2016 Annual Meeting
Friends of Itasca State Park hosted a number of activities during the peak of fall colors Saturday, Oct. 1.
Proceeds from the Friends’ raffle this year will go toward the purchase of a Mississippi Multimedia Gallery in partnership with the Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University, St. Paul. Tracy Fredin brought the table-top touch screen and visitors at the Jacob V. Brower Visitors Center enjoyed the interactive, educational river games and an exploration of the river through the arts and through time and place.
After the Friends’ annual meeting, Itasca Getaway raffle winners were drawn. Winners are Emily Teiken of Bemidji, Tracy Fredin of Minneapolis and Andy Froelich of Park Rapids.
Chicago artist John Salhus also displayed pieces from his exhibit at the Nemeth Art Center in Park Rapids at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center.
In the afternoon, some Friends members and other park visitors participated in the 10th of 12 hikes in celebration of 125 years of Minnesota State Parks and Trails and 100 years of the National Park Service. The hike followed the North Country Trail west, from the Anchor Matson trailhead and concluded at the overlook at Tim-Don-Dell hill (elevation 1,750 feet). The hike was sponsored by Itasca State Park and the Itasca Moraine and Laurentian Lakes Chapters of the National North Country Trail.
Following the hike, the Friends sponsored a program by Dr. Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota Extension Climatologist and Professor of Meteorology and Climatology. The topic was Our Changing Minnesota Climate: A Challenge to Managing Our Water Resources and Dr. Seeley included interesting data from Itasca State Park and the surrounding area.
