
What we’re about
This Meetup group provides free events and activities centered around the Big 6 wildlife-dependent recreational uses for visitors of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation.
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is composed of 14,000 acres that stretch 70 miles along the Minnesota River from Fort Snelling in Bloomington to Henderson and includes a 10,000-acre, 14-county Wetland Management District. Since its founding in 1976 by motivated residents, all activities and events at the Refuge have remained free and open to everyone. Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is one of 14 National Priority Urban Refuges within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. With more than 46 miles of trails and two visitor centers, the Refuge is unique in its urban setting that is tucked within the shadows of the Mall of America and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, as well as within walking distance of the metro area's light rail system. The Refuge provides its 3.5 million neighbors in the Twin Cities, as well as visitors from around the world, with opportunities to connect with nature, participate in a variety of outdoor recreational activities, and improve habitat for resident and migrating wildlife. Plan your visit to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge by visiting https://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota_valley/.
This group is sponsored by Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends, a mostly volunteer group supporting the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge through volunteering, fundraising and advocacy. To more, sign up for our newsletter and become a member at our website, https://www.mnvalleyrefugefriends.org/.
Photo of Old Cedar Avenue bridge by Mike Richards. Used with permission.
Upcoming events
4
Intro to Hiking: Creatures of the Night!
Refuge Headquarters and Bloomington Education and Visitor Center , 3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN, USPlease join us on Hallows Eve eve for a nocturnal creature feature of a hike! We will be roaming the Long Meadow Lake trail in hopes of spotting some of our night-loving residents.
This is a family friendly program that will be fully outdoors with no prior experience needed. The main focus will be a slower-paced hike centered around getting to know the refuge's nocturnal residents and the habitat they live in. Registration is optional.
Questions? Contact MinnesotaValley@fws.gov or call (952) 854-5900 (press 1 to reach Visitor Services).
Location: Meet us in front of the at the Bloomington Visitor Center main entrance.
3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington, MN 55425Registration Information: Registration optional through Signup.com
Optional registration allows us to prepare supplies and materials for the program, send reminders, and allows us to contact you in the event of inclement weather!
Activity Level: This is an easy active program taking place after sunset. The program will start with an introduction then we will walk on a trail for about 1-1.5 miles. This program is for all ages.
What to Bring: Please wear weather appropriate clothing and bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Accessibility: Accessibility at Bloomington Visitor Center:
Restrooms and water fountains are located inside the visitor center. Handicap parking and drop-off available. Visitor center is flat aggregate or carpeted flooring with ramps to access all areas. There are benches and rest areas around the visitor center.Hillside and Spur trails are natural surface with has steep slopes, with a wooden staircase for a portion of it. Long Meadow Lake trail is accessed via these sloped trails, but itself is mostly flat and is natural surface. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter) and may not always be suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. There are no benches in the trail area. Trailheads are a 0.1-0.2 mile distance from the parking lot.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs at least ten business days before the event to Oscar Hernandez at oscar_hernandez@fws.gov.
30 attendeesDiscovering the Stories of Rapids Lake
15865 Rapids Lake Rd, Carver, MN, USDiscover the stories and fascinating secrets of the Rapids Lake site. Participants will take a walk to explore the site and learn the history of land they walk on. This program is FREE to all ages and no experience is needed. Registration is required; the program will shift to indoors in the event of severe weather.
Questions? Contact MinnesotaValley@fws.gov or call (952) 854-5900 (press 1 to reach Visitor Services).
Location: Meet us at the classrooms at the Rapids Lake Visitor Center.
15865 Rapids Lake Rd, Carver, MN 55315Registration Information: Registration required through Signup.com. Capped at 15 participants
Activity Level: This program starts indoors and will shift outdoors for the walk. Total distance covered is less than 1 mile and the pace is slow, with many stops along the way.
What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Accessibility: Accessibility at the Rapids Lake Visitor Center:
Restrooms and a water bottle filler are available inside the visitor center. There is an outdoor restroom, but no outdoor water fountains. There is dedicated handicap parking available. The Rapids Lake Trail and Forest Loop are flat natural surface paths and the trail leading to both is paved with a slight downward slope. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter). Paths may not always be suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. It is a 0.1-0.2 mile walk to get to the trailhead from the parking lot. There are no rest areas along the trails but are present inside and outside the visitor center.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs at least ten business days before the event to Oscar Hernandez at oscar_hernandez@fws.gov.
7 attendeesIntermediate Hiking: Bloomington Ferry
11255 Bloomington Ferry Rd, Minneapolis, MN, USAre you wanting to get more into hiking but are having a hard time finding trails? Well, we're here to show you the way!
This Intermediate Hiking program is designed for beginner hikers to take it to the next level with the guidance of refuge staff. Over 1.5 hours we will be walking 3 miles on a refuge trail with no scheduled breaks. Registration is optional.
Questions? Contact MinnesotaValley@fws.gov or call (952) 854-5900 (press 1 to reach Visitor Services).
Location: Meet us at the trailhead at the Bloomington Ferry Trailhead
11255 Bloomington Ferry Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438Registration Information: Registration optional through Signup.com
Optional registration allows us to prepare supplies and materials for the program, send reminders, and allows us to contact you in the event of inclement weather!
Activity Level: This is an intermediate-moderate active program. Prior experience with hiking is recommended since we will be covering 3 miles in 1.5 hours with no planned breaks.
What to Bring: Please bring a full water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. We recommend wearing long pants, close-toed shoes and weather appropriate clothing.
Accessibility: There are no restrooms or water fountains at this location. There are no dedicated handicap parking spots. Bloomington Ferry and River Bottoms trails are natural surface, mostly flat, with entries to trails moderately sloped. Minnesota Valley State Trail is handicap accessible, paved and mostly flat, with access via a pedestrian bridge. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter) and may not always be suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. There are no benches in the area. Kiosk is a <0.1 mile distance from the parking lot.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs at least ten business days before the event to Oscar Hernandez at oscar_hernandez@fws.gov.
14 attendees
Past events
790