CURE celebrates Minnesota River History Weekend & State Water Trails 50th Anniversary

Bluestem's world headquarters recently relocated to sunny Maynard in order to be closer to the upper Minnesota River, loveliest of prairie rivers.

The local watershed protectors, Clean Up the River Environment (CURE), will be hosting the Minnesota River History Weekend and Minnesota State Water Trails 50th Anniversary on Friday through Sunday. If you're a reader who wonders why the dirty hippies out here make such a fuss about threats to the upper valley's tranquility, consider checking this out:

Friday evening:

Grab some popcorn at Granite Falls' famous local Popcorn Stand and head over to watch a film and listen to great speakers!

Minnesota River History Exhibit Reception and Artist Talk with Dakota Author Gwen Westerman, KK Berge Building (6:30 - 9:00 PM). Read more about Gwen here.

Then walk over to the Granite Falls City Hall to watch a film and listen to some great

FILM.
River Revival: Working Together to Save the Minnesota River Video

with producers John Hickman and Jon Carlson (7 PM). This film tells the story of people from all walks of life - academics, farmers, natural resource professionals, anglers, homeowners, students, paddlers, politicians, and citizen activists - who are working together to solve the problems facing the Minnesota River. Read more about the film and speakers here.

PRESENTATION. Minnesota State Water Trails: Making History for 50 Years
with Erik Wrede, MN DNR Water Trails Coordinator and special guest Paul Ryberg (8 PM). Minnesota has the first and largest Water Trails system in the nation. Come learn about the early years of the system, and the trip planning resources and paddling opportunities that are now available. Plus, special guest Paul Ryberg will tell stories about growing up on the Minnesota River with his family that will be honored for their efforts to "unleash the recreational giant of canoeing." Read more about the presentation and speakers here. Read more about the presentation and speakers here.

PRESENTATION. Paddling from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay with Natalie Warren (8:45 PM). Ann Raiho and Natalie Warren are the first women to paddle from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay. Read more about Natalie here.

PRESENTATION. Reconnecting the Minnesota River by Luther Aadland, River Scientist, MN DNR (9:30 PM). His work, research, and publications have included a wide variety of topics that integrate physical and biological processes of rivers and the design of river restoration, nature-like fish passage, dam removal, erosion control, and flood damage reduction projects. Read more about Luther here.

Saturday's events include Paddling Theater, with options for riding on large fur-trading style canoes or on your own craft. Sunday is a self-organized paddling on the Chippewa River, Hawk Creek, Minnesota River and Yellow Medicine River meet at Memorial Park.

Read more about both Saturday and Sunday here.

Photo: What a date! A voyageur who might just paddle your canoe. If this doesn't float your boat, we don't know what will.

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