May
11
9:00 AM09:00

2024 Community Trail Clean-Up

Join Woodbury residents for our annual community-wide volunteer trail clean-up of the Tamarack Nature Preserve, acknowledging that Earth Day is everyday. This free, family-friendly, “no registration required” event is tailored to all ages, though children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult. It’s a great service opportunity for individuals, as well as scout troops, sports teams, church groups, civic groups or neighbors and friends. If the Preserve’s parking lot at 1825 Tower Drive is full, you may park farther down the street, along Woodpark Blvd. where there are signs for the trail clean-up event.

Weather permitting, we’ll meet on Saturday morning, May 11, at 9:00 a.m. at the Preserve’s main entrance, choose a spot to clean up on the trail system and return at noon for a big group photo. As an alternative, you can just pick a time during that weekend that works for you, bring your own trash bags (ones that can be securely closed when filled), protective clothing (gloves, appropriate footwear, etc.) and your own reusable water bottle or coffee/tea mug for hydration. Then, choose an area of the Preserve to safely rid of trash.

If you're thinking about how to help the environment, this is a way to keep one of our region’s most pristine wetlands a healthy habitat for people and the plant and animal species that live here. Volunteer stewards of the Tamarack Nature Preserve will be on hand on Saturday morning to welcome you and answer questions. Otherwise, come when you can during daylight hours from Friday through Sunday, May 10-12. More information about the geology, boardwalks, woodland trails and the iNaturalist project can be found on this website. Stay safe, cherish nature and have fun! The City will provide trash pick-up at various signed locations near main access points to the Preserve.

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May
13
9:00 AM09:00

New Date! 2023 Annual Earth Day Community Trail Clean-Up Event

We’re on for this morning’s trail clean-up! Off trail it can be muddy, so bring appropriate footwear along with bug protection. See you there!

Join Woodbury residents for our annual community-wide volunteer trail clean-up of the Tamarack Nature Preserve, in honor of Earth Day 2023. This free, family-friendly, “no registration required” event is tailored to all ages, though children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult. It’s a great service opportunity for individuals, as well as scout troops, sports teams, church groups, civic groups or neighbors and friends. If the Preserve’s parking lot at 1825 Tower Drive is full, you may park farther down the street, along Woodpark Blvd. where there are signs for the trail clean-up event.

Weather permitting, we’ll meet on Saturday morning, May 13, at 9:00 a.m. at the Preserve’s main entrance, choose a spot to clean up on the trail system and return at 11:00 a.m. for a big group photo. As an alternative, you can just pick a time during that weekend that works for you, bring your own trash bags (ones that can be securely closed when filled), protective clothing (gloves, appropriate footwear, etc.) and your own reusable water bottle or coffee/tea mug for hydration. Then, choose an area of the Preserve to safely rid of trash.

If you're thinking about how to help the environment, this is a way to keep one of our region’s most pristine wetlands a healthy habitat for people and the plant and animal species that live here. Volunteer stewards of the Tamarack Nature Preserve will be on hand on Saturday morning to welcome you and answer questions. Otherwise, come when you can during daylight hours from Friday through Sunday, May 12-14. More information about the geology, boardwalks, woodland trails and the iNaturalist project can be found on this website. Stay safe, cherish nature and have fun! The City will provide trash pick-up at various signed locations near main access points to the Preserve.

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Apr
22
to Apr 24

Annual Earth Day Trail Clean-Up

Join Woodbury residents for our annual community-wide volunteer trail clean-up of the Tamarack Nature Preserve, in honor of Earth Day 2022. This free, family-friendly, “no registration required” event is tailored to all ages, though children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult. It’s a great service opportunity for individuals, as well as scout troops, sports teams, church groups, civic groups or neighbors and friends. If the Preserve’s parking lot at 1825 Tower Drive is closed, you may park farther down the street, along Woodpark Blvd. where there are signs for the trail clean-up event.

Just pick a time that works for you, bring your own trash bags (ones that can be securely closed when filled), protective clothing (gloves, appropriate footwear, etc.) and your own reusable water bottle or coffee/tea mug for hydration. Then, choose an area of the Preserve to safely rid of trash.

