Details:
As native plants start to turn beautiful shades of yellow, red, and orange, the invasive buckthorn continues to display green leaves. This makes fall the perfect time to easily identify and remove buckthorn. Join refuge staff and volunteers pull up buckthorn to make wreaths later in the month.No experience necessary and all equipment is provided. Registration is optional. This is a drop-in event. Participants for this program will receive priority access to the signup for the Wreath Making program on September 23rd!Questions? Contact MinnesotaValley@fws.gov or call (952) 854-5900 (press 1 to reach Visitor Services).Date and Time: Sunday, September 7th, 2025 from 10am-12pmLocation: Meet us in the classrooms at the Bloomington Visitor Center.3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington, MN 55425Registration Information: Registration optional through Signup.com. Optional registration allows us to prepare supplies and materials for the program, send reminders, and allows us to contact you in the event of inclement weather!Activity Level: This is a moderately active program that requires bending down, kneeling, and pulling up plants. The program is fully outdoors and will be guided. Taking breaks is encouraged. What to Bring: Please wear long sleeve shirt and pants as well as close-toed shoes. We suggest bringing a water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. All materials and equipment will be provided. Accessibility: Restrooms and water fountains are located inside the visitor center. Handicap parking and drop-off available. Visitor center is flat aggregate or carpeted flooring with ramps to access all areas. There are benches and rest areas around the visitor center.Hillside and Spur trails are natural surface with has steep slopes, with a wooden staircase for a portion of it. Long Meadow Lake trail is accessed via these sloped trails, but itself is mostly flat and is natural surface. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter) and may not always be suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. There are no benches in the trail area. Trailheads are a 0.1-0.2 mile distance from the parking lot. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs at least ten business days before the event to Oscar Hernandez at oscar_hernandez@fws.gov.
