Hello Itasca Friends!

Transcription

1 Itasca State Park September 12- October 2, 2015 Nature Programs & Fall color report Attachments: PDF copy of September 12- October 2 programs/ PDF of upcoming music/ Fall Color report Hello Itasca Friends! September is here and autumn is slowly being ushered in with the changing and falling leaves! The fluctuating temperatures are typical as we move into autumn. Fall is a great time to go hiking, biking or boating on the lake. If it happens to rain this weekend or is a bit cool next week, stop in the Douglas Lodge for something warm like soup or hot chocolate and some dessert. The Mary Gibbs Café is still open this fall so why not grab a pizza or slice of pie. Forgot your jacket?... explore one of the three gift shops (Forest Inn features books and northwoods themed apparel and gifts). The gift shops are pulling out the sweatshirts for the cooler temps that are coming next week. Upcoming Autumn programs and events: We are starting to add our Autumn (gulp- - - and winter) programs to the naturalist program line- up. In 2016 Itasca State Park and Minnesota State Parks will be celebrating 125 years! We are planning a variety of special activities to celebrate our quasquicentennial (pronounced 'kwos- kwi- sen- ten- ee- uhl'). We are adding programs to our on- line calendar daily. Watch the Itasca program calendar on the DNR webpage for the most current posting of programs and events. There is a lot to do so check us out on the web at: r.html

2 Upcoming Weekend feature Music Concerts Itasca s Music Under the Pines: Craig A. Willis Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 7-8:30 p.m. Meet at Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom Enjoy this music performance by singer and songwriter Craig A. Willis, whose "cowboy at heart" spirit is reflected in his original songs about the beauty of country living. Itasca s Music Under the Pines: Hannah Christianson and Friends Friday, October 2, 2015 from 8-9:30 p.m. Meet inside Forest Inn (across from Douglas Lodge) Join Hannah Christianson and friends for an evening of acoustic, heartfelt music. Performers and songwriters from all over the country will share their original music in a celebration of creativity and community. Many of these artists met at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and the acts will include solo performers, duos, and other collaborations. Surely, an event not to miss! Upcoming Feature Presentation What Makes an Old Growth Forest an Old Growth Forest? Talk and Walk Saturday, September 19, 2015, from 10-11:30 a.m. Meet in the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom; walk to follow. Have you ever wondered what makes an old growth forest an Old Growth Forest? Join Chris Gronewold, Itasca State Park Resource Manager, as he shares facts about the old growth forest within the park. The talk will be followed by a

3 demonstration walk on a nearby trail through old growth forest. All are invited to this free event sponsored by the Headwaters Chapter of the Minnesota Forestry Association. Bring a lunch for later, or eat out at Douglas Lodge or the Mary Gibbs Center by the headwaters. WEEKEND FAMILY FUN EVENTS! 8 th Annual Autumn Harvest Festival: Lantern Lit Hike and Activities Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 6-8:30 p.m. Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Exploring Itasca s Birds is the theme of this year s lantern lit hike. Guides with lanterns will lead you down the kerosene lantern- lit trail to meet characters that will share stories about special birds that call Itasca home during this family- friendly evening hike. Group hikes will last about 30 minutes, departing every ten minutes from the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center. Registration for hikes begins at 6 p.m. The first hike leaves at 6:30 p.m. and the last hike will begin at 8:10 p.m. Suitable for all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Other activities will be ongoing, including music and a variety of children s activities. Music for the evening will be Lori Goulet Reich from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom. Join Lori Goulet Reich, a Lake Itasca Transplant from the suburbs of Minneapolis, as she performs a variety of music best described as acoustic folk and alt- country flavored music. Lori also has played in various bands both classic rock and country, so come enjoy a variety of well- known tunes. 28 th Annual Ozawindib Walk

4 Saturday, October 3, 2015 Registration: 1-1:30 at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Walk: 1:30-3:30 Join the Friends of Itasca State Park during the peak of fall colors for a family fun afternoon during the 28 th Annual Ozawindib Walk. Sponsored by Friends of Itasca State Park, the Ozawindib Walk commemorates Ozawindib, the Ojibwe guide who lead Henry R. Schoolcraft to the Headwaters of the Mississippi River in Headwaters in Autumn Watch the Webcam and check out the fall color report on the web! The grains of wild rice are now beginning to ripen. Check out the rocks at the headwaters on the webcam and watch the stand of wild rice as wood ducks and other waterfowl jump from the water surface to feed on the newly ripening grains. You will be able to see the sublt color change over the next few weeks as we move into fall. Watch the tamaracks for their first hints of gold! Go to: waters/headwaters.html Side note: some users with Android systems might have problems viewing the webcam. For the Fall color season we will be creating a weekly report, updating everyone on the color status. To check it out, go to: Attach ed is a pdf copy of this week s report. You too can upload your Itasca Fall color photo to the web! Our phenology report includes (for the dates of August 26 September 2, 2015): Cooler mornings are resulting in more foggy areas,

