Voyageurs Conservancy Member Impact Breakfast
Rise and shine, friends of Voyageurs. Our annual member breakfast is fast approaching, and we are thrilled to welcome Graham Lee, author of Jun Fujita: Behind the Camera, as our featured speaker at this year’s gathering.
Jun Fujita was a pioneering Japanese-American photographer and poet whose work captured the natural beauty of northern Minnesota and played an influential role in the establishment of Voyageurs National Park. Fujita is well-known for his striking black-and-white photographs of the Rainy Lake region, where he built a rustic retreat on an island in the 1920s. His images celebrate the untouched wilderness and showcase the area's intricate waterways, lush forests, and dramatic rock formations. Lee’s book is also a visual and literary excavation of a man who chronicled Chicago’s most defining moments—from the SS Eastland disaster to the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and the Chicago Race Riots. His work, published in the Chicago Evening Post and seen around the world, helped shape the visual narrative of early 20th-century America.
Graham Lee, the great-nephew of Jun Fujita, has spent the last 15 years researching Fujita’s life, retracing his great uncle’s footsteps and creating a story that combines a rich family history with important historical and personal photographs. He is delighted to share his great-uncle’s story and his new book with Conservancy members.
Our fall member breakfast is also the perfect opportunity to hear updates about the Conservancy’s key initiatives, mix and mingle with fellow park lovers, and enjoy a delicious complimentary breakfast. We hope you can join us for an engaging morning and meaningful fellowship to thank you for your support.
RSVP by October 24 to reserve your spot.
Event Schedule:
8:00 - 8:30 a.m. - Quiche, Coffee, and Conversation
8:30 a.m. - Program: Conservancy Updates + Guest Speaker, Author Graham Lee
9:45 a.m. - Optional Sustainability Tour of Westwood Hills Nature Center with Mark Oestreich, Westwood Hills Nature Center Manager
Conservancy Members Suggested Donation: $20
Non-members: $40
Not a member? Become one today!
Note: We recommend RSVP’ing early, as we do anticipate filling our space, and please note the change of location this year.
Optional Sustainability Tour:
Following our Member Impact Breakfast, attendees are invited to stay for an optional sustainability tour with Mark Oestreich, manager of Westwood Hills Nature Center. Located on 160 acres of parkland in St. Louis Park, MN the nature center serves as a hub for environmental education and community engagement. Opened in 2020, the all-electric building includes multipurpose classrooms, exhibit spaces, community areas, an outdoor classroom, raptor mews, and more. It showcases Minnesota’s natural habitats while promoting sustainability and energy efficiency.
The building received Zero Energy Certification from the International Living Future Institute in 2022, meaning it produces as much energy as it consumes annually, powered entirely by on-site renewable energy. Key green features include:
Geothermal heating and cooling
Passive and active solar energy systems
Daylight harvesting
High-performance bird-safe glass
Sustainable materials, like Alaskan yellow cedar glulam beams
Enhanced insulation
Permeable pavers, rain gardens, and a relocated educational bog
The Interpretive Center reflects St. Louis Park’s commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being. Since its opening, it has educated thousands about the surrounding woods, marshes, and prairie ecosystems.