Minnesota’s National Park Legacy to Premiere on Twin Cities Public Television

View a short preview of Minnesota’s National Park Legacy

Voyageurs National Park Association collaborated with the seven National Park units in Minnesota and their respective partner organizations to develop an educational film about the importance of conserving Minnesota’s National Park heritage. The film, titled Minnesota’s National Park Legacy, is produced in partnership with Twin Cities Public Television (TPT), and premiered on October 4 after the full premiere of the six-part series, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. TPT will continue to show this program every few weeks and during special events, such as National Park Week. Check their website for upcoming showtimes.

In 2010, VNPA is producing 5,000 copies of the film to distribute to libraries and schools throughout Minnesota. We hope that this new educational resource will help to inform young people and community members about the natural beauty that lies outside their backdoor.
 

The film contains new footage of Voyageurs National Park and includes the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, Grand Portage National Monument, Pipestone National Monument, the North Country National Scenic Trail, and features projects from the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program.

This project represents an historic collaboration among the National Park units of Minnesota. This film is co-produced by:

Grand Portage National Monument
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
North Country National Scenic Trail
Pipestone National Monument
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Twin Cities Public Television
Voyageurs National Park

This program is made possible through generous contributions made by the following organizations:

Friends of Casey Jones Trail Association
Friends of Pipestone National Monument
Friends of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River Fund
Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership
St. Croix River Association
St. Croix Valley Community Foundation
Voyageurs National Park Association
Donald Weesner Foundation

Major funding to distribute this film to schools and libraries statewide was provided by:

Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership
Donald Weesner Foundation

VNPA held special premiere screenings of Minnesota’s National Park Legacy:

September 24, 2009 — 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Bell Museum of Natural History at the University of Minnesota.
What: A premiere screening of Minnesota’s National Park Legacy with the film producer Steve Spencer, presented alongside the museum’s current exhibit, “America’s Best Idea” with photography by Stan Jorstad.  This event was sponsored by the Bell Museum of Natural History, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Mississippi River Fund, St. Croix River Association, and Voyageurs National Park Association.

September 25, 2009 — 7:00 p.m.
Where: Backus Community Center Auditorium, International Falls, MN
What: A premiere screening with special guest speakers. This event was sponsored by the Backus Community Center, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., and Voyageurs National Park Association.

Image: Voyageurs National Park, Courtesy of the National Park Service.