2025

In-person Social at the Aspen Room at Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W Franklin Ave, St. Louis Park, MN 55426

This meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.

First Tuesdays is about making connections! There is no presentation. Instead, we gather for a potluck at 6:00. At 7:00, we gather at tables to learn about specific topics, play games, or catch up with friends! Last month, there was lots of great conversation and connecting!

Schedule:

6:00 PM Potluck. Bring:

– An item to share that is enough for about 6-8 people (don’t forget the serving utensil!). If ingredients are hard to identify, indicate them to help people with dietary restrictions. While all desserts would be nummy, it’s not very nutritious. Help us to have a variety of food by indicating what you will likely bring. You can always change your mind. POTLUCK SIGN-UP HERE

– Your own beverage, plate/bowl, and utensils.

7:00 PM Visit topic tables, play games, or chat with friends! Tables will be set up so you can learn more about various topics. There will always be a New Member table and a Game table (bring your favorite board or yard game!). Additional topics will depend on the interests of those attending. Anyone can host a table. Just ask the Presentations person for a sign.

Reconnect with old friends and meet new ones! Feel free to invite guests to join us!

P.S. Members are encouraged to post a hike at Westwood Hills before the potluck. Just post it to our website.

Online via Zoom.

I didn’t want to go to college after high school, so instead I rode my bike around the world. I first did a Rovers presentation of Cycling the World in 1999 with slides in a Kodak Carousel projector, and again about 8 years later. From 2009-2011 I was reCycling the World with Julie Retka. Since then, I’ve digitized my slides, and over the last few years listened to all 21 hours of tapes I made of David’s Log for the first time since I recorded them. Little did I know that I was speaking to my older self.

Presented by David B.

Online via Zoom

A Dolomites hut-to-hut hiking trip involves multi-day treks through the Italian Alps, staying overnight in mountain huts (rifugios) along the way.

These trips offer a unique way to experience the stunning scenery, local culture, and delicious food of the Dolomites. They range in difficulty and duration, with options for guided or self-guided tours, and include comfortable lodging and meals at the huts. Come hear about the experience and learn how to prepare for such a trek.

Presented by Josh B.

In person at the Aspen Room at Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W Franklin Ave, St. Louis Park, MN 55426

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

First Tuesdays is about making connections! There is no presentation. Instead, there is a potluck at 6:00. At 7:00, you are invited to gather at tables about specific topics, play games, or catch up with friends!

Schedule:

6:00 PM Potluck. Bring:

1. An item to share that is enough for about six people (don’t forget the serving utensil!). If ingredients are hard to identify, indicate them to help people with dietary restrictions. POTLUCK SIGN-UP HERE

2. Your own beverage, plate/bowl, and utensils.

7:00 PM Visit topic tables, play games, or chat with friends! Tables will be set up so you can learn more about various topics. There will always be a New Member table and a Game table (bring your favorite board or yard game!). Additional topics will depend on the interests of those attending. Anyone can host a table. Just ask the Presentations person for a sign.

Reconnect with old friends and meet new ones! Feel free to invite guests to join us!

Online via Zoom

After completing the Superior Hiking Trail by section hiking over the course of 10 years, Carmen (mom) and Natasha (daughter) decided to tackle the 80+ mile Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail. Flying in & out of Atlanta, the trip was logistically easy and the hike was both challenging and rewarding.

Please join us as we share what we took, how we got there, where we hiked, what we saw, and what we heard. And as a bonus, if you are interested in biting off a section of the AT, it would be easy to lift off our approach to replicate.

Presented by Carmen and Natasha

Hybrid program

In person at the Aspen Room at Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W Franklin Ave, St. Louis Park, MN 55426 and also being presented over Zoom

Karen will discuss her volunteer time at Kofa National Wildlife Reserve in Arizona. She assures us it is all new material from when she has talked previously about volunteering in National Parks. Volunteers are a critical part of keeping federal parks, reserves, refuges, etc. open. Karen will explain how you too can volunteer for National Outdoor Agencies, touching upon several opportunities that are available in Minnesota.

Presented by Karen K.

Online via Zoom

The Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota is a small nonprofit that is making an important impact in protecting the state and regional parks and trails in Minnesota. Established the same year as Minnesota Rovers (1954), Parks and Trails Council has helped to acquire more than 9,277 acres of land at 51 parks and trails. In some cases, P&T was involved in creating a park from scratch (such as Afton), and sometimes it is to purchase a small, but invaluable parcel that makes a park special. Come and hear how the Parks and Trails Council is protecting the places Rovers love to play in through its land acquisition, stewardship, and work to ensure outdoor recreation for all Minnesotans!

In-person Social

In person at the Aspen Room at Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W Franklin Ave, St. Louis Park, MN 55426

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

First Tuesdays is about making connections! There is no presentation. Instead, there is a potluck at 6:00. At 7:00, you are invited to gather at tables about specific topics, play games, or catch up with friends!

Schedule:

6:00 PM Potluck. Bring:

1. An item to share that is enough for about six people (don’t forget the serving utensil!). If ingredients are hard to identify, indicate them to help people with dietary restrictions. POTLUCK SIGN-UP HERE

2. Your own beverage, plate/bowl, and utensils.

7:00 PM Visit topic tables, play games, or chat with friends! Tables will be set up so you can learn more about various topics. There will always be a New Member table and a Game table (bring your favorite board or yard game!). Additional topics will depend on the interests of those attending. Anyone can host a table. Just ask the Presentations person for a sign.

Reconnect with old friends and meet new ones! Feel free to invite guests to join us!

