Friends of Tettegouche State Park

Wow! What a year we've had!  After so many restrictions during the Covid years, we came back strong this year.  Thanks to a grant from the Northland Foundation Age to Age Program, we offered 3 free summer concerts at the park.  Each concert was proceeded by free s'mores at the outdoor fireplace behind the visitor center.  The Friends also started hosting artist receptions in May.  Each month, the park features a new artist exhibiting their work in the visitor center.  On the first Friday of the month, the Friends hosts a reception for the artist where the public can come and meet the artist.  

Your generosity counts!  

Your donations help sustain educational programs, events such as artist receptions and projects such as the nature play area and habitat restoration. With a gift of $25 or more, you'll become a member or renew your membership in the Friends of Tettegouche. 

All of these opportunities are only possible because of YOU!  Thank you for your support!
GIVE TODAY!

Nature Play Area

Our main focus this year has been the construction of a nature play area within the park.  Once the Covid restrictions were lifted for volunteers, we were able to work on creating the wheelchair accessible path and play area.  Three youth groups joined the Friends this summer and helped us move and compact 10 yds of class 5 gravel to provide a solid base for our path, 15 yards of class 2 (ADA) gravel to provide a compacted layer on top and 10 yards of wood chips to soften some play areas and define the paths to individual play areas.

Thanks to generous donors like you and grants from Parks & Trails Council of MN and Coop Light & Power, we were able to complete almost all of our phase 1 and phase 2 projects.  This includes the cedar grove, which is a quiet play area.  There are benches for quiet reflection and a tic tac toe table.  In phase 3, we'll be adding a bird watching / feeding station.  The center area known as the "Nature Discovery Zone" includes a log balance beam, boulder for climbing, tree cookie path, stump pyramid, two nature looms (one wheelchair accessible) and a nature hut.  In phase 3 we will be adding a wheelchair accessible xylophone. Other areas completed are 3 stick/fort building areas, a climbing tree, a messy materials area where kids can build things out of wood blocks, sticks, bark, pine cones, etc. and our nature stream.  Stream toys are provided so kids can play in the water and mud.  

Next year, we'll be adding finishing touches to these play areas, such as magnifying stations next to the stream, installing a wheelchair accessible table so kids can build with blocks, sticks, etc.  We'll also add another 15 yds of class 2 ADA gravel to complete our wheelchair accessible path. We also hope to start construction of the forest exploration path and art/music area where we plan to build wooden xylophones, log drums, and bamboo chimes.

 You can view a map and learn all about the play area on our website: https://friendsoftettegouche.org/nature-play-area/  Imagine the fun children and parents will have in this new space at the park.  

Help us make this goal a reality!  Donate today!

We can do more with your help!

Help us to expand our outreach, support the park’s activities and provide more opportunities for the community in the coming year.  Additional goals for 2023 include:

• Expanded naturalist/interpretive programs for youth and families, including educational programs/field trips for local schools
• Support arts, music and other cultural and community events at the park, like our Nature Book Club, Winter Fest and Summer Concert Series
• Habitat restoration / rejuvenation projects such as tree planting and pollinator gardens

Supporting and encouraging the use of the park’s recreational, interpretive, educational and environmental activities is what we’re all about and we’re inviting YOU to join us! 

Become a park friend and donate today!