2024

In person at Como Park in St. Paul – West Picnic Grounds, near the SE corner of the parking lot (near the restroom building).

Tanner will share fundamental skills for getting outdoors to appreciate mushrooms in our region. He will also bring fresh and preserved mushrooms featuring the most common ones found in our region and those sought after for foraging. Tanner will provide additional resources to learn more about the hobby and concrete steps for how you too can get out there and enjoy the world of mushrooms! Tanner encourages you to come prepared with questions and a readiness to get your hands on some mushrooms! He will leave plenty of time for questions, sample handling, and audience participation.

No Rovers meeting – enjoy National Night Out with your neighbors!

In person at Como Park in St. Paul — West Picnic Grounds – west of Estabrook Drive & Midway Parkway (we meet near the bathroom building).

After riding regular road bikes for over 6o years, Doug purchased an electric bike (e-bike) in early 2024. In this talk, Doug will share the research he did on e-bikes and his experience using them. The presentation will explore types, costs, benefits, drawbacks, and regulations of these increasingly popular vehicles. Rover members are encouraged to bring their own e-bikes to the meeting if they use one.

Doug has been retired for five years after a 43 year career in K-12 education. He is now an active volunteer, including leading hikes for the Rovers. Doug’s bicycling adventures have taken him to France, Ireland, Czech Republic, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. He has also participated in week-long organized bike rides in Wisconsin, Missouri, and Minnesota. He is still not very good at fixing his own flat bike tires.

In person at Como Park in St. Paul – West Picnic Grounds, near the SE corner of the parking lot (near the restroom building).

(Rescheduled from 5/21/24. Original date was rained out.) Join us for a movement session to explore warm-ups and cool down options for avid and recreational cyclists. This session will focus on the strength, flexibility, and balance necessary to remain active and pain free to enjoy years of cycling. Wear comfortable clothing to move in and bring your questions and ideas to share.

In person at Como Park in St. Paul – West Picnic Grounds, near the SE corner of the parking lot (near the restroom building).

Don’t let a flat tire leave you stranded on the road or trail. Get a hands-on opportunity to remove a bike wheel and tire, then prepare & apply an inner tube patch. (Glue, patches and sacrificial tubes will be provided!)

Time permitting, you’ll also learn about DIY bike lubrication, brake adjustment, and handlebar & seat adjustments to make you more comfortable and efficient.

Come participate—you’ll leave more attuned to your bicycle!

In person at Como Park in St. Paul – West Picnic Grounds, near the SE corner of the parking lot (near the restroom building).

Participate in our 2024 Backcountry Cook-Off and help other outdoor enthusiasts expand their backcountry cooking repertoire! Show off your “old reliable” or try an interesting new recipe before you take it out on the trail. Here are the guidelines: It’s day three of a wilderness backpacking or canoe/kayak camping trip. Recipes should be appropriate for the backcountry, take 20 minutes or less to prepare, and require only a single-burner stove. We’ll need lots of delicious entries, so we hope you’ll consider entering. The winning chef will receive a prize and bragging rights!

If you plan to enter, email Stacey at [email protected] with your name and title of what you will prepare (Easy-Peasy Nut and Fruit Couscous, Spaghetti with Dried Veggie Sauce, etc.).  Please bring everything you need (ingredients, stove, pots/pans, etc.). Water is available from the sinks in the nearby restrooms. Cooking will begin as soon as the meeting part of our night is concluded (around 7:20). Sampling and voting should start by about 7:40.

Tonight’s meeting and presentation have been CANCELLED due to the weather.

In person at Como Park in St. Paul — West Picnic Grounds – west of Estabrook Drive & Midway Parkway (we meet near the bathroom building).

The under rated warm-up and cool down options are easily incorporated right into your hikes and runs. This class will focus on the strength, flexibility, and balance necessary to remain active and pain free. Join us as we explore what’s right for you.

Following a career as a professional dancer, Rover Carol Schwarzkopf found her calling as an educator, wellness consultant, and nonprofit champion. She has a BFA from University of Utah/Salt Lake City, a Health & Wellness Certification from the Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Yoga Certifications, and years of study of the brain, motivation, fascial fitness, Pilates, resilient living, and the intersectionality of climate mitigation and social justice.

In person at Como Park in St. Paul – West Picnic Grounds, near the SE corner of the parking lot (near the restroom building).

You may think the Rovers Equipment Locker has only tents and sleeping bags, but we have much more than just that with an extensive gear inventory for all seasons. Join our presentation for a full reveal of the gear we have available for members to check out on your next posted trip.

In person at Como Park in St. Paul – West Picnic Grounds, near the SE corner of the parking lot (near the restroom building).

If someone is injured in a trip in a remote area, would you know what to do? This presentation will be a short review of ways to be prepared in case something happens miles from civilization. Tom O’Neal (a Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid instructor) will be talking about how to think about first aid in remote settings, with a focus on ‘being prepared.’

In person at Como Park in St. Paul – West Picnic Grounds, near the SE corner of the parking lot (near the restroom building).

