Registration Link for the 2024 Workshop HERE!

Celebrating 25 Years of MMEW!

Minnesota Minerals Education Workshop for K-12 Educators

The Minnesota Minerals Education Workshop (MMEW) is an annual multi-day workshop focusing on the geology, mineral resources, and mining history of Minnesota, led by Minnesota’s leading geologists from academia, government, and industry. It has been held in various locations throughout Minnesota since its inception in 1997, and we are excited to return to Chisholm for the 25th anniversary celebration!

The workshop is filled with short courses, guest speakers and field trips to local sites of historic and geologic interest. The program aligns with the Minnesota Science Standards and Minnesota Social Studies Standards.

This year we are partnered with the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm to celebrate 25 years of MMEW. The three day workshop will consist of (you can view a more detailed tentative schedule below):

• Day 1 - Monday June. 24th – afternoon arrival, activities, evening dinner & lecture outing on the Redhead Trail!

•  Day 2 - Tuesday June 25th – full day of workshop activities at the Discovery Center and off site mine tour (main workshop day for 1-day only registrations)

•  Day 3 - Wednesday June 26th – full field trip day along the Iron Range: geologic outcrops, DNR Core Library tour, and much more led by expertise from the Minnesota Geological Survey!

Highlights Include:
Minnesota's Leading Geologic Experts!

Minnesota Discovery Center Exhibits

Mining History of Minnesota
Redhead Trail

Mine Tours

Field Trips

Short Courses

Guest Speakers

Geoscience Technical Topics & Experts

Lesson Plans

Networking with other Educators

Classroom Resources

PDH certification for teachers

Monday Dinner Event:  Redhead Trail

On Monday evening June 24th participants registered for the full workshop program will have an exclusive experience of the Redhead Trail, including dinner and a guest lecture on how the trail came to be. For those adventurous enough, there’s even an opportunity for a guided hike or to explore the reclaimed lake via canoe, kayak or swim!

If you prefer to take in the views rather than walking the trail or exploring the lake by water, a shuttle will provide transport from the start of the trail down to the edge of the pit lake for equally amazing views.

The Redhead Trail & Mountain Bike Park is an award-winning reclamation and recreational highlight of northern Minnesota, located adjacent to the Discovery Center.

Lodging

New this year, on-your-own lodging arrangements. No dormitory lodging is available. However, the following options are available to MMEW attendees at specially reduced rates:

• The Chisholm Inn is offering MMEW attendees a special reduced "MMEW" rate of $90/night to support Minnesota teachers attending. The Chisholm Inn is located directly across 169 from The Discovery Center, only minutes away. Call the Chisholm Inn at 218-254-2000 for the MMEW price, the number of rooms at this rate is limited.

• The Hampton Inn Hibbing is about 12 minutes from the Discovery Center in nearby Hibbing. The Hampton Inn is offering MMEW a rate of $139/room. Reservations can be made at the following link exclusively for MMEW attendees: Hampton MMEW Rate.

• The Comfort Inn & Suites in nearby Mountain Iron, about 17 minutes from the Discovery Center, has a special reduced rate of $144/king room and $154/double queen for MMEW teachers attending if you call the Comfort Inn & Suites Mountain Iron at 218-741-7411.

• Camping is available at McCarthy Beach State Park, a short 20 minute drive from the Discovery Center. The Group Camp at McCarthy Beach State Park is reserved for our group, see the McCarthy Beach State Park website for the amenities available to campers in the Group Camp. MMEW group camp tickets at a reduced rate of $15/person total for the full three night stay, are available as an add-on to your MMEW registration ticket. Camping at the group camp is first come first serve, limited to 20 MMEW tickets added with your workshop registration. Regular single site camping is available through the Minnesota DNR camping reservation system.

• *new lodging option available! We have partnered with the City of Chisholm Economic Development Authority and Iron Range Engineering for hotel room style lodging at the Senator David J. Tomassoni Building located at 624 3rd Street West, Chisholm, just minutes away from the Discovery Center. Limited rooms available exclusively to MMEW K-12 teachers at a shared room rate of $55 total OR single room rate of $110 for total (price covers two nights checking in 6/24 checking out 6/26). If you elect the shared lodging, you will be paired with one roommate based on the gender you select with registration. This lodging option is first come first serve. Each room contains two full sized beds and a full bathroom. All linens provided, just like a hotel. Tickets for this lodging option can be added on with your workshop registration. Contact Sara Welna at sara.welna@state.mn.us for details or to make a roommate request. 

Registration

We have two registration options: a full program and a one-day offering:

Full Program - Early registration cost for the full program (2.5 day) is $65. The full workshop program begins Monday afternoon June 24th and ends late afternoon Wednesday June 26th. This fee covers the workshop program, the Monday evening outing, all short course and field trip costs, AM/PM refreshments and lunch. Once Early Registration ends, the price changes to $75. The Full Program is for 2.5 days June 24th - 26th. A certificate for PDHs will be available to each full program attendee.

One Day Only - Can't make the full multi-day workshop but still want to attend? We have a One-Day Only option for $30 early registration and $35 regular. This One-Day Only offering is for workshop activities taking place on Tuesday June 25th. A certificate for PDHs will be available to each one day only attendee.

Continuing Education Credit Hours - Participants will earn 24 continuing education credits for the full program and 9.5 hours for the 1 day program

Regardless of your registration option, once registered, arrival details and logistics will be emailed in June ahead of the workshop date.

Reserve your spot while available! There will be no on-site registrations.

Register now for MMEW 2024!

Check back for more details!

Please contact Sara Welna with questions or to be added to our info list  sara.welna@state.mn.us

The MMEW is made possible by the Minnesota Center for Mineral Resource Education (MCMRE.)  MCMRE is committed to sharing good information meant to empower members of our society to participate in wise decision-making for the benefit of all, and is committed to ensuring respect, accountability, and inclusiveness in governance and facilitation of participation. MCMRE volunteers and participants do not discriminate against any person on the basis of color, creed, disability, national origin, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation in any MCMRE or MMEW activity. The right of admission to the MMEW can be refused to any person at the discretion of MCMRE.