2021

From wildlife and geology to tranquility, inspiration and dedicated conservation, the Baja California peninsula of Mexico and the Sea of Cortez form a thousand mile long yin-yang of mountainous desert and sea, bringing together seeming opposites in a rich interconnected web.

After capsizing an open canoe in the Pacific Ocean surf, Ginni Callahan was introduced to sea kayaking and spent the following 2 decades realizing how it offered what she was looking for: a way to get into nature, play in the waves, travel to islands, be with friends, and a context for making a positive impact on the planet. Her company Sea Kayak Baja Mexico is passionately involved in local conservation and community development.

Migration lasts for months in Minnesota. This presentation will give you an idea of what to expect when and some of the best areas to hit for birds whether you are hiking or biking.

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. Last yea r, Sharon\wowed us with her information about  birding and birding apps. She is back for an encore presentation.

We have all struggled with finding the right footwear for our outdoor activities. Do you want a trail runner or a day hiker or a walking shoe? Tom will share a little about the history of footwear, materials and types of outdoor footwear, and solutions for certain types of footwear issues.

Our presenter, Tom Bloom, is currently employed at REI as as a footwear sales specialist. He has spent his career in sporting goods with a speciality in footwear as a manager and sales specialist for independent stores and national chains. He has also backpacked and hiked Superior Hiking Trail, Isle Royals, Black Hills, Pictured Rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park, Appalachian Trail, Rainier, Blue Ridge Mountains, Grand Canyon, Zion , the Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu.

What organization have Minnesota Rovers volunteered for year after year?

Free Bikes 4 Kidz, of course!

FB4K has been a go-to conservation trip for many years. Learn how this non-profit collects, refurbishes, and distributes thousands of bikes for years to kids in need (and during the pandemic, health care workers!)

Find out how you can join in the fun whether by yourself, with family, or with a (small) group. There’s opportunity for everyone at Free Bikes 4 Kidz!

Presentation by Audrey and Mel

Southeastern Minnesota is honeycombed with underground rivers. Michael Raymond will tell the story of his team’s multi-year exploration of one of these rivers. Through scuba diving and climbing, they have discovered almost a mile of never seen before river canyon.

This presentation should not be missed. It will not be recorded so come to the Zoom meeting to see this newly discovered river canyon by an amazing presenter!

Michael Raymond has been scuba diving for almost a decade. Along the way he got interested in caving, and has used scuba diving to explore Minnesota’s caves. He is the editor of the sump rescue manual and is a previous scuba coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Commission. He is the assistant editor of Underwater Speleology newsletter, and the Small Party Assisted Rescue manual. He is active with the Boy Scouts, his church, and the Minnesota Army National Guard.

This virtual Intro Show (via Zoom) is all about Rovers: Who we are, what activities we do, all the ways in which we play outside. There will be a fun video, showcasing many of the activities that Rovers enjoy. Afterward, participants will have an opportunity to go into breakout rooms with Rovers who participate in specific activities, everything from backpacking to paddling to hiking to climbing to biking, and any other outdoor activity you can imagine. This is your chance to ask questions, get to know Rovers who love the same activities you love or maybe who mentor new members in activities that you want to try.

This will be a Zoom presentation.

We’ll look at what causes the aurora, where to see it and how to anticipate its arrival. Of course, I’ll share lots of beautiful images!

Bob King fell in love with the night sky and astronomy when he was a kid growing up in Illinois and loves to share his passion with people of all ages. Bob worked as a photojournalist and photo editor at the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune for 39 years before retiring from the paper in 2018. These days, when he’s not chasing comets and the northern lights, Bob writes for Sky & Telescope’s website and magazine and maintains the Astro Bob astronomy blog. He’s taught community education astronomy classes at the University of Minnesota-Duluth planetarium for many years.

His books Night Sky with the Naked Eye and Wonders of the Night Sky You Must See Before You Die describe the joys of skywatching, while Urban Legends of Space, examines science vs. pseudoscience in astronomy.