Do you know how to use a map and compass? Are your skills rusty and you could stand to have a review? Jerry will be presenting a basic map and compass orienteering program. We will have a limited number of maps and compasses from the Equipment Locker. If you have your own map and/or compass, please bring them!

In person at Como Park in St. Paul — West Picnic Grounds – west of Estabrook Drive & Midway Parkway (we meet near the bathroom building).

No presentation – come to the Gear Swap! Twice a year the Minnesota Rovers host a gear swap at one of the regular Tuesday night meetings. Anyone who has any type of gear that they are no longer using can bring it to the swap and either sell it outright or make a trade with someone else. The gear is in good shape, and usually, the owners have simply chosen to upgrade or no longer have a need for that particular piece of equipment. It is a great way to get your hands on some gear if you just want to try it out without having to make a huge investment in brand new equipment.

Note: If you are a seller, you may want to start setting up before 7:00 p.m. Some buyers come before 7:00 to start shopping early. 😊

P.S. Tell your outdoor friends about this great opportunity to buy gear they need OR sell gear they no longer need!

Welcome Back to the Park Potluck

In person at Como Park in St. Paul — Como Picnic Shelter/West Picnic Shelter in the West Picnic Grounds (on west side of Estabrook Drive at Midway Parkway, near the zoo).

Note that this meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.

All are welcome to join us for our first summer outdoor meeting for 2024! There is no presentation, just a chance to see old and new Rover friends in person. Bring:

• Something to share for the potluck (an entrée, appetizer, dessert, beverages, etc.) that is enough for about 6 people.
• Your own plate, cup/water bottle, and utensils so we can minimize waste.
• Yard games (slackline, Frisbee, etc.), if you want.

If you want to coordinate an activity (such as geocaching, biking, hiking) prior to 6:00 p.m., submit a trip to the website or send it to the e-group.

The Rovers Board will supply lemonade, water, and cake. For this first outdoor meeting, we have rented the Como Picnic Shelter/West Picnic Shelter across the parking lot from our usual meeting location, so we can meet even if it rains. Come see all of your Rover friends in person and welcome new friends to our Como meetings.

Online via Zoom

There will be no presentation on April 23^rd. Instead, members are invited to join us for a special members-only gathering! Enjoy pizza, exciting prize giveaways, and reconnect with your fellow Rovers. Plus, participate in a crucial vote to approve changes to our Bylaws. Pizza and beverages will be provided. Attendance via Zoom will be available, and a Zoom vote will also count. If you’re not a member and want to be part of this fun night, join now — https://mnrovers.org/sign-up/. You don’t want to miss it! A notice was sent out on 3/26/24 to members. If you are a current or new member and. missed the notice, find out more here and RSVP now — https://mnrovers.org/special-members-only-meeting/

Note the starting time of 6:00 for pizza. Meeting and vote at 7:00. Optional socializing afterwards.

Online via Zoom

Embark on a remarkable journey with Laura Paulisich as she shares her transformative 550-mile trek across Spain’s historic Camino de Santiago. Armed with nothing but flip-flops and a minimalist backpack, Laura’s pilgrimage is a testament to the power of simplicity, resilience, and a deep connection with nature.

Laura Paulisich is the co-founder of TOXYFREE, a company dedicated to providing toxin-free products and systems for a healthier lifestyle. A graduate of the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin, Laura’s journey on the Camino de Santiago was a pivotal moment in her life, leading to the creation of her company. Living in Hudson, Wisconsin, Laura is committed to a lifestyle that is toxin-free. Her experience and knowledge are a beacon for those seeking a healthier, more sustainable way of living.

Hybrid program
In person at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church and also being presented over Zoom

On July 4, 1999, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), a bizarre confluence of meteorological events resulted in the most damaging blowdown in the region’s history. Originating over the Dakotas, the midsummer windstorm developed amid unusually high heat and water-saturated forests and moved steadily east, bearing down on Fargo, North Dakota, and damaging land as it crossed the Minnesota border. Gunflint Falling tells the story of this devastating storm from the perspectives of those who were on the ground before, during, and after the catastrophic event—from first-time visitors to the north woods to returning paddlers to Forest Service Rangers.

Online via Zoom

Roving together is better than roving alone! A hike, paddle, ski or climb is far more enjoyable when people feel a strong sense of friendship, community and commitment with the other participants. This presentation will explore the importance of connecting with others in a fun, meaningful way and share some practical tips on how to do it. Join us to talk about how to create a deeper atmosphere of belonging as a group of like-minded adventurers.

Online via Zoom

Six women spent 40 days in Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska on a trip offered to graduating high school seniors through the YMCA of the North.  This group flew into the Brooks Range in late June and hiked from Anaktuvuk Pass, a small native village, all the way to Galbraith Lake to the end this adventure at the Dalton Highway.  Come learn about route and trip preparations for an extended adventure, challenges of the arctic climate and terrain, and the people and wildlife encountered along the way.