Visitors and residents can experience Voyageurs National Park in a new way by lending a hand at the annual Volunteer Rendezvous.

The two-day volunteer blitz brings together park stewards from all over Minnesota while providing results for Voyageurs.

On Friday, Sept. 7 and Saturday, Sept. 8, volunteers will team up with National Park Service staff to work on several priority conservation and maintenance needs for the park.  

Projects this year include planting native trees from the park’s greenhouse along a new bike trail leading to the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, gardening and maintenance work at the center’s Ojibwe Ethno botanical garden, and trail clearing at the Black Bay Trail.

Everyone is welcome; families and student groups are especially encouraged to participate. No experience is necessary. Park staff will provide instructions and tools.  

The Rendezvous is an opportunity to experience the great Minnesota outdoors and to become a national park steward. Volunteers have the opportunity to explore Voyageurs’ lakes and towering boreal forests in their free time.

A guided night hike will be offered on Friday and canoes will available to paddle Rainy Lake.

Voyageurs National Park Association will host a free celebration dinner to recognize volunteers and partners on Saturday evening at Sha Sha Resort.

Volunteers are responsible for organizing their own lodging and meals (except for the free celebration dinner). 

Register for this event by Sept. 3. For more information and to register for the event, go to www.voyageurs.org/volunteer-rendezvous or contact VNPA at vnpa@voyageurs.org or (612) 333-5424.

Participants may attend both work days or just one day. 

The Volunteer Rendezvous project is made possible through funding from the Nash Foundation and promotional support from Duluth Pack, REI Twin Cities, the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Patagonia, St. Paul.

The Volunteer Rendezvous is organized by Voyageurs National Park Association in partnership with Voyageurs National Park.  VNPA is the nonprofit conservation, advocacy and program partner of the park, helping each new generation discover and steward Voyageurs.