Do you have camping gear that you once loved but no longer use? Do you need gear and want to get some good used stuff at a decent price?  This is the Rovers Gear Swap. The pandemic has meant that we have not had one in 2 years. Now is your chance to clear out that old tent to make room for a new one or to get your hands on a decent used sleeping bag at a good price. Load up your old stuff, bring a tarp to spread it out, decide some prices, and bring it all to Como. If you don’t have stuff to sell, come to Como and browse everyone else’s stuff. Show up early for the best deals.

People bring lots of items, like cook sets, tie-down straps, stoves, tents, hammocks, boats, bikes, coolers, backpacks, clothing, skis, etc.

If minor mechanical issues are keeping you from riding your bike; bring it to Rovers on August 17th. Our dedicated crew of amateur cycling enthusiasts will help diagnose the problem and get you back on the road. If your bike needs parts replaced, bring the parts.

“The real cycle you’re working on is a cycle called yourself.”
— Robert M. Pirsig,
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

Did you know that there exist approximately 75,000 edible plant species in the world? But only 30 species produce 95% of the food we eat! This means that the vast majority of edible plants are drastically underutilized. And a surprising number of these species live right in your own backyard—even in urban environments! Join Maria Wesserle of Four Season Foraging to learn some foraging basics and discover common wild edible plants.

This is National Night Out, so many Rovers may be attending neighborhood get-togethers. We will not have a regular presentation.

If you are not involved in an NNO event, consider organizing a hike or bike ride or a get-together (perhaps a game night) in the park and posting it to the website as a trip for Rovers without neighborhood events.

Have you ever tried to hang a tarp and had it fill up with rain and dump water on you, or have it blown by winds that seemed to catch it wrong? This is your chance to see a variety of ways to set up or hang a tarp, depending on your situation. Need it to keep off rain? Serve as a wind break?  Need to fit a a group of people under it for a quick heavy rainstorm? Which way should you point it? Where should you tie the lines? Do you need a pole or can you use a hiking stick or a paddle? This will be a hands-on demonstration with opportunities for small groups to hang tarps at Como Park.

Dana D has been camping his entire life. He loves playing with all sorts of outdoor gear and finding the most effective ways to use it. He is a Master Naturalist and BCU 3 Star sea kayaker.

Do you want to get into kayaking or canoeing but wonder how you will transport your boat? Short kayaks may fit into a larger vehicle, but what if you want to use a longer kayak or a canoe?

Various Rovers will bring their roof rack systems for transporting kayaks and canoes. Use of a kayak cart will be demonstrated to get a kayak from a car to the water. We will also demonstrate portaging a canoe. People who attend can have hands-on opportunities to try these out.

The best way to stay out of trouble in the wilderness is to “stay found.” Meaning, don’t get lost! Come learn basic map reading and compass skills, plus tips from a wilderness veteran on simple but effective methods for staying in touch with where you are on the map. You might even gain the confidence to do some off-trail exploring with confidence. These skills are also valuable in navigating the lakes and portages of the BWCAW. This presentation will take place at Como Park.

Please bring your own compass and sample maps you’d like to learn more about.

Bio: Don has been exploring the wilderness on and off-trail for 4 decades, including the mountains and deserts, plus dozens of trips to the BWCAW. Don has experience with orienteering events, and teaching map and compass reading to small groups of adventurers.

CHANGED TO ZOOM MEETING DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST!!!

We will NOT be meeting in the park, meeting will be virtual.

Log in to the Zoom link we have been using for meetings.

 

 

On July 6, we return to in person meetings at Como Park. It will be nice to see other Rovers in person again. Tonight we invite Rovers to bring their favorite camping tips and hacks to share.

Following the meeting, we will adjourn to a nearby watering hole for food and beverage.

