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Programs
Check the programs schedule frequently to see what’s coming up. After business as usual,
our meetings feature multimedia presentations and informative discussions on topics such as past
trips, wilderness preservation, equipment demonstrations, and tips & techniques such as bicycle
maintenance, backpacking for beginners, how to hang a bear bag, wild flower identification, etc.
If you would like to schedule a program/presentation or have ideas/requests for a future Rovers
program, contact Jane Pamperin.
If you have any other questions about Minnesota Rovers, please e-mail us at info@mnrovers.org.
Upcoming Programs & Presentations
- July 27: Twin Cities Unicycle Club. TCUC is the largest unicycle club in the US. Practice
is year round at various locations and times around the Twin Cities. Practices include a variety
of activities, such as individual learning, group riding, unicycle hockey and basketball, off
- road riding, unicycle racing and more. A short demonstration will be followed by time
for you to try riding. Presented by Dana and TCUC.
- August 3: Kids in Nature. Camping with Kids (rescheduled) It's been said
that children are spending more time indoors, and when they do go outside, they're
most likely to be on their way to soccer practice or some other structured activity.
As a result, kids are out of touch with fields, streams and woods. We'll look at simple ways
to connect kids (and adults) with nature, camping or day outings. This program is not
just for parents — we ALL have the ability to share our love of the outdoors with
neighbors, at outreach events, nieces and nephews, etc. Presented by Tess Y.
- August 10: Backcountry Cookoff. Show off an old favorite, or try an interesting new recipe
before you take it out on the trail. Recipes should be suitable for backpacking, take
20 min or less to prepare, and be able to be made using a single burner stove. If
you don't want to cook, bring a fork to sample the goodies and find some new meal
ideas for your next trip! Contact Jane P. by Aug 6 to participate in the cookoff.
- August 17: Basic Safety on the Water. We'll talk about: 1) Basic safety
equipment and how to use it properly 2) Water "features" that spell danger and how
to avoid them 3) What to do during an out-of-boat experience. We'll practice how to
use a throw bag and how to receive one when you are in distress. Presented by Rosie
D.
- August 24: How to Hang a Tarp. Ever wondered if it's possible to make your tarps "bomb
proof" to stand up to high winds and rain? It is possible, and we will show you how. Come
learn about time-tested tips and tricks honed from years of travel in the BWCA. Presented
by Don L.
- August 31: Gear Swap. Bring out that old gear you're no longer using,
and help someone else get the tools for their next trip! Any gear is welcome, but
there will be a focus on gear for the fall and winter seasons.
Past Programs & Presentations
The list below shows programs and presentations from past meetings. Use it as a reference for
programs you might be interested in presenting or suggesting.
- July 13: Kids in Nature / Camping with Kids. It's been said that children are spending
more time indoors, and when they do go outside, they're most likely to be on their way to soccer
practice or some other structured activity. As a result, kids are out of touch with fields,
streams and woods. We'll look at simple ways to connect kids (and adults) with nature, camping
or day outings. This program is not just for parents - we ALL have the ability to share
our love of the outdoors with neighbors, at outreach events, nieces and nephews, etc. Presented
by Tess Y.
- July 6: Camping and Backpacking with Rover. A short presentation on enjoying the
great outdoors with man's (and woman's) best friend. Share tips on what type of gear to
bring both camping and backpacking, how to keep your pup safe, and ways to help your dog become
a welcome addition to group trips. Presented by Jen W.
- June 29: Leave No Trace. All of us enjoy the outdoors and surely we all do our best
to protect the wild or natural places where we hike, camp, fish, paddle, ski, climb, sail, etc...
This program focuses on the 7 guiding principles of Leave No Trace ethics and how to apply these
principles in any given situation to minimize our impact. We'll work through a variety of scenarios
that not only illustrate key ideas but also show that what minimizes impact in one type of setting
may not work for every situation we find ourselves in. Presented by Melis A.
