Week at a Glance
All listed times are in U.S. Central Time and subject to change. Sessions and presenters are also subject to change.
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Continuing Education Credits
The Women’s Forest Congress agenda was approved for continuing education credits from the below listed organizations. More details will be provided during the Congress regarding credits available from each organization.
Society of American Foresters (SAF)
Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF)
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
The Wildlife Society (TWS)
Pre- and Post-Congress Field Trip Opportunities
Looking to extend your stay in Minneapolis? Join us for pre- and post-Congress optional tour opportunities in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. Choose from an array of options encompassing the diversity and equity we seek during the Congress. There is something for everyone, and we hope you will explore with us!
Pre-Congress Options:
All pre-Congress field trips and tours will take place on Monday, October 17. Times and prices listed below.
Urban Minneapolis Tour
Time: 12:30pm – 5:00pm
Price: $35
Explore the urban heart of Minneapolis on a guided walking tour of Minneapolis’s beautiful riverfront district, directly next to downtown. The tour starts at the historic Guthrie Theater, and includes the famous Stone Arch Bridge, St. Anthony Falls, and an introduction to Minneapolis’s vibrant Northeast Arts District.
There will also be an opportunity to pay respects at a guided pilgrimage to George Floyd Square, the commemorative memorial and protest zone at the site where George Floyd was killed in 2020. We will learn from community leaders who tend to the memorial about their experiences, developing our understanding of the significance of the square and the ongoing fight for racial justice and how we can support these efforts in the places we are from.
Native American Cultural Sites Tour
Time: 12:30pm – 5:00pm
Price: $35
We will first visit Bdote, the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, an area of great importance for Minnesota. The Dakota people honor the area as part of their creation story, and it remains the centerpoint of many sacred sites in the area. However, when the US Army built Fort Snelling on a bluff overlooking Bdote in the early 1800s, the site became one of mass imprisonment and death of indigenous people. In present day, the area is managed as part of Fort Snelling State park, with public access and walking trails for people to experience the natural beauty of the area and learn about this difficult history.
Nearby, attendees will also participate in an interpretative tour of Oheyawahi, or Pilot Knob, a historic indigenous burial ground and gathering place. Oheyawahi, which overlooks Fort Snelling, in the Dakota language means “the hill much visited.” Once threatened by private development, it is now preserved through partnerships with tribal groups, the city of Mendota Heights, and other groups dedicated to making sure this important location remains open and available. More info about Bdote and the history of this area is available here.
Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge Tour
Time: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Price: $35
Experience the beautiful fall colors with a visit to Minnesota Valley Wildlife refuge, a 14,000 acre refuge corridor only minutes from the airport. The refuge provides habitat for a large number of migratory waterfowl, fish, and other wildlife species. We will meet with staff to hear about their oak savanna prairie restoration efforts, spot some migratory birds, and learn about the importance of habitat conservation on a forest walk with staff from the Ruffed Grouse Society. Fall in Minnesota can be unpredictable, so plan to dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear!
Nature and Forest Therapy Experience
Time: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Price: $35
Staying connected to the natural world is essential to our well-being and resiliency. Being outdoors, breathing fresh air, feeling the breeze against your skin, sensing the sunlight on your face, listening to birdsong and noticing life, abundance and interconnectivity around us, are critical for sustaining our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance.
Spend an afternoon reconnecting with yourself, one another and the land, through time in nature. Join Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) Certified Guides for a nature and forest therapy experience, in a local natural setting. Learn more about forest bathing here.
Post-Congress Tour Option:
Camp Ripley Conservation Tour
Date: October 20, 2022
Time: 7:00am – 4:00pm
Price: $75
Visit hundreds of acres of newly public forestlands along the Mississippi River north of Camp Ripley, Minnesota’s 53,000-acre Army National Guard training base, and hear about the land protection efforts and collaborative land management strategies between The Conservation Fund, City of Baxter, and Camp Ripley Environmental staff. The forests were once owned by an industrial forest company and are now protected and open to the public. Forestview Middle School even uses parts of the forest as an outdoor classroom every year.
The protection of rural lands surrounding Camp Ripley have been of utmost importance since 2006. Development pressures were not only threatening the habitat and species of importance, but development too close to the base threatens the mission of the Army National Guard to effectively train United States soldiers 24/7. The Department of Defense partnered with state, local, and nonprofits to protect the lands and has funneled over $40 million to protect the buffer area around Camp Ripley. Hundreds of private landowners also participate in protecting their lands to protect the mission of Camp Ripley.
Participants should plan to bring:
- Valid form of ID (mandatory to pass through security at Camp Ripley)
- Closed toed shoes and clothes for walking on a trail
- We’ll be walking approximately 2-3 miles over the course of the day on established trails and moderate hills. Trailer rides are available for those who require assistance. Please note your need during registration.
- Reflective item for use in woods during bow hunt (Please note: WFC will provide a limited number of reflective vests for attendees who do not have their own.)