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Is there something that you would never go backpacking without? Is there a back story about how you learned the hard way not to forget that item? Here is one example I can think of: you brought one lighter to light your stove and fire, it got wet and then it wouldn’t work. On future trips you bring multiple lighters and matches. Come to share your hack or come to learn from the experience/mistakes of others.
Learn how to identify buckthorn, the various ways to get rid of it and the best time to do it. Also learn what other invasive species are associated in areas where buckthorn is established and how to eradicate those too. And, as with anything important in life, learn why we should bother getting this out of our parks and our yards and how not to accidentally get rid of a look-a-like instead of the real bad guy!
Presented by Cheryl B.
In this presentation you’ll learn how to change a flat tire, patch a flat, and some basic bike maintenance. You’ll feel confident out on the trails! Bring your bike wheel to practice with.
Presented by Alicia Vin Zant, Mom & Owner of Seven Spokes Bike Shop
Big City Mountaineers is a national non-profit organization that facilitates week long wilderness trips for underserved young people. Here in Minnesota that means trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We use these trips to both introduce teens to the outdoors as well as develop critical life skill like teamwork, leadership, resiliency, and self-efficacy.
Fred Sproat, the Minnesota Program Director for Big City Mountaineers, will talk about how Big City Mountaineers works to ensure that first time wilderness trips are positive and impactful and how individuals in the community can help support or work.
A bike tour of a thousand miles can begin with the first weekend trip. That trip can be low-cost and local, using a bike and gear you already have. This presentation will show how to use that gear for a weekend bike tour that starts near your home. Some gear you probably don’t have is panniers, which are like saddlebags for a bike. Panniers for 1,000-mile trips can cost $100s of dollars, but this presentation will also show a low-cost option. That option is kitty litter pail panniers. They cost $10-20 each and have been used on bike tours going 1,000s of miles. Anyone interested is welcome to join weekend bike tours near the Twin Cities, this summer. They will be posted on the Rovers Website and led by Steven Malikowski, who has cycled for over 6,000 miles on bike tours. Any Rover joining those weekend bike tours can use gear for free from the Rover’s Gear Locker.
Participate in our 2019 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 Four of a wilderness backpacking trip. Ingredients and recipes should be appropriate for the backcountry. Recipes should take 20 minutes or fewer to prepare and require only a single-burner stove. We’ll need lots of delicious entries, so we hope you’ll consider entering! Tasters— bring your plates/bowls and utensils to sample the goodies and vote for your favorite!
We need YOU to share your nummy backcountry recipes! If you plan to enter, send Stacey Grimes the following information:
Please bring everything you need (ingredients, pots/pans, etc.). Water 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.
Will YOU be the Minnesota Rovers 2019 Backcountry Cook of the Year? The winner and the winning recipe will be posted on the Minnesota Rovers web site!
Explore the basics of ebikes from someone who has almost 10,000 family and commuting miles on a cargo ebike. Whether you are commuting, doing group rides, or pleasure rides we can discuss how an ebike may benefit you. We will talk about the different motor styles such as mid drive and hub drive. We can explain the pluses and minuses of each system. I will spend a few minutes talking about motor wattage and battery capacity. More importantly I will discuss how these numbers relate to the riding experience. This will not be too techy…No experience necessary.
Yoga is a great way to take a break and get energized for the next leg of a long hike, bike ride or paddle. It can be done in the outdoors without any equipment – a mat is truly optional. You probably know that yoga increases balance, flexibility, and strength, but did you also know it protects the spine, cartilage and joints so we can continue to pursue an active lifestyle?
Bring a mat or blanket if you don’t want grass or dirt on your clothes and Tammy N. (5 year Rover member) will lead us in some yoga poses and stretches.
Did you know that there exist approximately 75,000 edible plant species in the world? But that only 30 species produce 95% of the food we eat? This means that more than 99% of edible plant species 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.
Four Season Foraging is a Minneapolis-based business that connects people with the resources necessary to start harvesting and preparing wild foods and medicines. This is accomplished by promoting trustworthy sources, writing informative blog posts, and offering classes and workshops.