- Estimated Cost: $150
- Max Trip Size: 72 people
Hello Rovers!
Join us for this year’s Rovers Astronomy Weekend trip to Long Lake Conservation Center (LLCC)! This year’s trip will be from Fri. 7/14 thru Sun. 7/16 (with an optional stay into Mon. 7/17).
On this trip we’ll hike, paddle and do other Roverish activities during the day, and then stargaze at night, peering at some of the sky’s cosmic wonder thru some of the largest telescopes in Minnesota. July is a magical time to be out under the stars. The Summer Milky Way will stretch all the way across the sky, will all of its nebulae and star clusters visible to us thru our telescopes.
Long Lake Conservation Center (LLCC) is near McGregor, MN… about a 2.5 hr drive north of MSP, on the other side of Mills Lacs.
Estimated trip cost will be $150-$200, depending on which accommodations and meals you select.
Tentative Schedule:
Fri. July 14th
- 5:00pm or later arrival
- 9:30pm – Astronomical Viewing after dark on observing field (weather permitting)
- No Meals Provided (bring your own dinner)
Sat. July 15th (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner are available for purchase, or bring your own)
- 10:00am – Optional Naturalist-led Hike within LLCC ($5/person)
- 1:00pm – Hiking/Biking at Savannah Portage State Park
- 9:30pm – Astronomical Viewing after dark on observing field (weather permitting)
Sun. July 16th (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner are available for purchase, or bring your own)
- 1:00pm – Hiking/Biking/Paddling at Cuyuna Recreation Area near Ironton, MN
- Paddlers must bring your own canoe or kayak, or rent one from REI, Hoigaards or locally from Cuyuna Outfitters in Crosby (they’ll deliver their boats to the boat launch)
- Trip officially ends after the Sunday late-afternoon activity at Cuyuna
Mon. July 17th (Optional)
- No group events planned (Rice Lake NWR is nearby, and is a beautiful area to explore)
- No meals will be available for purchase at LLCC
- Local restaurants will be open — or bring your own food
There is no deposit necessary for this trip. We are still working with LLCC on meals/accommodations costs. Once those are determined, and LLCC has their website updated, trip members can register and pay them directly.
In the meantime, drop me an e-mail at [email protected] to let me know that you are interested in coming. When doing so, let me know if you have any food allergies or roommate preferences.
We hope to see you on this year’s trip!!