Join us in Celebrating Rosebud the Goose’s 10th Birthday for Gibbs Farm Opening Day 2025!
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Gibbs Farm: There will be historic site tours, live music from Light of the Moon, party games, and CAKE! As always, tours will be of Gibbs Historic Farmhouse, and guests may learn about the Dakota of Cloud Man’s village by visiting our tipi and replica summer bark lodge. Guided tours will be at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30.
Embark on an unforgettable adventure into the heart of Minnesota’s Big Woods to hunt for the elusive Morel mushroom! Guided by expert foragers and culinary legends, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, learn new skills, and support a worthy cause.
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Highlights
Expert Guidance: Learn from seasoned professionals like Jaime Rockney (Chick of the Woods), Maria Wesserle (Four Season Foraging), Alison Cromie (Lesbian Forager),
Olena Johnson (Olena the Mushroom Lady), and Matt Mosher (Matt’s Mushrooms and More).
Celebrity Chef: Taste a delicious Morel dish prepared by renowned Forager Chef, Alan Bergo.
Prizes and Fun: Compete in the hunt for prizes, enjoy live music, savor comfort food, play games, and bid on exciting items in our silent auction. Raise the most funds prior to the event and win a prize!
Give Back: Support Alzheimer’s research by participating in this heartwarming fundraiser.
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What to Expect
Explore private property just 45 minutes from the Twin Cities.
Discover tips and tricks for finding, identifying, cleaning, and cooking Morels.
Keep what you find!
Enjoy a memorable day surrounded by nature and like-minded enthusiasts.
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Our Story
Our beloved mother, Heidi Vanderlinde, was diagnosed with Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease at the young age of 49 in 2011. Despite her courageous battle, she succumbed to this cruel disease in August 2019. Heidi’s love for the outdoors, plants, and sunshine inspired us to create the Morels & Memories Mushroom Hunt & Alzheimer’s Fundraiser.
For almost 10 years, we’ve come together to honor her memory and raise over $114,000 towards finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Dollars donated to our fundraiser are shared with the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, which is a non-profit dedicated to groundbreaking research. Until a cure is found, we will continue to search for Morels, fueled by our unwavering hope and determination to make a difference.
Gooseberry Falls was Minnesota’s most-visited state park last year, with nearly 760,000 visitors, according to the DNR.
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A Minnesota state park and forest hiking trail, both on the North Shore, are in the running to be named best in the nation.
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Gooseberry Falls State Park and Devil’s Kettle Trail at Judge C.R. Magney State Park are among the nominees in this year’s USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice awards. The destinations are nominated in the best state park and best hiking trail categories, respectively.
In a statement, Ann Pierce, the director of the trails division at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said the agency is excited to receive national nods for these iconic spots along the North Shore.
“This part of the state is where the power of nature meets peaceful beauty — thundering waterfalls, rugged shoreline, and trails that invite you to explore,” Pierce stated. “These two locations are great examples of the many outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities in the state of Minnesota.”
The park, just north of Two Habors, offers over 20 miles of hiking trails and breathtaking views of the iconic Upper, Middle and Lower falls.
Further north, in Grand Marais, North Shore visitors can find Devil’s Kettle Trail.
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Devil’s Kettle Trail. Photo courtesy of Deborah Rose | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
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The moderately challenging hike offers views of Devil’s Kettle, the stunning point where the Brule River splits in two and half of the water cascades down a waterfall and the other half vanishes into a deep, swirling hole before reemerging downstream.
The winner will be decided by online voting, which is open through May 12th at noon.
You can vote for Gooseberry Falls State Park here and Devil’s Kettle Trail here.
Outside, we’ll have our telescopes set up to observe our favorite deep space objects (weather permitting). Inside, you can explore hands-on activities, and our expert astronomy team will guide you through the night sky and highlight cosmic sights in our planetarium.
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FAQ
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What is a Star Party?