- June 22: Yoga for Hikers. Learn a few restorative postures to do before and after
hiking or backpacking to prevent injury and maintain flexibility. Bring a sleeping pad or whatever
you might have available on trail. Presented by Annie S.
- July 20: Parkour. Parkour is a discipline involving freedom of movement and overcoming
all obstacles in one's path. Traditional parkour focuses on the most efficient path from
point A to point B, while freerunning is more of an expression of yourself through movement. Come
see a demo of this exciting sport that combines running, climbing, jumping, and more, and give
it a try yourself! Presented by Chad Z.
- June 15: Two Flats is One Too Many. Everyone gets a flat sometime on their bike. We
will cover how to prevent getting a second flat for the same reason along with covering basic
bicycle maintenance on how to change a flat and put the wheel back on with the brakes and gears
still in working order. Presented by Greg L.
- June 8: How to Pack a Backpack. A short presentation on how to choose and pack your
backpack for comfort and security. Presented by Megan C.
- June 1: How to Portage a Canoe. If you've never portaged a canoe before, this is you
chance to see how it's done. You'll see how to safely pick up, carry, and set down a canoe,
and how to put it on a car for transport. There will be a few different canoes to try portaging
yourself. Presented by Frank T.
- May 25: Planning a BWCAW Trip. If you have ever wanted to go to the Boundary Waters
but didn't know where to start, this is your chance to find out about the permit process, route
planning, food, what to pack, and more! presented by Cari G.
- May 18 Gear Swap: Bring your unneeded gear to sell, or come find what you need for
this summer's adventures. | more |
- May 11 (first outdoor meeting) Campfire! Bring you best campfire tips to share and
enjoy some roasted marshmallows at one of the Como Park firepits.
- May 4: Intro Show. Featuring a digital slide show set to music and club representatives
available to answer questions about the club. This is a great way to find out more about Minnesota
Rovers, all the activities, and the people. Held at the Bloomington REI. Check the Special
Events page for more details.
- April 27: Hunting the Wild Mushroom. Including what's good eating, what will kill
you, what is beautiful, and the sex life of the mushroom! Presented by Barry S.
- April 20: The Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp, and the Gondogoro La: One of the World's
Greatest Treks This trek in northern Pakistan has some of the most incredible scenery on the
planet. The Trango Towers, four of the world's tallest mountains, and a 5600m snow-covered
pass are the highlights of this 2.5 week excursion. Mike has walked the Baltoro six times and
crossed the Gondogoro La twice since 2004. Pakistan is a wonderful place to travel and full
of friendly people — really! Presented by Mike F.
- April 13: Rock climbing at Black Hills and Devils Tower. Traditional and sport rock
climbing in the Needles and Rushmore areas of Black Hills, South Dakota with side trip to Devils
Tower, Wyoming. Presented by Rob C.
- April 6: Exploring in the North Dakota Badlands. See the surprising richness of nature
on the other end of North Dakota. Over Memorial weekend 2007, Suresh boldly led a band of eighteen
merry Rovers on a trip exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Watch as we hike, canoe,
bike and camp amidst wild bison and breathtaking scenery. Presented by Norm S. and Barb S.
- March 30: Exploring Germany plus the cities Salzburg, Austria and Prague, Czech Republic. View
the churches, castles, palaces, Bier halls and much more as explored by a group of Rovers on
a 17-day trip to Germany plus Salzburg and Prague in May of 2008. See historic towns in Bavaria,
the Bavarian Alps, and the sights of Munich, Prague, Salzburg, Dresden, and Berlin. Presented
by Wayne S.
- March 23: Planning a Circle Tour of Lake Superior. Find out everything you need to
know about going on this classic adventure around the biggest, baddest lake of all. Do you like
waterfalls, lighthouses and ore boats? You’ll see plenty. Want to paddle, hike and even swim?
