Evolution 2008 Field Trips

Evolution 2008 - Post-conference Field Trips

• Metro Area Birding, June 22 & June 23

• North Woods, June 25-27

• Mississippi River Geology, June 25

• Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, June 25

• St. Croix Valley Wineries, June 25

• Lake Mille Lacs Fishing, June 25

Metro Area Birding, June 22 & June 23 (early morning)

Although Minneapolis-Saint Paul is a metropolitan area, the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers offers good birding in a variety of woodland edge and marsh habitats. Experience the dawn chorus at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge with later stops along the Mississippi River. Participants should be prepared for mosquitoes and mud at the refuge, depending on rainfall and water levels. June 24 is an alternate date in case of rain.

Leader: Alexis Powell (University of Minnesota, ornithology).

Trip includes no meals.

Depart 5:30 a.m. from the Radisson University Hotel
Return by 8:30 a.m. to Willey Hall

Capacity: 10-14
Tour cost $10

North Woods, June 25-27

This two-and-a-half -day trip explores Minnesota’s famous north woods, geology, and bird life. The Saint Louis River plunges through ancient rock exposures at Jay Cooke State Park and traces a major route of the French Indian fur trade. Duluth, a major inland seaport, sits at the western tip of Lake Superior, the largest fresh-water lake in the world. Itasca State Park is home to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, old growth pine forests, wetlands, bogs, maple-basswood forests, and the University of Minnesota’s Itasca Biological Station . Day two offers opportunities for bird watching, canoeing, hiking, and biking.

Leaders: Dr. David Biesboer (University of Minnesota, Director of the Itasca Biological Station and botanist), Dr. David Schimpf (University of Minnesota – Duluth, botanist), Dr. John Green (University of Minnesota – Duluth, retired geologist), and Dr. Muir Eaton (Drake University and Itasca Biological Station, ornithologist)

Includes two nights at the Itasca State Park hostel, dinner on June 25, breakfast, lunch and dinner on June 26, and breakfast on June 27. The cost of lunch in Duluth on June 25 is not included.

Depart June 25,  8:00 a.m. from the Bell Museum of Natural History
Return June 27, 1:00 p.m. to the  Bell Museum of Natural History, with continued service to the MSP airport

Capacity: 18-24
Tour cost $235

Mississippi River Geology, June 25 (morning)

The Mississippi River flows through the urban corridor of Minneapolis-Saint Paul and includes waterfalls, limestone caves, and fossil beds. This tour highlights geological features at the Mississippi’s head of navigation including the University of Minnesota’s Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory , the nation’s center for earth-surface dynamics research. Also includes a tour of fossil beds exposed at quarries in Burnsville, near Minneapolis.

Leaders:  Karen Campbell (University of Minnesota Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory, associate program director) and Sara Wilson (Kraemer Mining and Materials, geologist)

Trip includes box lunch

Depart 7:00 a.m. from the Radisson University
Return 1:00 p.m. to the Radisson University

Capacity: 18-25
Tour cost $50

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, June 25 (morning)

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, formerly Cedar Creek Natural History Area, is an NSF Long Term Ecological Research Site in central Minnesota, with natural habitats that represent most of the state, from boggy coniferous forest to hardwood forest and prairie remnants. The area is noteworthy for its biological diversity so close to the metropolitan area (about 30 miles north of downtown Minneapolis). The modern science of ecosystem ecology was conceived here and so was the invention of animal tracking by radio telemetry. Long-term research on fire ecology and prescriptive burning of savannas began here in the 1960s. Experiments started in the 1980s have contributed a great deal to modern ecological theory. World-renowned ecologists including David Tilman and Peter Reich currently conduct their research at Cedar Creek.

Leader: Dr. Jeff Corney (University of Minnesota Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, director)

Includes a box lunch

Depart 8:00 a.m. from the Bell Museum of  Natural History
Return 1:00 p.m. to the Bell Museum of Natural History

Capacity: 18-28
Tour cost $35

St. Croix Valley Wineries, June 25 (afternoon)

Minnesota is known for harsh winters but less well known are its distinctive wineries “where the grapes suffer.” Tour three wineries located in the Saint Croix River Valley for tastes of Alexis Bailey, St. Croix Vineyards, and Northern Vineyards Winery. Linger for dinner in historic downtown Stillwater. Minnesota’s oldest chartered city overlooks the beautiful Saint Croix River, a national scenic waterway that forms the boundary with Wisconsin. The Saint Croix is part of the earth’s oldest well documented geological rift system, the 1.1 billion-year-old Midcontinent Rift, extending from Lake Superior to Kansas.

Leaders: Dr. Paul Weiblen (University of Minnesota, retired geologist) and Ms. Michelle Orr (Bell Museum of Natural History, wine enthusiast)

Dinner on your own in Stillwater

Depart 2:00 p.m. from the Bell Museum of Natural History
Return approximately 9:00 p.m. to the Bell Museum of Natural History

Capacity: 18-30
Tour cost $45

Lake Mille Lacs Fishing, June 25 (all day)

A chance to sample Minnesota’s most famous and largest self-supporting walleye lake, this tour will be a group fishing event! Lake Mille Lacs covers more than 132,000 acres with a maximum depth of 42 feet and is the premier walleye fishing area in the state (average catch two pounds). The lake also supports northern pike and muskellunge (many over 50 inches) along with smallmouth bass. Eddy’s Resort  will provide fishing tackle, bait, guides, and of course a boat to get you to the “big ones.” A Minnesota fishing license is required and available online from the Department of Natural Resources:  (A 24-hour non-resident license is preferred unless you are a resident or plan additional fishing).

Leader: Dr. Bob Zink (University of Minnesota, ornithologist, hunting & fishing guru)

Trip includes lunch and dinner at Eddy’s Resort

Depart 8:30 a.m. from the Bell Museum of Natural History
Return approximately 8:00 p.m. to the Bell Museum of Natural History

Capacity: 12-22
Tour cost $140

Cancellation Policy:
15% fee prior to April 30, 2008
No refunds after April 30, 2008