Find out how to:

• Help the woods with a donation of money

• Volunteer for Birch Island Woods & Heritage Farm projects

• Contact government officials and newspapers

And learn about --

• The Friends of Birch Island Woods
• Our growing community of supporting groups

WHO ARE THE FRIENDS OF BIRCH ISLAND WOODS?

We are volunteers who began as a handful of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka residents in 1998 to protect a small woods from development. Along the way we learned to celebrate and to steward the environmental, historic, scenic, human service and recreational resources of the Birch Island / Glen Lake area.

Friends of Birch Island Woods believes in engaging families and community groups in caring for local parks and conservation areas. We sponsor history and bike tours, litter pickups, buckthorn pulls, provide loaner buckthorn extraction tools and host invasive species workshops and habitat restoration projects.

FBIW publishes DISCOVER GUIDE: MINNESOTA RIVER BLUFFS TRAIL, invasive species flyers and occasional briefs pertaining to environmental and preservation issues in the Birch Island Glen Lake area.

In October 2003, The McKnight Foundation’s Embrace Open Space Campaign honored Friends of Birch Island Woods as a Champion of Open Space.

We partner with local governments and residents of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, Picha Heritage Farm, Friendship Ventures and other businesses and organizations to steward and promote the resources and character of the Birch Island - Glen Lake district.

HOW CAN I DONATE TO THE BIRCH ISLAND WOODS FUND?

Donations to the Birch Island Woods Fund are dedicated to stewardship, education, conservation and habitat restoration projects occurring in or focusing on the Birch Island Woods, Birch Island Lake and Birch Island Park area. Contributions are tax deductible. Make a pledge or donation to the Birch Island Woods Fund

The Friends of Birch Island Woods usually combine meetings at the Eden Wood Center with outings and hikes

HOW CAN I PROPOSE MY OWN CONSERVATION PROJECT?

Learn how you and your group or neighbors can join or begin a project to help “Ma Nature” in Birch Island Woods or other Eden Prairie parks and conservation areas.

HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER FOR FBIW SPECIAL EVENTS

Friends of Birch Island Woods depends on volunteers to successfully run its various projects. If you have expertise or just have an interest in something, that we’re cooking up or would like to suggest a project, call Vicky at 952-934-5656 or Jeff at 952-949-8980.

We sponsor hike and bike tours, seminars on invasive species, buckthorn pulls, habitat restoration projects and litter pick-ups including our commitment to the City’s Adopt-A-Street Program

HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER PICHA FARM EVENTS & PLANT SALE?

See the “Events Page” for information on volunteer opportunities at the farm for the Pot Planting Party in April and the Birch Island Woods Plant Sale in May.

HOW CAN I TELL OFFICIALS AND THE NEWSPAPERS WHAT I THINK ABOUT THE WOODS?

It's easy. Just click on Speak Out to find out how.

Friends of Friends of Birch Island Woods

The following groups have, in one way or another, given FBIW a pat on the back, valuable advice and moral support. Links to their homes on the world wide web are provided below.

Land Stewardship Project
http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/

Sierra Club, North Star Chapter
http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/

Eden Wood Center
http://www.friendshipventures.org

Minnesota Society of Arboriculture
http://www.isa-msa.org/

Friends of Eagan Core Greenway
http://www.EaganCoreGreenway.org/

Embrace Open Space Campaign
http://www.EmbraceOpenSpace.org

Minnesota Land Trust
http://www.mnland.org

1000 Friends of Minnesota
http://www.1000fom.org/index.htm

North Star Ski Touring Club
http://www.north-stars.org

Minnetonka Historical Society
http://www.minnetonka-history.org

Minnehaha Oaks Association -The Oaks Folks of Hopkins
http://www.oaksfolks.org/

Minnesota Native Plant Society
http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/biology/mnps/

Eden Prairie Lions Club
http://www.eplions.org/

Tree Trust (Minnesota)
http://www.treetrust.org/

Eden Prairie Volunteers
http://www.edenprairievolunteers.org/

Eden Prairie Heritage Preservation Commission & EP Historical Society
http://www.edenprairie.org/vCurrent/live/article.asp?r=1478

Minnesota River Valley Chapter, National Audubon Society
http://home.comcast.net/~mrvac/

Friends of the Minnesota River Valley
http://www.friendsofmnvalley.org

International Center for Education
http://www.thecie.org/

And ...

Picha Heritage Farm / Picha Nurseries, Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie Historical Society

Minnesota Coalition of Bicyclists

Glenshire Conservation Group, Eden Prairie

Edenvale Conservation Group, Eden Prairie

East Minnetonka Citizens' Association

Bailey Properties, Minnetonka

The Depot Coffee House, Hopkins