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Minnesota Outdoors

America Outdoors Returns!
Watch the season 2 premiere now!

America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston returns with a brand-new season as the best-selling writer, podcaster and comedian travels the country to uncover our complex relationship with the outdoors. From biologists saving snapping turtles to BIPOC mountain bikers, Baratunde meets a fascinating cast of characters with one thing in common: a passion for being outside.

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Minnesota Outdoors is a collection that explores Minnesotans’ relationship with the outdoors – and the historic and contemporary factors that shape those relationships for different communities.

Leveraging multiple media platforms, in-person events, and several engaging content projects, Minnesota Outdoors will help to create new narratives and to reclaim forgotten narratives about the outdoors as a space for all Minnesotans.

Our Work

America Outdoors
AMERICA OUTDOORS with Baratunde Thurston
Season 2 coming September 6, 2023
Produced by Twin Cities PBS
America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston premiered in July 2022 and follows host Baratunde Thurston on an adventure-filled journey to explore the diverse regions across the U.S. One of the six episodes is based in Minnesota’s epic Boundary Waters Canoe Area, offering awe-inspiring views of our homeland and some unique opportunities to engage around the locations, people and activities featured in that episode.

America Outdoors: Understory
AMERICA OUTDOORS: UNDERSTORY
Produced by Twin Cities PBS. A six-part YouTube series inspired by America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston. Baratunde digs deep into what makes a person’s relationship with the outdoors unique and how their time outside is impacted by climate change, equity, access, culture, adrenaline and more.

SciGirls
SCIGIRLS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS
The newest season of the TPT-produced, national series SciGirls concentrates on exploring our nation’s great national parks and how science intertwines with the outdoors. The seventh season of the acclaimed series follows real girls as they conduct citizen science in tandem with forest rangers in national and state parks. You can stream all episodes online or with the PBS KIDS Video App.

Outside Chance Season 2
Produced by Twin Cities PBS. Whether participating or spectating, Minnesota is an endless playground for outdoor activities and traditions. Outside Chance — a web series featuring new and traditional outdoor activities – highlights Minnesota’s outdoor culture and is hosted by yogi, emcee, rapper, and outdoor enthusiast Chance York.

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Ep. 1: Chance takes on National Pickleball Champion and coach Rachael Kroog and later teams up for doubles competition.


Ep. 2: Anthony Taylor takes Chance on a bike ride from Lake Phalen to Stillwater sharing his passion for biking.


Ep. 3: Chance sets sail to the City of Lakes to get a crash course on sailing with captain Joe Leadley of the Minneapolis Sailing Center.


Ep. 4: Join Chance to see if he can get anything to bite as he explores spots in one of the prime locations for fly fishing, The “Driftless Area” in Southeastern Minnesota.


Ep. 5: Disc golf has exploded over the last few years, however its popularity in Minnesota has been going on for much longer.


Ep. 6: Wilderness canoe guide shows how to portage and prep for your trip in the Boundary Waters.


Ep. 7: Tee up for some wormburners and drives with golf coaches striving for more youth access.


Ep. 8: Paddle down the Mississippi River with a National Parks Ranger
Watch on YouTube and leave a comment

National Parks PBS Video App

ACCESS & REPRESENTATION | KIDS & FAMILY |  GETTING OUTSIDE | HISTORY 

ACCESSIBILITY & REPRESENTATION OUTDOORS

Historically and today, distinct groups of people have been excluded from feeling welcome in natural spaces and enjoying outdoor activities. Racial segregation has created inequities in accessibility and opportunities to comfortably experience outdoor spaces.

When considering the great outdoors, we face dichotomy: Happiness and freedom for some, and challenges for others.

Verna

Runner Verna Volker ‘Sets her Heart and Mind on Big Mountains’
By Sara Abdelaal

What started as a fitness quest turned into a mission to raise the bar of representation for Native women runners.

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How Friendly Hmong Farms Grew From a Grassroots Idea

How Friendly Hmong Farms Grew From a Grassroots Idea
By Sara Abdelaal

A budding example of how community support can make a difference.

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KIDS & FAMILY

Getting outside with little ones can sometimes be a challenge, but the health and wellness benefits are well worth the effort. Science has proven how important it is for people to spend time outside and it can’t hurt to start the habit young.

Make Camping With Kids a Success!

If you or your kids have never been camping before, it can feel like a big undertaking. Consider what you need to prepare ahead of time and what you want to get out of the time together outdoors, but be open to whatever happens.

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Gardening with Kids

Gardening With Kids: How It Affects Your Child’s Brain, Body and Soul

For parents struggling to find ways to encourage their kids to eat a healthy and balanced diet, gardening can be an important tool.

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GETTING OUTSIDE

The act of getting outside can be as simple as taking an afternoon walk but can also take shape in many other ways. Getting creative with your outside time can be as simple as investigating new and interesting ways to do it!

A Serving of Pickleball Is More Than a Sporty Side Dish
By Luke Heikkila

For players, the sport offers a healthy dose of camaraderie.

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Man snowshoeing

A Simple Guide to Strapping on Snowshoes
By Luke Heikkila

It really is as easy as it looks.

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Wilderness is not a luxury but necessity of the human spirit.

–Edward Abbey

HISTORY

The outside has always been appreciated and admired in Minnesota, perhaps because we’re so excited when the weather is finally just right. That being said, our institutions and abilities to get outdoors have grown and evolved over the years. Take a walk down memory lane and learn about the history of getting outdoors.

Parks for the People

This episode of Minnesota Experience captures the surprising story of the origins and evolutions of the park systems of the Twin Cities and the region.

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A History of the Land

A History of the Land allows you to witness 16,000 years of Minnesota’s fascinating early history. Its unique place in North America is revealed through animations and graphics depicting its evolving history. A Twin Cities PBS Original production.

 

 

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ACCESS & REPRESENTATION | KIDS & FAMILY |  GETTING OUTSIDE | HISTORY 

Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Amendment

Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund

In 2008, the citizens of Minnesota passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment and created a fund to “protect drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.” The Minnesota Outdoors Initiative is made possible by this fund.

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