If you're thinking about how to help the environment, this is a way to keep one of our region’s most pristine wetlands a healthy habitat for people and the plant and animal species that live here. On both Friday and Saturday morning from 9:00 - 11:00 (weather permitting), volunteer stewards of the Tamarack Nature Preserve will be on hand along Woodpark Blvd. to welcome you and answer questions. Otherwise, come when you can during daylight hours from Friday through Sunday, April 22-24. More information about the geology, boardwalks, woodland trails and the iNaturalist project can be found on this website. Stay safe, cherish nature and have fun! The City will provide trash pick-up at various signed locations near main access points to the Preserve.

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Feb
15
7:00 PM19:00

Plants of Woodbury's Bog-Fen - A Wetland Gem

Guest Speaker: Dr. Robert Mohlenbrock, distinguished botanist and author
Co-hosted by Wild Ones, St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter

Nationally recognized botanist and author, Dr. Robert Mohlenbrock, of Southern Illinois University, recently visited the Tamarack Nature Preserve in Woodbury and published an article in his This Land column of the September 2021 issue of Natural History magazine. Join this Zoom presentation to hear Dr. Mohlenbrock describe what he found in this wetland gem, and to discuss how we can protect such special places hidden in our midst.

The Tamarack Nature Preserve is a “bog fen,” a rare wetland combination. Bogs are rain-fed, acidic, and nutrient-poor for plant growth. In contrast, fens are fed at least in part by mineral-rich ground water and have a more basic pH. Different plant species are found in each. But the peat wetland at Tamarack Nature Preserve is a rare combination of both. Here groundwater rich in minerals seeps into the bog wetland. Bog and fen plant species occur together.

For a link to the video recording of this program, click here

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Apr
22
to Apr 25

2021 Earth Day Trail Clean-Up

  • Tamarack Nature Preserve (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS
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THU, APR 22 - SUN, APR 25: Clean Up the Tamarack Nature Preserve "Separately but Together" to Celebrate the 51st Anniversary of Earth Day

The Friends of the Tamarack Nature Preserve hope you can join us in celebrating Earth Day's 51st anniversary — separately but together.  

As your schedules and the weather permit, take a break and get a little exercise outside in your neighborhood or local park. You might even try the Swedish-initiated activity of Plogging — a mix of picking up trash while jogging. If you’re able, please join us in collecting trash from and around the Tamarack Nature Preserve.  Signs marking trash pick-up areas will be posted near the trail access points on Thursday, April 22 (Earth Day) through Sunday, April 25.   

Step One: Bring Garbage Bags and Wear Gloves — Extra plastic shopping bags or any single-use containers that can be closed securely will also work. Just tie them shut and leave them at one of our designated spots. Wear gardening gloves or work gloves to protect your hands while picking up trash. Above all, stay safe!

Step Two: Plan Where to Pick Up Trash: Start with where you walk.  Perhaps try a new route.  The map above shows the trail system through and around the Tamarack Nature Preserve along with the locations of trash pick-up — marked in green — and areas needing significant clean-up (e.g. trails along Bielenberg Drive, Valley Creek Road, and behind the City Centre West businesses).  Pick up trash large and small, including little pieces of plastic and cigarette butts. Leave natural materials such as fallen branches.  Please remember to follow the Minnesota Department of Health recommendations such as avoiding groups (stay by yourself or with your household), not touching your face, and maintaining a safe distance from others.  Did you know that the Tamarack Nature Preserve wetlands drain into the mighty Mississippi? This year, you have an opportunity to participate in a powerful community science project by recording your trash collection data in an app called the Debris Tracker and uploading it to The Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative. Click here for user-friendly details.

Step Three: Drop-off Trash Thu. Apr 22 - Sun. Apr 25 only: Carefully tie up all trash bags to prevent items from spilling out and blowing back into the park and surrounding neighborhoods.  Drop off collected trash next to the posted Earth Day signs at the following trail access spots from Thu. April 22 - Sun. Apr 26, or dispose of properly. If you leave your collected trash, be sure it is on the side of the road by the curb and not on anyone’s private property. The City of Woodbury will handle pick-up and disposal if you leave it in a designated place.

Step Four: Share Your Success! (Optional): Take a photo of yourself or your group to share with us on social media. #CleanupWoodburyTNP

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FREE Self-Guided Walk to Celebrate the Reopening of the Boardwalks
Oct
16
to Oct 18

FREE Self-Guided Walk to Celebrate the Reopening of the Boardwalks

Celebrate the grand re-opening of the Tamarack Nature Preserve with a family friendly self-guided walk during the weekend of Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 2020.  

