helpful for this activity. Reservations 651-231-6968, Linda.Radimecky@state.mn.us Meet at the visitor center.
Afton State Park
03/10/18
Fly tying 101
12:30-2:30 Learn about the natural history of maple trees, and the history of making maple syrup. Find out what equipment is required, how to tap trees, how to process sap into syrup, and the best part – tasting the syrup. Dress for the weather and meet at the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center (two miles from park entrance. Plan for an additional 10 minute drive through the park).
Afton State Park
03/10/18
Maple Syruping in Your Backyard
1-2:30 Learn about the natural history of maple trees, and the history of making maple syrup. Find out what equipment is required, how to tap trees, how to process sap into syrup, and the best part: tasting the syrup. Dress for the weather and meet at the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center (two miles from park entrance. Plan for an additional 10 minute drive through the park).
Fort Snelling State Park
FYI – Hunting/Fishing Seasons:
01/01/18 – 04/13/18
Stream Trout (Winter) SE – 2018 season Catch and Release season only. Dodge, Goodhue, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties only.
01/01/18 – 12/31/18
Channel Catfish – 2018 Season
01/13/18 – 04/01/18
Trout in lakes – Winter (outside or partly outside the BWCA) – 2018 season
03/01/18 – 04/30/18
Goose-Spring Light Goose conservation action
03/01/18 – 03/31/18
Crow Hunting (2nd season)
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