Learning Law and Democracy will enhance civic education across Minnesota by increasing the value of teachingcivics.org through redesigned architecture and an updated look and feel along with the addition of new lessons and user instructions. Student programs supported with this grant will also experience a redesign to capitalize on the renovated State Capitol and new Senate Building and will benefit from new partners and teachers with increased capacity to teach through professional development.
The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund will help an estimated 39,000 Minnesota students experience field trips at Minnesota historic sites and museums statewide in FY12 and FY13. The high cost of transportation prohibits many Minnesota teachers from taking their students on field trips. The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund offsets transportation costs to all of the Minnesota Historical Society's 26 museums and historic sites statewide. Eligible schools are reimbursed $3 per student.
The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund helped 24,444 Minnesota students in 298 schools experience field trips at Minnesota historic sites and museums statewide in FY15. The high cost of transportation prohibits many Minnesota teachers from taking their students on field trips. The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund offsets transportation costs to all of MNHS's 26 museums and historic sites statewide.
LSA is a statewide project that builds on the achievements realized during the first five years of Legacy funding. The LSA is a strategic document and a resource for the work of statewide history communities over the next four years. Through a collaborative statewide process, the LSA has identified four goals and four strategic priorities that ultimately will be measured and sustained. Legacy Vision
We are all deeply connected to each other when we are engaged in, enriched by, and excited about Minnesota's history and cultural heritage.
Legacy Goals
MNHS launched several new marketing tools that spread the word of exhibitions and related programs supported by Legacy funding. A new MNHS programs and events magazine is reaching more Minnesotans than ever before, and a new partnership with the Star Tribune advertises MNHS programs twice per month next to the paper's new Minnesota history column by Curt Brown. Additional marketing through print, broadcast, outdoor, and online communications have also contributed to impressive gains in attendance and awareness of the Legacy-funded programs and exhibits presented by MNHS.
MNHS and regional public libraries across Minnesota are combining resources to educate, entertain, and build community among library patrons in the state. Libraries and MNHS are bringing a range of programs and events to local libraries that document and preserve community stories for future generations, educate people of all ages about the history of Minnesota and its people, and make high quality history programming accessible to
all Minnesotans.
More than 60 programs were presented in dozens
of communities around the state, including:
The Minnesota Historical Society is deeply engaged in cultivating meaningful relationships with adult audiences as lifelong learners, members, donors, volunteers, and supporters. In FY16, MNHS continued to build the organization's capacity for using skilled volunteers through staff trainings, creating new programs, and a thorough evaluation of programs targeted at adult audiences. New initiatives: Fifty-eight new skilled volunteer positions were added, contributing 4,700 volunteer hours.
Maintaining Existing Holdings - A Parks and Trails Strategic Objective is a program area representing DNR's commitment to one of the four pillars identified in the 25 year Legacy plan. The Legacy plan calls this Take Care of What We Have, and identifies its purpose to provide safe, high-quality park and trail experiences by regular re-investment in park and trail infrastructure, and natural resource management.
To rehabilitate plumbing, electrical, and weather-tightness, and restore interior finishes on the log residence of the Marcell Ranger Station, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and listed in the National Register of Historic Places
The Minnesota Land Trust provides coordination, mapping, and data management for the Metropolitan Conservation Corridors partnership. Funds are being used to coordinate the partnership, guide strategic outreach and implementation efforts, manage project data, and provide reporting and mapping of accomplishments.
The Trust for Public Land is using this appropriation to purchase approximately 30 acres of land and 0.3 miles of shoreline with high ecological value and then convey the land to state or local governments for long-term stewardship and protection. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding include areas around the Rum River and Rice Creek in Anoka County, Lindstrom Natural Area in Chisago County, Savage Fen Scientific and Natural Area and Pike Lake in Scott County, and St. Croix/Fraconia-Scandia Scientific and Natural Area in Washington County.
With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect 150 acres of high quality forest, prairie, or wetland habitat by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Anoka, Carver, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Washington, and Wright counties.
The Civics Education Coalition will create opportunities for students, enrich teacher capacity to engage students, and build state-wide networks. Work will include an interactive website, online youth summit, youth conference, new lessons for educators, teacher institutes, and expansion of the statewide Civic Education Network and its activities.
The Civic Leadership Institute Online (CLIO) provided original content that complemented other online resources and developed young people’s ability to act on issues that matter to them and to increase their civic and political understanding.
Partners: Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (primary), Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality, University of Minnesota Tourism Center, Minnesota Design Team
"Minnesota and the Civil War," a new 5,000-square-foot exhibit opening at the Minnesota History Center March 2, 2013, will reveal the words and actions of Minnesotans who lived during the war. Minnesota responded first in the nation and, fighting in almost every major battle, Minnesotans were among the most tested and honored in the Union Army. Stories of soldiers and their loved ones at home will be drawn from the Minnesota Historical Society's collections: letters, diaries, memoirs and reminiscences that capture the personal impact of this tumultuous period.
The new Minnesota Naturalist Corps, year-round naturalists and seasonal naturalists will be added at the busiest seasonal parks and trails to expand conservation education programming and increase overall attendance at interpretive programs. The Minnesota Naturalist Corps will offer more interpretive programs as directed by new legislative guidelines.
The Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) is a statewide, multi-institutional initiative. Its mission is to make the rich historical resources of the state's public and academic libraries, archives, museums and historical societies available to students, teachers and the public via the web and also to preserve these resources for future generations.
The 2012-2013 appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will allow the MDL to expand the number of historical resources online and continue its work preserving these digital resources.
Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and Cambodian immigrants have left an indelible and flavorful mark on Minnesota and on our culinary, cultural and economic history. The book "Asian Flavors" and an accompanying documentary record the story of countless men and women who made the arduous journey halfway around the world to live in Minnesota, fleeing oppression and persecution or in search of jobs and education. This project preserves and shares their stories of survival and success in our state, stories that serve as an inspiration to all.
There are 67 Minnesota State Parks and 7 Minnesota State Recreation areas that each have facilities to serve outdoor recreation users. Funds in this category are used for developing new facilities and include visitor centers, trail centers, roads, parking lots, bridges, campgrounds, and so on.
This program area provides for minor campground improvements and adjustments across the system of State Parks and State Recreation Areas; includes opportunities for replacement of fire rings, parking spur leveling, erosion control at campsites, vegetation management, and improved signing. This program report will now be part of "Renewal and Rehabilitation of State Parks and State Recreation Areas"
Kids Voting St. Paul will introduce youth-friendly technologies to enhance civic learning, expand its veterans civic education initiative, increase the number of students participating in Kids Voting elections, pilot a state-wide KidVention, expand and leverage partnerships, and convene a civic education provider summit.
Learning Law and Democracy Foundation will strengthen learning about the Minnesota constitution and government, create a civic self-assessment instrument for Minnesota schools, convene a civic education provider summit, enhance the teachingcivics.org website, expand professional development opportunities, and develop new lessons on Minnesota state and local government.
This Minnesota Forests for the Future project protected 19,439 acres of forest and forested wetlands with perpetual working forest conservation easements in Lake, Itasca and Koochiching Counties ensuring public access, management access and sustainably managed forests.
To hire a qualified interpretive specialist to develop an interpretive plan for the history along 287 miles of the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway.
