Greetings,

I think I hit peak summer a few weeks ago when a friend and I found ourselves with enough light to watch our topwater bass baits as the clock approached 10pm. There is certainly  plenty of hot weather and good times ahead I can’t help but feel the approach of fall as the sunset starts creeping backwards. It’s that slight pull towards shorter days, an homage to the reality that we too are connected to circadian rhythms, that gets me in a mood to start thinking about prepping gear, moving tree stands, and getting dates on the calendar to get outdoors with friends and family.

Fall is a busy time at MNCF as we work together to provide opportunities for Minnesotas to join us outside to experience outdoor adventure and connections to conservation. Our Conservation Leadership Academy will return this fall as we onboard our 6th! cohort of college students to join our successful program. Each year the CLA program provides valuable hunting, angling, and conservation advocacy engagement for currently enrolled college students who represent the future of conservation leadership in Minnesota.

This fall MNCF will be recruiting our first cohort of women to participate in our new Women in Conservation Leadership program. The MNCF Women in Conservation Leadership program combines exciting outdoor experiences along with an introduction to conservation topics of importance to Minnesotans in a supportive mentor led environment. Women chosen to participate will gather together for a shooting range and firearm safety event before taking part for a weekend long pheasant hunt and conservation focused overnight event.

Women will leave this program:

-Confident in their ability to carry a firearm safely in the field.

-With a better understanding of public land access for hunting and outdoor recreation.

-Connected to a supportive cohort of conservation minded women in Minnesota.

The application is live now on our website.

Please pass this email or application information along to any women in Minnesota who may be interested. 

Yours in Conservation,

Brad Gausman

Executive Director