Programs/Activities

The first meeting of the Grand Rapids Chapter was held on January 21, 1925, just three years after the national Izaak Walton League of America was founded. The organizers in Grand Rapids were active conservationists right from the beginning. A few of the Chapter's accomplishments include:

RECENT/CURRENT ACTIVITIES

SCHOLARSHIPS have been awarded to a Grand Rapids area High School student to attend the Izaak Walton League Summer Camp at Deep Portage. Shawn Linder, FFA Advisor for ISD #318 has been kind enough to recommend highly motivated students as follows:

    • 2021 - Brad Dickey

    • 2020 - None

    • 2019 - Katelyn Dorry

    • 2018 - Levi Tolrud

    • 2017 - Eric Linder

    • 2016 - Corrina Kuechle

    • 2015 - Dylan Blay

    • 2014 - Emily Hegrenes, Sophomore

    • 2013 - None

    • 2012 - Hunter Dornhecker, Sophomore

2016 Activities:

    • Submitted a resolution on the pharmaceutical collection and disposal (link on Resolutions Passed page)

    • Letter to legislators in support of H.F. 1503 and S.F. 1425 "Legend drug collection and disposal as pharmaceutical waste"

    • Editorial in the Grand Rapids Herald-Review about the proper disposal of medications

2015 Activities:

    • Supported a resolution in favor of the "Effie variation" for the proposed Great Northern Transmission Line (link on Resolutions Passed page). This effort to prevent additional forest fragmentation, led by member Rich Libbey, was successful when the Effie route was chosen in 2016.

    • Submitted a resolution to support the DNR's effort to ban deer stands on State land (link on Resolutions Passed page)

    • Motion to support Earth Circle in its efforts to reduce single-use plastic bags in Grand Rapids

    • Letter to Governor Dayton in support for his buffer proposal

    • Letter to legislators in support of an effort to keep appropriate School Trust Fund Lands in public ownership

    • Letter to DNR Commissioner Landwehr in support of a requirement for an EAW on further groundwater removal by R.D. Offut in the Park Rapids area

    • Letter to legislators in support of permanent protection from federal mining leases for sulfide-ore mining in the Rainy River drainage basin

    • Letter to MPCA recommending that the sulfate standard remain at 10 mg/L or less until better information becomes available

    • Letter to DNR Commissioner Landwehr in support of a lead shot ban on Wildlife Management Areas

2014 Activities:

    • Sponsored a program for the public about the North Dakota Bakken oil fields

    • Submitted a resolution on Minnesota State School Trust Fund Lands (link on Resolutions Passed page)

    • Letter to legislators regarding School Trust Fund Lands

2013 Activities:

    • Sponsored a program for the public on School Trust Fund Lands

    • Submitted a resolution on Corporate personhood and the environment (link on Resolutions Passed page)

    • Submitted a second resolution on fossil fuel fee and dividend (link on Resolutions Passed page)

    • Letter to Itasca County Commissioners regarding forest fragmentation and preservation of environmentally sensitive areas in the Fourtown Lake area

    • Letter to legislators regarding School Trust Fund Lands

2012 Activities:

    • Submitted a resolution on fossil fuel fee and dividend (link on Resolutions Passed page)

2011 Activities:

  • Two films to be shown in conjunction with Earth Day

On Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. the film Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story was shown at Itasca Community College (ICC) Davies Theater. The film was produced by the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum of Natural History Emmy Award-winning team that created Minnesota: A History of the Land. Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story traces the development of America's bountiful heartland and its effect on the legendary river. Through beautiful photography and inspiring narrative, the film offers solutions to the river's troubles through fresh ideas and concrete solutions.

The film focuses on the unintended consequences of nitrogen fertilizer use by the agriculture industry, but the same principles of water ecology apply to all of us who live on the Mississippi River watershed. About 50 people attended and participated in a short discussion after the film.

On Friday, April 29, 2011, the second film, Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time, will have two showings, one at 11:00 am and again at 7:00 pm, also at Davies Theater on the ICC Campus. The film shares highlights from Leopold’s life and extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation in the twentieth century and still inspires people today. Although probably best known as the author of the conservation classic, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold is also renowned for his work as an educator, philosopher, forester, ecologist, and wilderness advocate. The film shares highlights from Leopold’s life and extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation in the twentieth century and still inspires people today. The film will also discuss Leopold’s thoughts on the role of the private citizen and land ethics.