Online via Zoom

Permaculture is a design system that models human habitats and agricultural systems on natural ecosystems, focusing on sustainability, regeneration, and resilience. A permaculture garden is designed to produce maximum outputs with minimal inputs by working with nature.

A Permaculture garden is built around perennial edible plants- fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, vines, perennial vegetables and herbs, as well as native wildflowers. These plants are combined so that they support one another- aromatic herbs confuse pest insects while providing food. Native wildflowers increase biodiversity by attracting pollinators and predatory insects like dragonflies, which prey on pests, which keeps the whole system balanced. Nitrogen fixing plants, such as those in the Legume family, add nitrogen to the soil, increasing fertility naturally. And plants called dynamic accumulators, which have deep taproots, are able to access nutrients deep in the subsoil that other plants cannot access and distribute them to the top layer of soil.

Presenters: Jordan B. and Tim G. of Edible Landscapes MN

Online via Zoom

This hike in the Kii Peninsula of Japan is one of the two recognized UNESCO World ancient pilgrimages, the other one being the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Both have created a dual pilgrimage program to earn your credentials.

The Kumano Kodo has three routes for pilgrims to choose from, the most popular of which is the Nakahechi, kinda the Camino Frances counterpart, but shorter in mileage. Each has its own unique characteristics that are life changing, spanning thousands of years of history that are eye opening to experience.

Hybrid program
In person at the Aspen Room at Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W Franklin Ave, St. Louis Park, MN 55426 and also being presented over Zoom

Come hear about a bike touring adventure on two connected trails (the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath), taken by a group of 5 Rovers in May.  You’ll see why this is a great trail system for experiencing both natural history and American history.  Information will be shared about how our group traveled the trails, as well as options and recommendations for others who’d like to do this trip.

Presented by Ruth R.

Online via Zoom

A presentation about the Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club, with a slide show featuring some of the enjoyable activities that our members coordinate. You will learn about the club’s wide variety of outdoor adventures and the many ways you can participate: go on a trip, learn or teach new skills, help with conservation and trail clearing, and other fun events. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity for you to talk with Rovers about your favorite way (or ways!) to play outside.

In person at Como Park in St. Paul — Como Park’s West Picnic Shelter in the West Picnic Grounds (on west side of Midway Parkway at Estabrook Drive, near the zoo). This is ACROSS the parking lot from our usual meeting location.

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

First Tuesdays is about making connections! There is no presentation. Instead, there is a potluck at 6:00. At 7:00, you are invited to gather at tables about specific topics, play games, or catch up with friends!

Schedule:

6:00 PM Potluck. Bring:

1. An item to share that is enough for about six people (don’t forget the serving utensil!). If ingredients are hard to identify, indicate them to help people with dietary restrictions. POTLUCK SIGN-UP HERE

2. Your own beverage, plate/bowl, and utensils.

7:00 PM Visit topic tables, play games, or chat with friends! Tables will be set up so you can learn more about various topics. There will always be a New Member table and a Game table (bring your favorite board or yard game!). Additional topics will depend on the interests of those attending. Anyone can host a table. Just ask the Presentations person for a sign.

Reconnect with old friends and meet new ones! Feel free to invite guests to join us!

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

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

Rovers are movers — hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, skiing, skating, climbing — and your moving Rover body deserves a bit of TLC! So tonight we will try out some simple exercises to wake up your feet, knees, hips, shoulders, and even hands to prepare for your outdoor adventures.

Bring a fitness or yoga mat.

Presented by Sherry S.

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

Urban foraging is gaining popularity across metropolitan areas. Learn how to do it safely and sustainably with Maria Wesserle of Four Season Foraging. Plants we will probably encounter include gooseberry, mulberry, burdock, plantain, and many others! We will discuss identification, harvest, and preparation of each plant. Please note that we won’t be harvesting anything, but we will have lots to look at and learn!

Presented by Maria W. of Four Season Foraging

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

In person at Como Park in St. Paul – West Picnic Grounds, near the SE corner of the parking lot (near the restroom building). More details and a map under Weekly Meeting – Tuesday Meeting.

Rescheduled from May 20th — Going camping in bear country? Bears can be an issue in many of our favorite places, from the BWCA to backpacking trips out west. This presentation will be a demonstration of hanging bear bags – one way to keep your tasty food away from critters. As in the past, we will demonstrate a few different methods for different circumstances. And, again, we will encourage folks to try their hand at various elements of the process (tossing rope over a branch, tying the appropriate knots). New this year – WE INVITE FOLKS TO BRING THEIR OWN “HANGING KITS,” and we will help you use it and/or evaluate whether you may need to add pieces.

Presented by long-time Rovers Rob C., Gary C., and Ron T.

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

Nature is a tremendous source of inspiration for art in so many ways, including all the patterns that occur naturally in flowers, pinecones, shells, and so many other places. We will begin by looking at some of these examples, but we’re going to look for inspiration for patterns in a different part of nature – the missing pieces. We’re going to look at the channels dug into tree branches by bugs, skeletal leaves and the brittle remains of dried flowers. First, we’ll spend time examining our objects and logging our observations. Then we’ll talk about ways to incorporate these shapes and patterns into our art practice as mark-making, meditative drawing and even storytelling. We’ll also discuss how to use this process as a way to ignite wonder about the natural world and encourage us to spend more time looking deeper into our surroundings.

Supplies to bring:

∙A journal or sketchbook
∙A waterproof pen
∙Watercolors or something to add color

Presented by Molly Anthony. Molly’s artwork can be found on Instagram at @mkranthony and on her website TheFoundArtWalk.com.