Mobile Menu

  • About Us
    • About the Club
    • Conservation
    • Board of Directors
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Trips & Activities
    • All Trips
    • Special Events
    • FAQ
  • Weekly Meeting
    • Tuesday Meeting
    • Presentations
  • Membership
    • SIGN UP!
    • Equipment
    • Member E-Group
    • Discounts
    • FAQ
  • Trip Planning
    • Trip Coordination
    • Member List
    • Packing and Gear Lists
    • Food and Recipes
  • Search
  • FAQ
  • Policies
  • Become a Member!
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Submit a Trip
  • Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Submit a Trip

Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club

Want to play outside?

  • About Us
    • About the Club
    • Conservation
    • Board of Directors
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Trips & Activities
    • All Trips
    • Special Events
    • FAQ
  • Weekly Meeting
    • Tuesday Meeting
    • Presentations
  • Membership
    • SIGN UP!
    • Equipment
    • Member E-Group
    • Discounts
    • FAQ
  • Trip Planning
    • Trip Coordination
    • Member List
    • Packing and Gear Lists
    • Food and Recipes
  • Search

2020

You are here: Home / Archives for 2020

Browse past presentations: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014

Tue Dec 292020

Adventures of Volunteering at a National Park

Come hear about how it was living in a large national park during the spring lockdown. The park was closed so there were no people but there were birds, seals, whales, coyotes and more.  Karen will share her experiences and also talk about how you can volunteer at a National Park.

Karen joined Rovers in 2017.  Last years she was the Assistant Membership Director and this year she is serving as the Membership Director. She enjoys camping, backpacking, hiking, biking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. She is a big fan of volunteering in National Parks and the wonderful experiences it provides.
Tue Dec 222020

Winter Cycling

You’ve probably seen people cycle in the winter but may have not tried it yet. In this presentation, Steven Malikowski will give tips for winter cycling. Many of the tips involve what you should wear, and that’s very similar to clothing you wear for cross-country skiing or winter hiking. Other tips will involve optional changes to a bike, where to ride, and there will be a short segment on riding under a full moon at night. Pictures of those night rides will be included.

Tue Dec 152020

10 Day-Birding and Hot Springs Tour in Colombia

Jim H and Liz describe a 10 day Rover eco-trip to Colombia last year. They visited Valle de Cocora for hiking and the cloud forest of Tatama National Park on the Western Andean slopes.

Jim has been a Rover since 2006 and has led trips throughout Wisconsin, also to Oregon, Nevada, Utah. He has also led Rover trips to Mexico and Colombia. He enjoys cross-country and downhill skiing, Camping and traveling.

Liz S. has been a Rover since 2005. She plants gardens to attract wildlife. She is a software developer and a Minnesota volunteer Master Gardener.

Tue Dec 82020

Adventures in Yellowstone: Geysers, Hot Springs, and Grizzly Bears, Oh My!

No matter how many times one goes to Yellowstone, there will always be something new or different to see.

Old Faithful is a must see, but there are also many other off the beaten path adventures to be had. Some of the hikes were planned, while most were spur of the moment (pun intended).

Animal sightings are a given, but it’s often times a matter of luck. One such sighting was once in a lifetime.

Darcy A. has been a Rover for about 5 years and has been the Director of Publicity for 4 years. Among the things she enjoys doing are camping, hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and biking.

Tue Dec 12020

Our Borneo Adventure: Hiking up Mt. Kinabalu in Sabah and Climbing the Pinnacles in Sarawak

Our Borneo Adventure: Back to Back Hiking Up Mt Kinabalu in Sabah and Climbing The Pinnacles in Sarawak

Mike S and Norrie went to Malaysia in January 2020 to experience the two World Heritage Sites in Malaysia, namely: Gunung Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia and Gunung Mulu in Sarawak, Malaysia. Both are on the island of Borneo.

Mike S. is a long time Rover who still enjoys hiking in the mountains.

Tue Nov 242020

Introduction to Snowshoeing

What started thousands of years ago as a mode of transportation has evolved into a hot trend in winter sports that almost anyone can do. It is an excellent way to enjoy the winter in MN. Relatively inexpensive and easy to learn, snowshoeing offers an invigorating cardio workout for people of all ages and fitness levels. Tune in and learn more about it. Presented by Barry S.

Barry has been a Rover for about 15 years including 10 years on the Rover board. One of his favorite Rover trips is the England canal trips that he has done twice and was set to do a third time this spring. One thing he likes to do, in England and here, is long hikes, and he has hiked from Eagan to both Rover meeting locations in Saint Paul.