Come explore the colors, scenery, and wildlife; walk the new boardwalks crossing the heart of this rich fen and rare native tamarack swamp; play detective and search for hidden clues to solve a water pollution mystery; spot the changing colors of the Tamarack tree needles; discover more about the Preserve from new interpretive signs placed along the trails.  

 Plan your visit at the City of Woodbury’s website. Download a trail map prior to your visit or access one on-site by scanning the QR code displayed on the interpretive signage at the Preserve. 

 If you an unable to visit the Preserve in person, you can visit it virtually!

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2020 Earth Day Trail Clean-Up
Apr
24
to Apr 26

2020 Earth Day Trail Clean-Up

FRI, APR 24 - SUN, APR 26: Clean Up the Tamarack Nature Preserve "Separately but Together" to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day 

The Friends of the Tamarack Nature Preserve hope you can join us in "celebrating Earth Day's 50th anniversary separately but together.”  

As your schedules and the weather permit, take a break and get a little exercise outside in your neighborhood or local park.  If you’re able, please join us “separately but together” in picking up trash from and around the Tamarack Nature Preserve.  Signs marking trash pick-up areas will be posted near the trail access points on Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26.   

Step One: Bring Garbage Bags and Wear Gloves — Extra plastic shopping bags or any other single-use containers that can be closed securely will also work. Wear gardening gloves or work gloves to protect your hands while picking up trash. Above all, stay safe!

Step Two: Plan Where to Pick Up Trash: Start with where you walk.  Perhaps try a new route.  The map above shows the trail system through and around the Tamarack Nature Preserve along with the locations of trash pick-up — marked in red — and areas needing significant clean-up (e.g. trails along Bielenberg Drive, Valley Creek Road, and behind City Centre West).  Pick up trash large and small, including little pieces of plastic and cigarette butts. Leave natural materials such as fallen branches.  Please remember to follow the Minnesota Department of Health recommendations such as avoiding groups (stay by yourself or with your household), not touching your face, and maintaining a safe distance from others.  

Step Three: Drop-off Trash Fri. Apr 24 - Sun. Apr 26 only: Tie up all trash bags to prevent items from spilling out and blowing back into the park and surrounding neighborhoods.  Drop-off collected trash next to the posted Earth Day signs at the following trail access spots Fri. April 24 - Sun. Apr 26, or dispose of properly. If you leave your collected trash, be sure it is on the side of the road by the curb and not on anyone’s private property. The City of Woodbury will handle pick-up and disposal if you leave it in a designated place.

Step Four: Share Your Success! (Optional): Feel free to take a photo to share with us on social media. #CleanupWoodburyTNP

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May
30
6:00 PM18:00

Family Hike at the Tamarack Nature Preserve

Join Washington Conservation District staff and “Adopt-A-Park” volunteer stewards as we explore the southern-most tamarack swamp in Minnesota along a floating boardwalk loop. We’ll look for flowers in bloom and talk about what makes this wetland unique.

Wear sturdy shoes and clothes for walking outdoors.

We’ll have basic plant and animal ID books and will have activities planned for the kids. Also, we suggest you download the free iNaturalist app on your smart phone and create your user profile. Volunteers will be on hand to help you start using this amazing app, which was developed by the California Academy of Sciences

Park along Tower Drive and meet near the blue pop-up tent.

Visit www.tamaracknaturepreserve.org to find maps of the Tamarack Nature Preserve, download field guides and birding apps, and see photos and videos of the Preserve. Free to attend — no need to pre-register.

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May
4
9:00 AM09:00

2019 Earth Day Trail Clean-Up

  • Tamarack Nature Preserve - Woodbury, Minnesota (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Join in a community service project with your group, family, or on your own at the Tamarack Nature Preserve.  Help with litter pick-up and/or invasive plant removal. Show up ready to volunteer and get a little dirty to restore this hidden gem.  Bring a bottle of water, protective clothing (nothing soft or stretchy that would stick to burrs), close-toed footwear and work gloves. Children 12 & under must be accompanied by an adult. Rain or shine. #trashtag

Meet at the intersection of Tower Drive & Woodpark Blvd. Parking is available along Woodpark Blvd. 

Please visit http://bit.ly/TamarackNaturePreserveto sign up for this event. You must sign up to be eligible for (out)door prizes!

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All photos taken by Dana Boyle