Find out where. This is the perfect summer vacation, and easy to do on a budget. Presented by
Beth G.
- March 16: Active Transportation Challenge. Come hear about the Twin Cities Bike Walk
Ambassador program and learn how you can make a difference in your daily life, and in the environment
by biking and walking to work or to do errands, in addition to being a Rovers weekend warrior.
You'll hear how this helps build a sense of community and actually gets better communities built
so it's safe and fun to bike and walk, rather than having to jump in your car for everyday activities.
Presented by Karen N. and Lynnea A.
- March 9: Tyson Spring Cave. The discovery of a Minnesota cave of prehistoric significance.
A slide show and narration of the initial exploration, requiring cave diving (scuba), to get
beyond the water-filled passages that had stymied early explorers for decades. See the beauty
of this wild and dangerous cave that few people have seen. Presented by Steve P.
- March 2: Southern Brazil. From the coast to the canyons, come and hear Amy talk about
her 2009 trip. It was a water-loving time from learning to surf to hiking through a river in
the canyon. Presented by Amy E.
- February 23: Hiking in the Smokies and Ozarks. Presented by Uwe T.
- February 16: Cycling in Italy During the Giro d'Italia. This trip followed the three-week
2009 Giro d'Italia bike race, starting in Venice and finishing in Rome. I rode my bike up several
of the climbs of the Giro, including the climb of Mount Vesuvius, the only volcano on mainland
Europe to have erupted within the last 100 years. Presented by Susie H.
- February 9: Sailing the Apostle Islands and Lake Pepin. If you've ever wondered what
it would be like to sail the Apostles or Lake Pepin, Geoff will present 3 Rover sailing trips
from the summer of 2009 to give you an idea of why sailing is a great way to spend summer days.
For those with any level of sailing ability or interest. Presented by Geoff S.
The annual meeting of members and election for the Board of Directors will take place
before the program on, Tuesday, February 9!
- February 2: My Summer Vacation in Antarctica (or: Cold toes, cute animals, and a bit of
work). Julie will show photos from a season of field work on Ross Island, Antarctica, and
briefly note opportunities for visiting or working there. Presented by Julie B.
- January 26: A Rover Sampler. Come view a sampler of Rover trips over the past decade.
See some old faces and what fun we've been up to. Presented by Deb & Lauren G.
- January 19: Making Trips Come to Life through Pictures. Come find out how to transform
the many pictures you have taken on trips into a slideshow complete with music and motion.You
will see the step by step process of putting together your own movie of you pictures to show
friends and family all of the amazing places you see. You can also see the finished version
of the 2009 Fall Extravaganza Slideshow put together using this same software. Presented by
Kerry S.
- January 12: Controversial Copper-Nickel Mining Proposal near the BWCAW. Are you aware
that a classic clash between environmentalists and mining advocates has begun over a mining
proposal near the BWCAW? The DNR and the U.S. Corp or Engineers recently released the draft
Environmental Impact Statement that describes the anticipated environmental impacts of the Polymet
proposal for the first ever open pit copper, nickel, cobalt and precious metals mine in northeastern
Minnesota, near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt. There are several similar projects lined up behind the
Polymet proposal, waiting to see how this proposal plays out. The potential significant environmental
impacts of this type of mine may be much greater than the traditional iron ore and taconite
mining of northeast Minnesota. Read all about the PolyMet
Mining Inc./NorthMet Project on the DNR's website.
Be informed! This objective presentation will include an overview of the geology that
makes this area attractive for mining of precious metals, a brief description of the project,
a summary of its most controversial aspects, and opportunities for public participation and
input. The presenter is a hydrologist who analyzed the potential impacts to water resources
of taconite mining proposals in northeastern Minnesota from 2005-07. Presented by: Jack G.
- January 5: Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club is on Facebook and Twitter! Learn how to
get online and active in these social networks, how to play, and updates you can expect to hear
from Rovers. Presented by Kathy L.
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