Bush Lake Chapter - Izaak Walton League of America upcoming events

Chapter Fundraiser - Money To Burn (01/01/2026)

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Support our conservation and restoration efforts!
Donate online or send a check. Get started by clicking here! All donations are tax deductible.

For over 25 years the Bush Lake Chapter has been providing wildlife habitat and protecting water quality by ecologically restoring our 5-acre property. We manage invasive plants and weeds and plant beautiful native plants, trees, and shrubs. This provides food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, and also makes our grounds a beautiful place for our members and their guests to enjoy.

An important tool that has been missing from our management of the grounds is prescribed fire. Prescribed fires, also known as controlled burns, control invasive species, restore natural cycles, promote the growth of native plants, enrich soil nutrients, and remove hazardous fuels. The goal of this fundraiser is to raise enough funds to hire a trained, licensed, insured, and experienced restoration company to conduct a prescribed burn at the Chapter in 2026.

Every dollar counts! Depending on how much money we raise, your donation may be used for:

Hiring a restoration company to conduct prescribed burns at the Chapter in the Spring of 2026
Purchasing native plants and seed and equipment and materials used for restoration management
Preventing the introduction and spread of invasive plants and animals
Promoting and protecting pollinators, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and other wildlife
Getting kids and adults outdoors, and environmental education for our community and others

Donate online or send a check- Click Here

All donations are tax deductible. We thank you for your support!

Learn more by watching this short video- click here

Earth Day- Bush Lake Clean Up (04/18/2026)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up Bush Lake and area parks!
Volunteers needed to pick up litter in and around Bush Lake and clean up storm drains. Please arrive promptly before 10 am to participate.

Open to the public. Registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST SIGN A WAIVER BEFORE PARTICIPATING. CHILDREN UNDER 18 MUST HAVE AN ADULT SIGN THE WAIVER. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS NOT THE CHAPTER CLEAN UP.

What to bring: Dress for the weather (rain or shine), sturdy shoes/mud boots, buckets, trash grabbers, snacks, water, sunblock, bug spray. The Chapter will provide garbage bags and inspiration. We have some gloves, trash grabbers and buckets participants may use.

Join us for the Less Garbage Celebration after the event for snacks, drinks, photos and our "Most Interesting Piece of Garbage" Contest.

Interested Chapter members are encouraged to use/bring their canoes or kayaks to pick up trash from the shoreline. Please bring life jackets if you are interested in this task.

Please walk, carpool or ride bikes if you can, to help with parking.

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS NOT THE CHAPTER GROUNDS SPRING CLEAN UP, THAT WILL BE HELD ON MAY 16TH.

If you need some inspiration, check out this video from our Earth Day Clean Up in 2023!

The Chapter address is 7515 Izaak Walton Road W, Bloomington, MN 55438. Click here for a map.

Please contact the caretakers if you have any questions.

Life Beneath Our Feet: Understanding Soil (05/02/2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 16:45:00 GMT

Life Beneath Our Feet: Understanding Soil

Come and learn about the Bush Lake Izaak Walton League ecosystem where over 12,000 native plants have been installed. Jim Etzel will give a presentation on healthy ecosystems, healthy soil and water infiltration. We will extract and view soil cores, and soil infiltration rates. Some samples will be sent to a lab and results will be available at a later date.

Agenda:
11:45am - 12:15 A tour of Bush Lake Izaak Walton League
12:15 - 12:45 Complimentary pizza and soft drinks will be provided
1:00 - 2:00 Presentation by Jim Etzel, Understanding Bush Lake’s Ecology & Life Beneath Our Feet: Understanding Soil
2:00 - 4:00 Observe soil ecology, collect soil samples and perform soil infiltration test.

Details: Open to Bush Lake Ikes, Wild Ones Twin Cities members, and by invitation.

Space is limited- Please register. Parking is limited, please walk, bike or carpool if possible.