5 especially over lakes and ponds, creating magical photo opportunities. Red squirrels are beginning to cut white and red pine cones and acorns from the bur oak for their winter food stash. Watch out along the roadways as the squirrels and chipmunks dash across park roads with their harvest of pine cones. Fawns are still displaying their white spots. They can be seen along roadways in the early morning and just before sunset. Hummingbirds are very active at park feeders as they get ready to migrate in the next week or two. Yellow- bellied sapsuckers and pileated woodpeckers are being seen and heard more frequently. Tiny gray tree frogs are seen in the early morning on windows of buildings, having fed on the insects attracted to the night lights. Watch for beavers on ponds and lakes at dusk as they begin to build up their winter food cache. Acorns from the bur and red oak are beginning to drop, making a loud clatter on tin roofs. Cygnet swans are seen swimming with the adults on smaller lakes. Several loons are gathering on Lake Itasca as the adults are preparing to migrate. The juveniles continue to call their mournful wail at night. Postscript: PS: Feel free to share this program schedule with your friends! If you no longer wish to receive this update, please send an with your first and last name and address toconstance.cox@state.mn.us and your name will be removed. In the subject line type: remove name from newsletter.

6 Connie Cox, Lead Park Naturalist Itasca State Park Main Park Drive Park Rapids, MN Live in the sunshine. Swim the sea. Drink the wild air. Ralph Waldo Emerson

7 Itasca s Music Under the Pines Hannah Christianson & Friends Join Hannah Christianson and friends for an evening of acoustic, heartfelt music. Performers and songwriters from all over the country will share their original music in a celebration of creativity and community. Many of these artists met at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and the acts will include solo performers, duos, and other collaborations. Surely, an event not to miss! Friday, October 2 nd, :30 p.m. Meet inside Forest Inn (across from Douglas Lodge). Free Concert!

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9 concert Itasca s Music Under the Pines Lori Goulet Reich Join Lori Goulet Reich, a Lake Itasca Transplant from the suburbs of Minneapolis, as she performs a variety of music best described as acoustic folk and alt-country flavored music. Lori also has played in various bands both classic rock and country, so come enjoy a variety of well-known tunes. Saturday, September 26 th, :30-8:30 p.m. Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom

10 Itasca s Music Under the Pines Craig Willis Enjoy this music performance by singer and songwriter Craig A. Willis, whose "cowboy at heart" spirit is reflected in his original songs about the beauty of country living. Saturday, September 19 th, :30 p.m. Meet in the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Free Concert!

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13 ITASCA STATE PARK Programs and Special Events Saturday, September 12, 2015 Saturday, September 12 Five Facts in Five Minutes: Mysteries of the Deep 10 a.m.-noon Near the Mississippi Headwaters (under the porch of the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center if rain.) Only have a minute to learn about Itasca State Park? Check out a unique feature at the naturalist station as you visit the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Aiton Heights Fire Tower Hike 2-4 p.m. Meet in front of Douglas Lodge. Come enjoy a beautiful fall day as you hike to Itasca s fire tower! Learn about the history of fire in Itasca, and then enjoy the spectacular views as you climb to the top of the 100-foot tall fire tower! Jr. Naturalist: Legend Painting 2-2:45 p.m. Meet by the Museum Amphitheater, below Wegmann s Store (If raining, in the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center classroom). Kids, learn about legend or traditional Ojibwe painting that often looks like an xray of the subject. You can them make your own legend painting to take home.

