Needs From: United Way of Central Minnesota Volunteer Connection

Join Great River Greening as we support Crosby Manitou State Park’s restoration efforts.

Waterfalls cascade through a volcanic canyon surrounded by majestic forest in this North Country wilderness park, which spans over 6,000 acres. Park trails are steep and challenging, but reward hikers with spectacular views as they carve through a forest of fir, cedar, spruce and northern hardwoods, following the path of the Manitou River.

Follow this link to sign up: https://www.givepulse.com/event/635772-2025.10.11-Crosby-Manitou-State-Park-Reforestation-Event-North-Shore 

The park is receiving ongoing reforestation support. This unique event aims to preserve recently planted trees throughout the park as they continue to grow and establish. Volunteers will hike in groups led by Great River Greening and MN DNR State Park staff to reforestation plots, where the volunteers will then remove small, protective caging and replace with large caging to support these trees during their critical early growth and establishment stage.

Family-Friendly & Welcoming
This is a family-friendly event, and volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No experience is necessary—we’ll provide all the training you need!

Location & Terrain

Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/7616+Co+Hwy+7,+Finland,+MN+55603/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x52a61d03314cd30f:0x91588a073256bb17?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111

This volunteer event involves a significant amount of hiking through wood trails elevation gain and technical terrain. Please wear close-toed shoes and long sleeves to protect against ticks and brush. Dress for the weather—layers are key! The event will be held rain or shine.

Join Great River Greening as we support Wild River State Park’s effort to restore an oak savanna within the park: a now rare-ecosystem type in Minnesota that is critical for a variety of plant and animal species.

Follow this link to sign up: https://www.givepulse.com/event/634126-2025.10.04-Wild-River-State-Park-Oak-Savanna-Restoration-Event-Center-City

The central volunteer task will involve cutting, lopping, hauling and removing woody species from to “thin” overgrown forest patch into savanna. Depending upon ecological factors and timing, volunteer may also have the opportunity to harvest seed and/or apply seed to support the ongoing restoration.

Family-Friendly & Welcoming
This is a family-friendly event, and volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No experience is necessary—we’ll provide all the training you need!

Location & Terrain
The worksite area is a short, easy walk down a paved trail. Once on the worksite, we will be working in a forested area that will be thick and will have some stumps to navigate footing around. Please wear close-toed shoes and long sleeves to protect against ticks and brush. Bring tick gaiters if you have them (we'll have extras to share, as well). Dress for the weather—layers are key! Poison ivy may be present in the area. The event will be held rain or shine.

Join Great River Greening at Bend in the River Regional Park for a lovely Fall seeding. Volunteers will seed into an area of the park that had gone through a controlled burn. These seeds will pop up the following spring!

Volunteers joined us at this park last year for a buckthorn removal and this year, volunteers are able to spread native seeds into those areas in this second phase of the project to restore the park's native plant communities.

Terrain will be flat prairie with fairly easy access to work areas.  This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, we will provide training required.

Registration & Waivers Once registered through GivePulse, you’ll receive event details and reminders as the event approaches.  Minors registering themselves: Provide a parent/guardian email in the “Linked Survey” box to receive a Youth Liability Waiver.Adults bringing minors: Add them as attendees and check the “Youth Waiver” box.Adults registering other adults: Enter each person’s unique email so they can confirm and sign their own waivers.If the event has reached capacity, please add your name to the waitlist and you will be automatically registered if space becomes available. Hearty snacks, coffee, and water will be provided. Please bring your own reusable water bottle. In addition, bring your work/gardening gloves if you have them, if not they will be provided Volunteers are kindly asked to arrive 10 to 15 minutes prior to the event start time to allow for parking and check-in.  DAY OF:  Please arrive promptly, allowing time for parking and a short walk to check in. When you check-in, in some cases you will be divided into small workgroups and oriented to the site and restoration activities by your volunteer supervisor group leader. 

SAFETY: Ensuring the safety of our volunteers is our highest priority. It is important that event participants wear close-toed shoes and long sleeves to protect against ticks and scratchy brush. We recommend dressing for the weather, layers are key. We will hold the event rain or shine. Release of Liability All volunteers release Great River Greening and its employees, officers, directors, or agents from any and all liability arising from participation, except in cases of direct negligence by GRG or its representatives. Note: By registering online, you will complete the release of liability and photo release waivers. Please let us know at the event if you wish to be excluded from event photography.  QUESTIONS: Contact Great River Greening's Outreach Coordinator, Jessica at jdrummond@greatrivergreening.org Learn more about Great River Greening at www.greatrivergreening.org    This event is possible thanks to our funders and partners:  National Fish and Wildlife Federation, Benton County and the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF), as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature and recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC)