

Walter J. Breckenridge Chapter
Izaak Walton League of America
Monthly Programs
If you have an interest in the environment and would like to meet like-minded people, come to one of our Social/Educational meetings. We invite a variety of speakers on outdoor topics and conservation, so you will and learn more about what is going on in our local community and throughout Minnesota. Meetings are held at the Chapter House the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm and are open to the public. We invite you to come and see for yourself.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Chris Knopf: Friends of the Boundary Waters
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Chris Knopf, Executive Director of Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, has had a lifelong passion for environmental conservation, stemming from his childhood experiences of playing in lakes and streams and fishing. This interest led to a legal career where he practiced environmental law. His background in law combined with his love for the environment has shaped his career dedicated to preserving natural resources and advocating for conservation efforts. He has run the state office of a national, nonprofit land conservation organization and worked on Native American land conservation projects before becoming Executive Director of the Friends in 2017. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Chris is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
Chris will share the remarkable story of how everyday citizens united to establish the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). He will highlight the organization's ongoing conservation efforts, recent legal successes, and the challenges that lie ahead, including the critical work of protecting the Boundary Waters from the devastating threats posed by sulfide mining and the need to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Chris will discuss the organization's commitment to preventing sulfide copper mining near this fragile ecosystem, which could irreversibly damage the clean waters and wilderness we are striving to protect. Additionally, he will cover how Friends of the Boundary Waters is working to connect people to the BWCA through its three core program areas: People, Wilderness, and Community.
Chris will also address challenges faced by the new administration and how we are committed to combating these actions through advocacy, legal challenges, and mobilizing grassroots support to ensure that the Boundary Waters remains protected from harmful mining practices and other environmental threats. By strengthening public awareness and continuing to push for stronger state and federal protections, Chris will outline the critical steps Friends of the Boundary Waters is taking to counteract these administration-level threats to the BWCA and other protected areas.
Join us at our February 25, 7:30 PM education talk at our Chapter House (8816 W. River Rd. in Brooklyn Park). Stay after for social time and light refreshments.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Kathy Meinhardt: Experiences as a Bluebird Recovery Volunteer
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