Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center Phone: 952-854-5900 |
Junior Girl Scouts |
Requirements filled according to the 2001 Junior Girl Scout Badge Book. Numbers correspond with badge requirements.
Drawing and Painting
Participate in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art and Conservation Program. Learn
about waterfowl and wetland habitat conservation then articulate your newfound knowledge by drawing,
painting or sketching a picture of a North American waterfowl species. For more information or to
participate contact the Minnesota State Coordinator, Federal Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator at 952/854-5900.
Earth Connections
1. You can make your study area at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Ask a staff member or volunteer at the information desk about where the best place would be. The Hillside Trail at the Bloomington Visitor Center is a great place to study ecosystems.
2. The Take the Tour interpretive program is a great way to see succession happening right on the refuge. Ask the van guide to show you specific areas where succession occurs, such as meadows turning into forests. Another site to visit is the Bass Ponds to see ponds converting to marshes.
3. The Hillside Trail the the Bloomington Visitor Center has several tree stumps that are easily accessible to read the tree rings.
6. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 540 refuges across the country set up to protect wildlife and plants. This refuge is unique in that it was created through citizen action and is only one of four urban refuges in the nation. Sign up for Take the Tour or ask at the information desk about research that has been done here and how we use it to help wildlife.
9. Choose a study area on the refuge. Remember that areas will change with the seasons, and some plants and animals will only be found there at certain times.
10. The River Channel exhibit at the Bloomington Visitor Center discusses environmental problems that are occurring along the Minnesota River Valley. Use the exhibit to learn more about the problems and ways to fix them.
Eco-Action
8. Volunteers are always welcome at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. We have many projects you can participate in to help improve the environment. Stop by the information desk at one of our visitor centers to get more information about what you can do to help.
10. A well-known pioneer in environmental concerns was Rachel Carson. The information she wrote in her books came from research done with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Look in the bookstore or check out a book from your library about Rachel Carson to learn more about her work in helping the environment.
Finding Your Way
6. Make a map of the one of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Centers or one of the trails on the refuge.
Frosty Fun
9. Borrow a pair of snowshoes from one of the visitor centers and venture out on the trails throughout the Refuge. Please note, there must be at least 6" of snow before snowshoes can be loaned out.
Hiker
7. Explore the many trails throughout the eight units of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Ask a staff member or volunteer at one of the visitor centers to help you identify the animals and plants you saw on the Refuge.
10. Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge over 25 miles of trails throughout the other Refuge Units. Call, 952/854-5900, stop by, or look on-line (www.fws.gov/midwest/minnesotavalley) for more information and unit trail maps.
Outdoors in the City
3. Visit Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge's Visitor Centers in Bloomington or at the Rapids Lake Unit to learn what wildlife lives in the "Shadows of Skyscrapers." Reserve a spot on the Take the Tour to learn what lives on the Refuge.
8. Volunteer with staff members or Refuge Friends, Inc. for a cleanup on refuge lands.
Plants and Animals
9. Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge has several plant and animal species which can be considered pests. Visit the "Problem with Imports" exhibit at the Visitor Center and learn about exotic species on the refuge. Ask a staff member or volunteer to tell you more about some of them such as the European starling, zebra mussel, poison ivy, buckthorn, and leafy spurge.
Water Fun
8. Attend a Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge interpretive program to learn more about the aquatic habitat.
Wildlife
2. There are many plants and animals at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge which are perfect for observing. Pick a spot and bring along your pencils and camera.
5. Poisonous plants that may be on the refuge include poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Learn to identify these and how you can avoid them. Poison ivy is the most common poisonous plant on the Refuge.
7. The information desk at one of the visitor centers has several binoculars you can borrow and there is a spotting scope on the observation deck for you to view wildlife on Long Meadow Lake.
8. There are many species that live on and migrate through Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge during all seasons of the year. Ask at the information desk at one of the visitor centers for a list of species found here. Bring a field guide (or borrow one of ours) and take a hike to find birds and animals to identify.
10. Pick an animal that you can easily observe at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. (Remember some animals are shy and secretive and not easily observed.) Chose one that you will be able to watch for some time and see what it likes to eat, where it spends its time, and other behaviors.
Your Outdoor Surroundings
5. If you like outdoor photography, hiking or bird-watching, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to try it out. Ask at the information desk at one of our visitor centers to help you get started.
6. There are many different objects that can be found on the refuge to be classified. Remember to stay on the trails and if you pick anything up, put it back where you found it.
7. Many women working or volunteering at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge spend their time mostly outdoors. Call the Bloomington Visitor Center, 952/854-5900, or Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center, 952/361-4500 to arrange an interview.
8. Many small nature objects can be found on the Refuge. Remember to put items back where you found them after you finish looking at them.
9. At the Bloomington Visitor Center you can enjoy the Hillside trail by taking along the Bird Trail Pack. These packs point out interesting features along the trails that relate to birds and their habitat. They are available at the information desk. Also, take a sensory hike to see what kinds of things you can see, hear, touch and smell.
Rocks Rock
2. Take a hike on the trails to see how erosion is occurring.
6. Volunteers are always welcome at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Stop by the information desk at one of the visitor centers to get more information about any trail maintenance you can help with.