14 Powwow: Everybody Dance Now! Evening Talk 7-8 p.m. Meet in the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom. Join us as we discuss the evolution of traditional gatherings to the contemporary powwow. Learn about the different kinds of dancers, the drums and music, the purpose of a powwow, etiquette for visitors, and more. For more information: http//: or

15 UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT: Saturday, September 26 from 6-8:30 p.m. 8th Annual Autumn Harvest Festival: Lantern Lit Hike and Activities Exploring Itasca s Birds is the theme. Guides with lanterns will lead you down the kerosene lantern-lit trail to meet characters that will share stories about special birds that call Itasca home during this family-friendly evening hike. ITASCA STATE PARK Programs and Special Events Sunday, September 13, 2015 Sunday, September 13 Fall Colors Legends Walk 11:30 a.m.-noon Meet outside Forest Inn (across from Douglas Lodge). Enjoy the early fall colors as we hike along the Mary Lake Trail to Mary Lake. Along the way, the naturalist s will share legends about why the leaves change colors. Five Facts in Five Minutes: 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Talking Bird Near the Mississippi Headwaters (under the porch of the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center if rain.) Only have a minute to learn about Itasca State Park?

16 Check out a unique feature at the naturalist station as you visit the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Jr. Naturalist: For the Love of Birds (and Beaks) 1:30-2:15 p.m. Meet by the Museum Amphitheater, below Wegmann s Store (If raining, in the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center classroom). Join us as we explore the different shaped beaks of our song birds. Learn the different shapes for eating insects, sap or nuts. Explore the world of bird beaks and make a bird seed heart to take home. For more information: http//: or

17 UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT: Saturday, October 3 28th Annual Ozawindib Walk from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Take in the rich colors of autumn during this afternoon hike! Join the naturalist lead tour to learn more about Ozawindib Henry Rowe Schoolcraft s Ojibwe guide who lead the way to Lake Itasca in Sponsored by the Friends of Itasca State Park. ITASCA STATE PARK Programs and Special Events Saturday, September 19, 2015 Saturday, September 19 What Makes an Old Growth Forest an Old Growth Forest? Talk and Walk 10-11:30 a.m. Meet in the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom; walk to follow. Have you ever wondered what makes an old growth forest an Old Growth Forest? Join Chris Gronewold, Itasca State Park Resource Manager as he shares facts about the old growth forest within the park. The talk will be followed by a demonstration walk on a nearby trail through old growth forest. All are invited to this free

18 event sponsored by the Headwaters Chapter of the Minnesota Forestry Association. Bring a lunch for later, or eat out at Douglas Lodge or the Mary Gibbs Center by the headwaters. Fall Color Fire Tower Hike 2-4 p.m. Meet in front of Douglas Lodge. Come enjoy a beautiful fall day as you hike to Itasca s fire tower! Learn about the history of fire in Itasca, and then enjoy the spectacular fall colors as you climb to the top of the 100-foot tall fire tower! Itasca s Music Under the Pines: Craig A. Willis 7-8:30 p.m. Meet at Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom. Enjoy this music performance by singer and songwriter Craig A. Willis, whose "cowboy at heart" spirit is reflected in his original songs about the beauty of country living. For more information: http//: or

19 ITASCA STATE PARK Programs and Special Events Saturday, September 26& Friday, October 2, 2015 Saturday, September 26 8th Annual Autumn Harvest Festival: Lantern Lit Hike & Activities 6-8:30 p.m. Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Exploring Itasca s Birds is the theme of this year s lantern lit hike. Guides with lanterns will lead you down the kerosene lantern-lit trail to meet characters that will share stories about special birds that call Itasca home during this family-friendly evening hike. Group hikes will last about 30 minutes, departing every ten minutes from the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center. Registration for hikes begins at 6 p.m. The first hike leaves at 6:30 p.m. and the last hike will begin at 8:10 p.m. Suitable for all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Other activities will be ongoing, including music and a variety of children s activities. Itasca s Music Under the Pines: Lori Goulet Reich 6:30-8:30 p.m. Meet at Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom. Join Lori Goulet Reich, a Lake Itasca Transplant from the suburbs of Minneapolis, as she performs a variety of music best described as acoustic folk and alt-country

20 flavored music. Lori also has played in various bands both classic rock and country, so come enjoy a variety of well-known tunes. Friday, October 2 Itasca s Music Under the Pines: Hannah Christianson and Friends 8-9:30 p.m. Meet inside Forest Inn (across from Douglas Lodge). Join Hannah Christianson and friends for an evening of acoustic, heartfelt music. Performers and songwriters from all over the country will share their original music in a celebration of creativity and community. Many of these artists met at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and the acts will include solo performers, duos, and other collaborations. Surely, an event not to miss! For more information: http//: or