We Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park invite you to join us in our activities. Check here often for future activities and opportunities for volunteering.
Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park T-Shirts available! See this Poster for details.
As we approach the spring wildflower season we are unfortunately facing significant uncertainty surrounding public health. We have decided to cancel the Wildflower Ambassador program at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park this year to ensure that we are not putting our volunteers unnecessarily at risk of harm. We appreciate all of the hard work that you do for the park, and hope that you will all consider volunteering next year.
As we approach the spring wildflower season we are unfortunately facing significant uncertainty surrounding public health. We have decided to cancel the Wildflower Ambassador program at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park this year to ensure that we are not putting our volunteers unnecessarily at risk of harm. We appreciate all of the hard work that you do for the park, and hope that you will all consider volunteering next year.
Cancelled! – Friends of the Big Woods Annual Gathering. Sunday September 20.
Hotdogs provided. Bring other food if you wish.
Open meeting at 4, speaker at 5 (watch for more info) and picnic to follow at picnic shelter.
Katy Gillispie will present “Monarchs and Milkweed.” Katy is a master naturalist volunteer who has raised monarchs for years, and who has visited the monarch winter roosting site in the mountains of Mexico. The event will take place at the Amphitheater.
Butterfly Walk 1 pm meeting at the park office: Car pool to the prairie to look for monarchs. Monarchs begin to gather then for their long flight to Mexico, and sometimes flock on the park prairie. Hope for a sunny day without much wind.
For members for the Friends Group, a special program: Andy Wendy, DNR Park Naturalist, will lead a hike (1.5 miles or so) to explain the Big Woods ecosystem, how it developed, and how it continues to change. Starts at the picnic shelter.
Business meeting 3 t0 4 (optional). We will also have an update from the park staff. Snacks will be served.
Butterfly talk by Katy Gillispie, who raises monarchs and has visited their winter roosting sites in Mexico.
Butterfly walk, to look for monarchs gathering in the park prairie, as they prepare to migrate.
Annual Meeting – Bison Archaeology at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Larry Richie, a retired farmer and local historian is bringing bison bones and other local archeological discoveries to Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. He will share them with guests during a program designed to delve into the ancient past of bison in the vicinity of the state park from 2-3:30 p.m., September 18th. in the picnic shelter.
For more information, see https://www.parksandtrails.org/event/bison-archaeology-at-nerstrand-big-woods-park/
Annual Candlelight Ski and Walk at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Saturday evening, January 28, 5:30 to 8:30.
Refreshments will be served in the Visitor Center.
The Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods will help with the event.
To volunteer to help inside or outside, contact the park naturalist: Andrew.wendt@state.mn.us