Long Lake Conservation Center near Palisade
Hayden, Shay and Lyndon are from the Forkhorn I firearm safety training camp.
“Hi, this is Hayden, Shay and Lyndon from Forkhorn Summer Camp at Long Lake Conservation Center, June 28 through July 2.
“The temps for our camp week were a high of 86 degrees; jumping in the lake felt so good! The low was 58 degrees.
“We had a pretty spectacular storm on June 29 that produced thunder, LOTS of lightning and 1.33 inches of rain.
“In the LLCC neighborhood, a game camera caught a black bear roaming the area at 5:30 a.m.
“An American Bittern was seen hunting and eating earthworms from a grassy area. We looked it up and read that American Bitterns do not eat earthworms. But then, through more research, we did find other reports of them eating worms. Good news for the hungry Bittern, or we would have had to tell it to stop! In fact, they are not picky eaters and will eat just about anything. Kind of like summer campers.
“We also saw white-tailed deer, turkeys, loons, chipmunks, and a fledgling robin. We did not see but heard the constant song of the Red-eyed Vireos.
“’In bloom’ notes include; black-eyed Susan, Canada thistle, yarrow, cow parsnip, bindweed, daisies, meadow buttercup and bluebell.
“We had a great week of camp, and we want to remind everyone to go jump in a lake! AND to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!”
Roots and Wings Forest School in New York Mills
Steve Neu in Grand Rapids
Listener observations
What have you seen out there? Let us know: email us at comments@kaxe.org or text us at 218-326-1234.
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Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
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Contributed/Adobe Stock via Minnesota News ConnectionPublic health experts said states can better prepare for future illness outbreaks by keeping a sharp eye on climate change. -
Contributed/Deborah Rose / Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThirty-three communities received nearly $5 million in funding, including Virginia, Hill City and other Northern Minnesota cities. A new DNR grant closes Sept. 14, 2026. -
Contributed/Lorie ShaullThe Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds harvesters ahead of the Aug. 15, 2026, season opener that rice must be ripe for legal harvest. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThe Department of Natural Resources reported forest tent caterpillars have damaged the leaves of 60,000 acres of foliage around Aitkin County in 2026. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEBoundary Waters entry points near Big Moose Lake and Big Lake are also scheduled to reopen on Aug. 13, 2026. -
Contributed/Three Rivers Park DistrictFor Minnesota youths, leaders in charge of combating invasive species in lakes said the work can be a career training game changer.