The Salmon River is known as the River of No Return. The area is a dry mountainous desert, remote from civilization, but it also has a rugged beauty and played a role in American history. We camped on sand spits that resulted from nineteenth century mining in the region. We saw cougar tracks in the sand and rock houses built by Chinese miners. We spent our days riding the rapids and our nights camping under incredibly starry skies. Come hear about a 5 day rafting trip through this region with amazing pictures and stories.

Fran Lesicko has been a Rover since 2007. She has served on the Board 7 of those years as Equipment Director, Director at Large, and currently as Presentations Director. She is an avid camper, hiker, biker, and paddler. Fran has kayaked in 17 U.S. states, as well as Canada, Mexico and New Zealand.

More Minnesotans are seeking the outdoors than ever before. In fact, from 2004 to 2017, the number of Minnesotans reporting that outdoor activity is “very important” to them jumped from 57% to 70%, and nearly two-thirds of Minnesotans report recreating outdoors at least twice a week. However, ticks and mosquitoes can be found throughout Minnesota’s landscapes and can spread disease to those who live, work, and play here. Whether you’re experienced in or new to outdoor recreation, join Molly to learn about the ticks and mosquitoes of Minnesota, the diseases they can spread, and most importantly, how you can protect yourself while enjoying the great outdoors

Molly Peterson is an epidemiologist with the Vectorborne Diseases Program at the Minnesota Department of Health. Having a background in zoology, she is fascinated by creatures of all kinds- including pesty ticks and mosquitoes. As an epidemiologist, she educates Minnesotans about how they can prevent diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes while empowering them to get outside. Studying ticks and mosquitoes takes her to parks and natural areas all over the state and after work she can be found enjoying those same spaces to hike, bike, snowshoe, and paddle.

Octogenarian, cross-country cyclist, and motivational speaker Lin Bruce  shares her late-blooming, against-the-odds, cross-country cyclist success story. At 60 years old she went from cycling across town to cycling across the continent. In the decades since, she’s biked 30,000 trip miles. Her unique presentation combines storytelling at its best with the occasional song to entertain and inspire her audiences.

About the speaker:
Personal Empowerment Speaker Lin Bruce is a late blooming cross-country bicyclist, whose first transcontinental ride was in honor of her 60th birthday in 1999. Using stories of her bicycle adventures as a metaphor for “reaching bigger” in one’s life, Lin encourages people of any age to reach beyond perceived limitations, “stretching for ways to bring more life to your days.” When Lin went from biking across town to biking across the country, she shifted the scope of her dreams, discovering “the next big adventure” expands one’s sense of possibility. Entertaining her audience with heartfelt stories and the occasional song, Lin encourages her audiences to keep “engaging while aging.”

Andrea Knepper is a licensed clinical social worker and is founder and Director for Chicago Adventure Therapy, a nonprofit which provides outdoor adventure experiences to at risk Chicago inner-city youth. In October of 2015 she earned her 5 Star Sea Leader Award, becoming one of 7 women in the country to hold the award. In August of 2016 she became the second American to earn the UKCC Level 3 Coach Award. She also holds a 3 Star in Open Canoe and in Whitewater Kayak, and her ACA L3 Instructor Certification. In 2019 she paddled the length of the US Pacific West Coast.

Travel to the heart of Italy, to a very unique environment – the primeval forests of Casentinesi Forest National Park. Learn why a part of the park has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. Explore its unexpected connections with America. Discover the park’s deep spiritual roots and impressive attempts to create harmonious coexistence between nature and humans. Meet the flora, the fauna and the people who have made it such an extraordinary place. Hear many stories, dream a bit and maybe make plans to visit one day.

About the speaker:
Anna Bonavita is a former scientist with a passion for culture, cuisine and nature. Born in a small village in Bulgaria, but swept away by the waves of globalization, she claims several countries as the source of her cultural identity. Bonavita is also the founder and former president of the Italian Cultural Center, as well as the Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Her latest creation is Esperienza, an organization which focuses on revitalizing Italian villages. With Minnesota Rovers Anna has spent many sunny days skiing at Tettegouche State Park.