FAQ

What is the best way to get involved with Rovers?

Go on a trip! Without a doubt, this is the best way to learn about the Minnesota Rovers, connect with other members, and get the most out of the club. Choose a day trip if you’re not ready for an overnighter or haven’t yet signed up to be a member.

Join the e-group. The e-group is a group e-mail address that is used to communicate to all club members who are subscribed. Once you become a member of the Minnesota Rovers, you will receive an e-mail invitation to the e-group (if you provided an e-mail address when you signed up). Once subscribed, you can use the e-group to connect with other members. If you are not a member, you can read the messages on the Internet but you won’t be able to receive them via e-mail or post a message.

Come to a meeting. The Tuesday night meeting is another way to connect with others in the club. You can listen to what trips went out the previous week, plus learn about upcoming trips, watch multimedia shows of past trips, or watch other informative presentations. Don’t be shy and reach out to others and ask questions or tell them what your interests are.

Check the website often. It’s easy, convenient, and it’s updated at least once a week. The Minnesota Rovers website has a compete and up-to-date list of every trip that is planned and includes an archive of past trips. Be aware that part of what sets the Minnesota Rovers apart is the spontaneity of some of our trips. You never know what will be planned or when, so check frequently!

I’m inexperienced but I want to gain some outdoor skills. How will I fit in with the group?

One of the main goals of Minnesota Rovers is to help introduce those new to the outdoors to learn new skills and try new things. The range of experience of Rovers varies greatly—some people come mostly for socializing, but still love the outdoors and others are hard-core in whatever outdoor activity they choose, but are always willing to help. And, of course, there’s everything in-between! An excerpt from our brochure…

If you’re an interested beginner, seasoned Rovers will help you develop outdoor skills—the techniques required for climbing a sheer cliff, paddling a lively stretch of whitewater, or skiing a tricky backwoods trail. If you’re experienced, you’ll meet other people who share your enthusiasm.

Also, please notice our trip descriptions usually offer some guidance as to the level of difficulty. They will say something like, “beginners welcome” or “experienced backpackers only” (or whatever activity it happens to be). Or it might say how many miles they plan to cover per day. We also try to add a trip difficulty level of beginner, intermediate, or advanced. These tools should help you judge which trips are right for you, and there’s always a contact person if you need to discuss more specific details.

We have an equipment “Cage” where we have a variety of equipment you can borrow for Minnesota Rover trips once you become a member. This way you can try new things without the big investment of buying your own tent, backpack, canoe, snowshoes, etc.

We encourage you to join us on some day trips, whether they’re social or active, to get to know some of the members and you’ll get an idea how diverse we really are.

Keep checking the activities page to see what’s going on. Find something you’re interested in, then contact the trip coordinator with additional questions. They will be more than happy to help!

Who can I contact for more information?

Have a question? Send us a message using the form on our contact us page. Keep in mind, the club is run by volunteers who also like to have fun outside, so be patient if your message isn’t answered right away.

What is the average age of Rovers?

Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club has over 400 members. Ages range from early 20s to late 70s, with the majority of members in their 40s and 50s.

The diversity of the group and activities makes Rovers a fun and dynamic club, in a relaxed atmosphere, for outdoor enthusiasts.

We welcome you to our Tuesday meeting to meet some of our members and hear firsthand about our ongoing trips with socializing afterward at a restaurant/bar.

Who do I contact to get something from the equipment locker?

You should contact the Equipment Director or the Equipment Assistant to borrow something from the equipment locker. See the equipment page for more details.

Who is in charge of the organization?

Minnesota Rovers is managed by a board of directors. More information about the board can be found here.

How Do I Attend a Virtual Meeting / Zoom Presentation

Please note: We are now offering a few hybrid meetings (in-person with a virtual option) and in the summer months, will be meeting outdoors. Please check the Meetings page for more details.

Members

Members who are subscribed to our e-group will receive a reminder with a summary and link every Monday!

Sign up now

Non-members

To get the Zoom link, go to
https://mnrovers.org/contact-us/?directed_to=virtual-meeting
and make sure "Virtual meeting" is selected in the drop-down menu. Shortly after you submit the form, you'll receive an automated email reply with the Zoom link.

There is also a button that will take you to the request form on both the Meetings and Presentations pages.

View past presentations on our YouTube channel:

How do I become a member?

Becoming a Minnesota Rover is easy! Please see the Membership page for details.

How do I renew my membership?

Please renew your membership online.