Dr. Stanley Temple will introduce Green Fire and lead a discussion afterwards. Professor Temple is a noted authority on conservation issues and Aldo Leopold’s contributions to the field. He has done conservation work in 21 countries and has received national and international recognition for his diverse contributions to the field of conservation. Among his accomplishments, he is a past President of the Society for Conservation Biology and past Chairman of the Wisconsin Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. He has authored over 330 publications on conservation and ecology. Dr. Temple is currently the Senior Fellow and Science Advisor to the Aldo Leopold Foundation and, over his 32-year academic career at UW Madison, he won every UW teaching award for which he was eligible.

Admission is free. Refreshments will be available in the evening prior to the showing of both films with a brief time to visit with Dr. Temple and others.

These film showings were jointly sponsored by the ICC Natural Resource Club and the Grand Rapids Wes Libbey Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.

  • Five chapter members (two as delegates) attended the Minnesota Division State Convention and Annual meeting held at the Audubon Center of the Northwoods near Sandstone, MN on April 9-10, 2011.

    • Dedicating the Itasca County Blackberry Scientific & Natural Area in the spring of 2011 as a memorial to Milt Stenlund, long-time conservationist and Chapter member.

    • Working on a resolution to revise the current wetland mitigation practices to make them more flexible and, thus, make more appropriate land use choices.

    • Members participated with the Itasca Water Legacy Partnership at Children's First event in Grand Rapids.

2010 Activities:

    • Sent Chapter delegates to the MN Division annual meeting in 2010.

    • Hosted a MN GreenStep Cities Forum in July 2010 that was attended by citizens and city officials from as far away as Bemidji and Duluth.

    • Hosted the MN Izaak Walton League Fall Workshop at the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids in October 2010. The local IKES provided an interesting line-up of speakers and a delicious evening meal consisting of a variety of “wild” foods.

    • Members participated with the Itasca Water Legacy Partnership at Children's First event in Grand Rapids in 2009 and 2010.

PAST ACTIVITIES

    • Stable deer populations was one of the first concerns when the chapter adopted a resolution asking for a closed season on does and fawns and members were instrumental in setting the foundation of today’s hunting laws.

    • Organized Itasca County Ducks Unlimited Chapter in 1937.

    • Early Chapter activity involved control of “red” water run-off pollution from the iron ore mines and preventing the use of natural lakes as tailings basins.

    • The Grand Rapids Chapter takes credit for a resolution that resulted in the National IKE’s adding the word “soil” to its motto.

    • Members were leaders in the 1949 “Friends of the Wilderness” and, later, instrumental in the establishment of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA)

    • In 1956, pointed out the need to utilize over-mature aspen that resulted in ideal habitat for deer, grouse and snowshoe hare—if done properly. The Chapter will continue working for multiple-use forest practices. The future of recreation and hunting in Minnesota lies in its forested lands, especially on its public lands.

    • Worked with Itasca County to establish five ecologically distinct Natural Areas and sponsored the Wabana Trails hiking, hunting and cross-country ski area.

    • Instrumental in organizing the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Minnesota Bowhunters Association, Ruffed Grouse Society and the Audubon Society.

    • Instrumental in the purchase by the U.S. Forest Service of the historic Joyce Estate property located in the Chippewa National Forest

    • Established the Izaak Walton Park on County Road 63 on the Mississippi River (deeded to Blandin Paper Company in 1973).

    • Sponsored students to the Long Lake Conservation Center and sponsored five students to attend the National IWLA Convention.

    • Helped to organize the Itasca County Coalition of Lake Associations (ICOLA)

    • Helped create Itasca County’s Environmental Council, Zoning Department and Park & Recreation Board and, later, worked with the county to establish lakeshore zoning.

    • In 2007 Chapter members participated in public input meetings on the Itasca County Land Use Plan update.

    • Supported the establishment of the MN Forest Legacy Partnership that protects forestland enrolled in its program from further fragmentation and provides for multiple-use by the public, i.e. hunting, logging, public access and maintains wildlife habitat.