Q&A: Learning about Outdoor Recreation through the Pathways Program

By: Heather Gordon

April 04, 2023

Category: Behind the Scenes

Each summer, Three Rivers Park District offers the opportunity to explore careers in the outdoors through the Pathways Internship Program. Open to high-school and college students, the paid internship program provides a hands-on experience that teaches participants skills that will help them in their careers.

About the Author

Tracy, wearing a Three Rivers Park District baseball cap, smiles for the camera.

A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Heather is a recreation program specialist with the Outdoor Recreation School (ORS). Heather coordinates and teaches outdoor recreation programs for ORS at locations throughout the park district. She also coordinates volunteers and interns for ORS.

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A photo of a group of Pathways interns sitting on benches smile for the camera.

My Summer as a Pathways Intern

By: Alex Carey

August 31, 2022

Learn what it was like to be part of the Pathways program through the eyes of Alex, Mississippi Gateway Regional Park’s outdoor education intern this summer.

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Group photo of the Pathways interns outside of Richardson Nature Center.

Pathways Into the Parks

By: Harshita Somani

August 10, 2021

The Pathways Internship program introduces teenagers to various roles throughout Three Rivers Park District, giving them an opportunity to explore different career paths. Follow along with Harshita Somani, the 2021 marketing intern, as she relays her experience in the program this summer.

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back of a volunteer wearing a red vest that says park patrol

Volunteering: Park Patrol

By: Deb Vosler

August 27, 2018

Did you know there is a team of volunteers on park and regional trails in Three Rivers ready to help? Read on to learn about Park Patrol and the variety of ways they assist park guests.

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Creating a Healing Space in Nature: A Q&A with Innovative SOULutions’ Farji Shaheer

By: Amanda Fong & Farji Shaheer

May 02, 2023

Category: People of the Parks

Innovative SOULutions is a new, local nonprofit dedicated to preventing gun violence and creating safe and healing environments for community members who have been directly affected by gun violence. The organization provides comprehensive supports and relationships to support toward holistic healing, therapy and resource-connection all year-round.

About the Authors

Amanda, wearing a light teal knit hat, smiles.

Amanda Fong started working at Three Rivers Park District in 2013 and currently serves as the Community Engagement Supervisor. Amanda seeks to build genuine relationships, to be a connector of people and ideas, and ultimately to increase equitable access to outdoor spaces and experiences. She finds a sense of peace in the outdoors and especially enjoys bike rides, family camping trips, being near or on water as often as possible, and hiking along trails all year round. 

Farji sits on a canoe holding a paddle.

Farji Shaheer is a healthcare professional who has worked at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis for over 20 years to provide healthcare assistance and bedside mentoring to those suffering from mental health crisis to traumatic gunshot wounds. Farji is also the founder and executive director of Innovative SOULutions, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals and corporations in engaging and educating themselves on making positive, effective SOULutions around equity, inclusion and diversity.

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A line of blue bikes stand on a the lawn between the sidewalk and the curb. A trailer with an open door is behind them.

Expanding the Biking Community: My Experience with the Learn to Ride Program

By: Hani Roble

May 16, 2022

Three Rivers Parks guest Hani Roble shares her experience creating a biking group, and what she and other participants learned as they improved their biking skills.

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A group of people set up a blue tent at Baker Campground.

Breaking Down Barriers to Camping

By: Chia Xiong

April 28, 2021

Camping can offer new ways to connect to nature, but there is recognizable privilege in being able to do it. Learn how our Community Engagement team worked with community partners and other staff members to establish a Camping Gear Lending Library and offer introductory camping experiences to interested groups.

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Four snow tubers smiling at the top of the tubing hill at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove.

Alone or In a Pack: Finding and Inspiring Black Connections in Nature

By: Stephen Scott

February 24, 2021

Stephen Scott, volunteer Outdoor Afro leader, shares his experience in creating opportunities for Black communities to explore and connect to nature in Three Rivers and throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Learn more about Outdoor Afro and how you can support leadership in nature.

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Deer Study to Begin in Elm Creek Park Reserve

January 24, 2023

Three Rivers Park District is partnering with the University of Minnesota on a research project to monitor white-tailed deer for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, their habitat use, and movement in and around Elm Creek Park Reserve. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. White-tailed deer get the virus from humans and then can transmit it within the deer population. Targeted monitoring will involve placing GPS tracking collars on deer and sampling the same deer for the virus multiple times when possible.

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