1. Log in to your account on the Minnesota Rovers website
2. Go to the ORDERS tab
3. Click the PAY button — you'll have a choice of paying by credit card or sending a check in the mail. Using a credit card is much quicker and easier.

If you have any problems or are not able to renew your membership as outlined please contact membership here.

More information »

Where do I send my check for membership?

You must go through the sign up process, even if you are paying by check.

For renewals:

1. Log in to your account on the Minnesota Rovers website
2. Go to the ORDERS tab
3. Click the PAY button (go to step 4 below)

For new members:

1. Click the SIGN UP button on the Minnesota Rovers website
2. Click JOIN NOW, then choose your membership level (go to step 4 below)

Continued ...

4. Choose “Pay by check”
5. Read and agree to the terms and conditions, then click SIGN UP NOW
6. An email confirmation will be sent to you that includes the address to send your check
7. Your order will be put ON HOLD until the check has been received and processed by our membership team. (This may take several weeks.)

Will my membership automatically renew after one year?

When new members sign up, the auto-renew feature is automatically turned on. If you do not wish to auto-renew, follow the instructions below to change it.

Members who signed up before August 19, 2019 are required to manually renew each year unless you turn on the auto-renew setting and add your credit card* information.

You will receive two e-mail reminders (two weeks and two days) before your membership expires.

How to change the auto-renew option for your membership

1. Click Login at the top right corner of the website. Enter your username (email address) and your password.
2. You will see your My Membership page/dashboard. Select My Subscription in the box on the left.
3. Select or deselect Auto renew.

*No credit card information is stored by Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club. Our payment processor, Stripe’s, platform includes security and compliance tools to help keep payments safe and meets the highest certification standards.

Where do I find my membership card?

• Your membership card is now online! Simply log in and you’ll find it in your Dashboard
• Your membership number and expiration date are shown on your Membership Card
• If you do not see your Membership Card, you are not a current member and will need to sign up or renew
• Print your membership card or save it as a screenshot on your phone for when you need to check out gear or present it for discounts

What is the Rovers e-group?

The e-group is a group e-mail address that is used to communicate to all club members who are subscribed. There are a variety of uses for this forum such as:

• To invite others to join you on a last-minute day trip (ski, hike, bike ride, etc.) that was not announced at the previous meeting or posted on the Rovers website. Overnight trips may be sent to the e-group after the trip has been submitted for posting on the Rovers website.
• To get a feel for what kind of interest there might be for a trip you are considering coordinating.
• To alert members of an important event, issue (non-political), or change in plans or procedures.
• To post a trip report of a trip you recently coordinated or attended.
• To post a message to generate interest in certain activities or locations.

Subscription to the e-group is available to Minnesota Rovers club members only. Only current club members will be able to post messages and receive messages via email.

Guidelines

• Please use the e-group responsibly. Absolutely NO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING for personal gain.
• Please always sign your name at the end of your post. Anonymous posts are not welcome.
• When replying to a message you receive via the e-group, first ask yourself, “Do 800+ people want to receive my reply or just the person who posted this message?” Using the REPLY button will send your reply to the person who posted the message only. Please use the REPLY TO ALL button responsibly!
• All posted messages reflect the opinion of the sender — not the views of the club. To keep this a positive environment, we request that all participants express their opinions in a positive, constructive manner.
• Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club reserves the right to ban or restrict subscribers of this e-group.
• Minnesota Rovers members should not publicly post participants’ personally identifiable information (email address, phone number, etc.).

Gear Swap Subgroup

We also have a separate subgroup for buying, selling, or trading gear. To join that group, login to your groups.io account, find the Subgroups link on the left, then you’ll see a list of subgroups available to join. Click on Gear Swap then click the +Join This Group button.

Too many emails?

You can log into the e-group and change your settings to no emails, digest, or summary. Read more tips on controlling the volume of messages in the Help Center.

If you haven’t already set up a password, click the “email me a link to log in” button — or if you have, just enter your email address and password.

Login

You’ll find the settings under the Subscription link in the navigation.

If you want to completely leave the group, you can click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of one of the email messages.

If you need help, send an e-mail to [email protected]

What kinds of trips and activities can I do with Rovers?

At Minnesota Rovers, our members organize a variety of trips for all levels throughout the year. Be sure to check out our Trips page to see upcoming activities, and our Trips Archive for activities that have been organized in the past. This archive can also inspire you to plan your own outings. Can’t find you’re looking for? Don't hesitate to take the initiative and coordinate your own trip. Additionally, members can post on our e-group to gauge interest in the type of outing you’d like to do. At our club, everyone has the opportunity to shape their outdoor experiences.