A Star Party is an evening of astronomical celebration, exploration, and fun. At a Star Party, you’ll find hands-on activities and demonstrations from Bell educators and community partners throughout the museum. If there are clear skies, you will be able to look through high-powered telescopes at astronomical objects. Additionally, there are typically free planetarium shows that are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. Oftentimes, Star Parties have special themes or topics.
What time should I be there?
There is no official “start” to the party—you can drop in anytime during the window of time listed above.
Will there be planetarium shows?
Yes, tickets are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. PLEASE NOTE: Your EventBrite registration is not a planetarium show ticket. You can retrieve a planetarium ticket from the front desk at the Star Party.
Is the event weather dependent?
The event is rain or shine, however, the telescopes are not. If there is rain or cloudy skies, there will not be telescopes outside—but there will be plenty to see inside the museum!
Will this event also be offered virtually?
This event is only offered in-person and not virtually. If you are looking for virtual astronomy content, you can check out some of our pre-recorded Virtual Star Parties on our YouTube channel!
The Trailhead Theodore Wirth Park Saturday, April 26th, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
EXPERT PRESENTATIONS • DEMOS
FOOD • GAMES • MUSIC • VENDORS
Get ready to pack in the fun. Join us – and other outdoor enthusiasts – for a full day of FREE activities for the whole family celebrating Minnesota’s incredible natural resources and recreation opportunities, including hiking, biking, paddling and camping!
Plus, don’t miss more outdoor fun at nearby Utepils Brewing starting at noon. Free shuttle available.
If snowy owls are known for one thing, it’s their white plumage. Their coloring helps them blend in with the frost-covered environments they call home.
Wildlife photographer Julie Maggert has been taking pictures of snowy owls for years. So when she heard that a strange, orange-colored snowy owl had been spotted flying around Michigan’s Thumb area, she knew she had to see the bird for herself.
Maggert drove two hours out to where the owl had been observed. Before long, she spotted her in the middle of a field. She couldn’t believe her eyes — she really was orange.
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Exposing Nature Through My Lens
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Maggert stayed in one spot all day, waiting for the owl to fly onto a pole so she could get a clear photo. But when it was almost dusk, the owl flew away into a tree, out of Maggert’s sight, and stayed there until it was totally dark.
All of Maggert’s photos from that day ended up being unusable. But she didn’t let that stop her; she returned shortly after, determined to photograph the elusive, mysterious animal.
The second time she returned to the owl’s home turf, the same thing happened: Maggert arrived at first light, only for the owl to fly out of view when it started getting dark. The third time Maggert visited the owl, she managed to capture some photos of the owl in flight.
Some people would have given up at that point. But not Maggert. She really wanted some photos of the owl sitting still that clearly showed off her distinctive orange feathers.
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Exposing Nature Through My Lens
On the fourth day, as Maggert was driving around, following the owl, the bird finally perched on top of a utility pole, and the photographer was able to capture the pictures she’d been dreaming of.
“I went home feeling on cloud nine because I worked so hard and put so many hours into this owl,” Maggert told The Dodo.
In her quest to photograph the orange owl, whom she nicknamed Creamsicle, Maggert ended up logging 900 miles of driving and nearly 30 hours of sitting in her car. It was all worth it, though, because no one has ever seen an owl like Creamsicle before.
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Exposing Nature Through My Lens
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Many animal species have rare but documented genetic color variants, like blue lobsters and white orcas. But for the orange owl, not only is it the first time one has been photographed, but no one knows exactly why she’s orange. Kevin McGraw, biology professor at Michigan State University, suspects the owl or her mother got exposed to something in the environment that disrupted her genetic code.
As for Maggert, she’s not sure which theory she believes: “I just really don’t know if anybody’s ever going to find out,” Maggert said.
Since Creamsicle may very well be the only owl of her kind, Maggert is honored to not only have gotten to observe her firsthand, but also to have shared her with the world.
“It may be a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Maggert said.
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If you’re interested in seeing more of Maggert’s work, you can check out her photography pages on Instagram and Facebook.