Tue Nov 172020

Kayaking and Sightseeing in Cuba

Kayaking and Sightseeing in Cuba
In March 2019, Rovers Margaret, Paul and Stephanie joined a People-to-People group tour to Central Cuba that featured kayaking, cultural experiences and sightseeing.  Come along for the ride as they paddle in the Bay of Pigs, visit a Cuban crocodile breeding facility, see the world’s smallest hummingbird, follow in Hemingway’s footsteps, enjoy night after night of live music, and much more!
Presenters: Margaret B., Paul S., Stephanie S
Stephanie has been a Rover since 2011, not counting the first time she drove over to a Rovers meeting but chickened out before getting out of her car. She loves to kayak (especially rivers), bike, hike, and cross-country ski.
Paul has been a Rover for 10 years. He enjoys kayaking, biking, paddling, hiking, cross-country skiing and Border Route Trail maintaining.  His favorite Rovers trip was the 2015 Gooseberry Falls trip where he met Stephanie!
Margaret has been a Rover (on-and-off) for 15 years.  She is an avid cyclist, bike commuter and kayaker.  Her first trip to Cuba was in 2009 for the Havana Film Festival!
Tue Nov 102020

Minnesota DNR Hiking Club Challenge

Meeting the Hiking Club Challenge!

The MN DNR has issued a challenge to hikers – can you hike a designated trail in 68 of our state parks? Doug and Heidi have accepted the challenge and this presentation will explain the Hiking Club, tell how to get started, share some tips for success, and point out a few of Minnesota’s lesser known “gems.”
 
Heidi Hammond is retired from St. Catherine University and loving life in retirement. She hikes and bikes in the summer and likes to cross country ski and snowshoe in the winter. Her favorite playmate is Doug Johnson. She has given a few presentations for the Rovers in the past, her most recent being her solo hike of the Cotswold Way.
Doug has been a club member (and former officer) since 2016 and is an avid hiker and casual bicyclist, He retired last year after 43 years in education. He has traveled to over 53 countries and hiked the Grand Canyon, the Inca Trail, Mount Kilimanjaro, Abel Tasman (NZ), the Great Glen Way, Ciudad Perdida, and Isle Royale. I would call Heidi my favorite “playmate” but she might take it the wrong way.
Tue Nov 32020

NO MEETING: VOTE!

No Presentation tonight. Vote and watch the election returns!

Tue Oct 272020

Snow Monsters Of Zao: Japan

Snow Monsters and where to find them

Description: on top of the Zao Onsen ski resort in Yamagata prefecture in Japan live some mysterious snow monsters. Unlike Sasquatch, they have been more than just sighted and have been photographed, touched, and studied. In this presentation Johanna will show you where to find those snow monsters, discuss the scientific explanation of what they actually are, and present the best ways to get a close encounter with a snow monsters.

Johanna Ficatier grew up in France then moved to Japan for her first job after graduation. Living near the Japanese Alps she enjoyed 8 years of being an active member and volunteer of the Japanese Alpine club, participating and leading countless mountaineering adventures. Moving to Minnesota in 2016, She joined the Rovers and has enjoyed discovering different types of outdoor activities. When not playing outside, Johanna is a Quality engineer for Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Tue Oct 202020

Smartphone Birding: Finding and Identifying birds with your Smartphone

Smartphone Birding: How to use your smartphone to not only find birds, but to identify them.

There are dozens of birding apps, Sharon shares her personal favorites and even demonstrates how to use your phone to take pictures with your optics.

 

Sharon Stiteler is a writer and park ranger based in the Twin Cities metro area. She has written three books and appears regularly on tv and radio at “The Birdchick” answering your wild bird questions.

Tue Oct 132020

Easy to build kayaks

People may be looking for projects while social distancing during the pandemic this winter. This presentation demonstrates lightweight, seaworthy, easy to build kayaks which can be done by people not trained in boat building or woodwork from free downloadable plans.

Tue Oct 62020

Favorite Gear, Tips, Tricks, and Hacks

More info to come.

Rover Tina B will be leading a discussion about your favorite gear, tips, tricks and hacks. Come with your own favs.

Tue Sep 292020

Rover Intro Show

Everybody loves the Rover Intro Show that we have every spring and fall at REI. Now we are going virtual, with pictures, discussions about the varied activities we do, and a chance to connect with people who love the outdoors and would love to be Rovers, but don’t know it yet. Let your friends know and invite them to a Rover showcase.

Tue Sep 222020

Lessons through the Lens: Urban Wildlife Photography

Sleeping bees and costume-artist caterpillars. Crash-landing grebes in April snow and great blue herons swimming in July’s heat. Since Karen Kraco picked up a DSLR camera for the first time four years ago, she has been astonished by how many remarkable moments she’s witnessed. On reflection, though, she’s realized that what’s remarkable to us is simply day-to-day routine for the beings with whom we cross paths, moments that we might see more often if we were to sit still enough for long enough.  Karen sees her urban wildlife photography  as a form of street photography: candids of creatures simply living their lives, in spaces that are just as much theirs as ours.  She’s eager to share what she’s captured and learned about them.