Rovers trips are quiet outdoors-related adventures that involve some type of self-propelled movement, a physical activity, or a special appreciation of the outdoors and are consistent with the preservation of natural environments. Indoor activities qualify when related to an outdoor activity, such as training or practice. Social activities in conjunction with outdoor adventure are encouraged, but social-only activities are not official Rovers trips. Approval of trips is at the discretion of the Rovers board.

How do I sign up for a trip?

At a meeting: If you find out about a trip while attending a meeting, seek out the coordinator and talk to them about their trip. Ask questions and get any details you need. If you are sure you want to go, give them a deposit and your contact information. If the coordinator is not at the meeting, you can get their contact information from the trips and activities page and you can then call or e-mail the coordinator to get more details and mail your deposit.

Using the website: Another way to sign up for a trip is to go on the trips and activities page and look at the list of upcoming activities. The coordinator’s name and contact information will be listed below the trip details. Contact the coordinator for more details and how to sign up.

It is very important to remember that you are not guaranteed a spot on a trip unless you have an active Minnesota Rovers membership and until you pay a deposit to the trip coordinator.

Note: Most day trips do not require you to sign up. For example, a coordinator of a day hike or bike ride often expects people to just show up. It is always a good idea to send a courtesy e-mail to let them know you plan to be there or to cancel if your plans change, so they know to look out for you.

I tried to sign up for a trip but I was told it was full. What should I do?

The trips fill up on a first-come basis and a deposit is required to guarantee your spot on a trip. When you see a trip you like contact the trip coordinator and make sure you get a deposit to them as soon as possible.

If you find out the trip is full and you are a “new Rover” (recently joined Rovers for the first time) check to see if there are any spots reserved for new Rovers. Also ask if there is a wait list for the trip. Sometimes people will have to cancel and others will be needed to fill their place.

What should I bring on a trip?

The trip coordinator would be able to answer this question for you. Usually the coordinator will communicate via e-mail with details of the trip. Often there is information pertinent to the trip provided on the website for your convenience. Also check the Trip Planning page for sample packing lists, tips on gear etc.

Where can I find proper gear for a trip?

The Minnesota Rovers maintain a storage locker in St. Paul called the cage. This storage locker is stocked with all types of gear that members may check out to use for any Minnesota Rover trips they are going on. There are two members responsible for managing the check-in/check-out process at the cage. See the Equipment page for the current Equipment Coordinators.

Usually, if someone needs to borrow something from the cage, they can arrange with a cage person to pick it up at one of the Tuesday meetings.

This is a great way to try different equipment without having to make a huge investment in gear right away. Please see the Membership page for more details.

May I bring children on a trip?

To officially be a member of the club, one must be 18 years of age or older, but children are welcome to come along on activities if it’s okay with the trip coordinator. Additionally, children must be under the supervision of the adult trip participant who has agreed to be responsible for them on the trip.

Rovers trips mainly consist of adults, but there are often family-friendly trips as well. Check the activities page for trips that say family friendly, children welcome, or something similar in the description. If you see an activity that does not have such wording, feel free to check with the trip coordinator to see how they feel about it.

One of the greatest aspects of our club is that any member can coordinate a trip, so the more family trips we have, the more families that will have the opportunity to get out and play outside! So in other words, if you want more family-friendly activities, join the club and start coordinating your own to get the ball rolling!

Trip Policy

How do I coordinate my own trip?

Oooh, we’re glad you asked! The club wouldn’t exist without our trip coordinators — anyone can coordinate a trip. You might want to get a feel for the interest level within the club for the type of trip you are considering coordinating. Then it would be your responsibility to do some preliminary planning and organizing of the details of the trip. Next, submit your trip to be posted on the website — be sure to include all pertinent information in the trip description so people know what they are signing up for. You are encouraged to come to the Tuesday meeting to talk about your trip and to be available to answer any questions.

Within Minnesota Rovers, there is a huge knowledge base you can tap into…all you have to do is ASK. There are many seasoned Minnesota Rovers that are always willing to help with the logistics of virtually any trip. If you can’t make it to a meeting to network, try utilizing the Rovers e-group to post a message and someone will steer you in the right direction.

How do I know if my trip participants are active members?

You can view a list of current members and their expiration date on the Member List page. Current members will find a link to it on their My Membership page. For your convenience, the list is searchable by name! The list is updated automatically when someone signs up or renews online; however, there may be some lag time if a member signs up or renews in person or by mailing a check. In that case, please contact a membership director for verification or questions.