Contacts: For Ikes and invited guests, email Jill Crafton

For Wild Ones Twin Cities members, email Susan Van Baerle

World Migratory Bird Day- Bush Lake (05/09/2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Celebrate migratory birds on World Migratory Bird Day by having a big day! Global Big Day is a yearly event put on by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where birdwatchers from all over the world team up to see how many different bird species they can spot in just one day. This year's event takes place about peak time for migration in Minnesota. Help us look for warblers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, and much more! Help us add to our list of bird species documented at the Bush Lake Chapter.

The event is open to everyone regardless of your level of birding experience. Beginners are welcome. We will walk around Bush Lake and our chapter property, identifying bird species. Participants are also welcome to sit and identify birds!

Saturday, May 10th: meet at the Bush Lake Chapter Lodge at 7:30 am (sharp!) for instructions. Bird count begins around 8:00 am. Event will be held rain or shine.

No Dogs Please - Dress For the Weather - Bring Binoculars - Camp chair - Sun Protection - Insect Repellent - Water - Snacks - Bird Books (if you have any) - Camera with good zoom - Photographers welcome!

Ring In Spring Event (05/09/2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Ring in Spring with the Bush Lake Ikes!

Join us for a scavenger hunt, create a flower planting for Mother’s Day, and enjoy games, bonfire, and snacks—all to celebrate the fun sounds of spring! Open to Ikes members and their families and friends. Please contact caretaker Denise with any questions.

Chapter Spring Clean Up & New Member Orientation (05/16/2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Chapter Spring Clean Up- New Member Orientation

Saturday, May 16th
Clean Up 10:00 am-Noon
New Member Orientation/Tour - 11:30am (start at Lodge)

Please Register if you can attend - it helps us to plan.

It's time once again to get the Chapter ready for summer! Meet some of your fellow members and enjoy the beautiful grounds. Things to do: Clean the lodge, split/move firewood, put out the dock, general clean up, weeding, raking and more. Please bring WHEELBARROWS and any tools that might be useful for those tasks. NO LEAFBLOWERS! Contact the caretaker with any questions.

New Member Orientation & Tour at 11:30am (starting at Lodge).

Are you a new member that just joined in 2026? Did you join in recent years but never received an orientation? All new members are asked to attend orientation. Learn the "ins and outs" of the Chapter, what to do and what NOT to do. Orientation and tour will last about 1 hour. "Old" members are welcome to join for the tour and orientation.

Mindfulness Nature Immersion (05/16/2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Connect with the Natural World and your Inner Nature!
Mindful Nature Immersion (MNI) with Richard Bonk
Open to All (14 years and older)
Space Is Limited- Please Register By Clicking Here

Mindfulness Nature Immersion (MNI — similar to Forest Bathing) utilizes mindfulness to connect with and explore the outer natural world as well as our inner nature. In this program participants will be taught basic mindfulness practices, then guided in an immersive experience in nature to practice those skills. These experiences broaden awareness, sharpen focus, engage the senses and open the heart, so that one may experience a deeper connection and appreciation for nature, its flora, fauna and ecosystems, as well as developing a sense of compassion for those other beings, including other humans and ourselves.

Details: We will meet at Bush Lake Izaak Walton League lodge, do a brief orientation with introductions, then move out into nature on the grounds. After a guided mindful senses experience, participants will transition to mindful nature walking, then a longer period of connecting with a natural element, such as flora, fauna or landscape. Time for journaling, debriefing and sharing will be included.

You are welcome to bring food to picnic and socialize afterwards. Please email Richard with questions. Everyone (14 and older) is welcome — no experience necessary.

This activity takes place outdoors, please dress for the weather, bring water, snacks, bug repellant and portable seat if needed. Also a journal if you'd like to write or sketch. There is a lodge onsite as well as a restroom.

Richard Bonk has a Masters of Education in Counseling degree and has worked in healthcare for over 30 years. A longtime member our Common Ground Meditation community, he has practiced mindfulness for over 40 years and has developed and facilitated programs for various organizations and communities. Richard is also a lifelong naturalist, including working at the Toledo (OH) Zoo and brings these interests together in this programming.