 

Bio:

Karen loves birds and bees and spending quiet time outdoors. For many years she has alternated writing and editing with teaching high school science, sometimes doing both at the same time.  Her nature articles and photos have appeared in the Northeaster newspaper and the Outdoors section of the Star Tribune, and she writes and shoots regularly for the Northeaster,  lately about social justice topics. Her profiles, feature stories, and poetry have appeared in other local and regional publications, and her photos in juried exhibitions at local art center.  You can find her and her fine art photography at the Studios at Chautauqua Lane, #155 Northrup King Building, Northeast Minneapolis on Saturday afternoons and First Thursday evenings, or online at KracoCreative.com.

Tue Sep 152020

The Voyageurs Wolf Project: Understanding the Secret Lives of Wolves in the Northwoods

Description: Berry-eating, fish-hunting, beaver-ambushing wolves?? The Voyageurs Wolf Project was started to address one of the biggest knowledge gaps in wolf ecology: what do wolves do during the summer in forested ecosystems? Despite decades of research, the answer to this question has remained elusive due to the difficulties of studying wolves during the summer. With the help of advanced GPS-tracking technology and remote video cameras, the Voyageurs Wolf Project has been able to get an unprecedented look at the summer ecology of wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem in Northern Minnesota. This research has revealed new aspects of wolf hunting behavior and shown just how variable wolf diets during the summer are. So come learn about the complex and fascinating lives of wolves in the Northwoods, and literally see for yourself (from our remote video footage) how these elusive wolves make a living.

My bio: 
Tom Gable is the project lead for the Voyageurs Wolf Project and he recently completed his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. He has been studying wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem since 2014 when he started his Master’s at Northern Michigan University. Gable is particularly fascinated by wolf-beaver interactions and much of his graduate work to date has focused on understanding how wolves hunt and kill beavers, and conversely how beavers avoid fatal encounters with wolves. Much of Gable’s early interest in wolves stemmed from encountering wolf tracks, kills, and the occasional wolf while exploring the wild places around his family’s cabin just outside of Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario during the winter. During and after his Bachelor’s in Biology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, Gable worked as a wolf research technician in Grand Teton National Park and on the Minnesota Wolf and Deer Project in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). His time in the BWCAW fostered a deep appreciation and love for the iconic Northwoods of Minnesota.

Tue Sep 82020

Lasting Legacy: Spirit of the St. Croix

The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway was created in 1968 as one of the first waterways protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Today the St. Croix River and its largest tributary, the Namekagon River, combine to offer over 230 miles of recreational opportunities including paddling pristine waters, wilderness-like camping, and incredible birding and fishing opportunities. Park Ranger Dale Cox will share the history of this incredible resource and how to find your place in this park.
Bio
Dale Cox has been a Park Ranger with the National Park Service for over 25 years, most of that time with the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Originally from the Ozarks river country, he has spent his career exploring wild places and paddling moving waters. Today he sees the story of our nation’s waters as a cautionary tale about our country and its people.
Tue Sep 12020

Armchair Travels

Join us for some “Armchair Travels”!  We may not currently be able to travel as much as we might like, however we can immerse ourselves in a good book and live vicariously through the adventures of others.  You’ll meet five Rovers (Tina B., Margo H., Christy J., Kyra S., and Barry S.) who will each be featuring their favorite travel/adventure themed book.  At the end of the presentation, we’ll open it up to all the meeting attendees to see what books others recommend.  We hope you’ll join us!

Tue Aug 252020

Minnesota Master Naturalist and Citizen Science Programs

Andrea Strauss will be talking about the Minnesota Master Naturalist Program. The University of Minnesota Extension Service teaches adults about the natural and cultural history of Minnesota  through biome based classes and helps them engage in volunteer service. Individuals completing the program are designated as Master Naturalists.
During the pandemic, while classes are more limited, there are also many opportunities to engage in Citizen Science. This might be by counting birds or making observations out in nature. Andrea will talk about these opportunities to engage in scientific research out in nature.
Tue Aug 182020

Hardships on Outdoor Trips – A Participation Presentation

Participation Presentation “Hardships on Outdoor Trips”
We ask you to tell a brief story of something you had to overcome on an outdoor trip. From getting helicoptered in for surgical emergency to spilling coffee on the only pants you brought. Funny or heart rending. Let’s share our experiences and get to know each other a bit more.
Moderated by Rover Rob
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

  • FAQ
  • Policies
  • Become a Member!
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2001–2025 Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.