RESTORATION PROJECT – April 17, 2010 – begin at 10:30AM

Friends of Birch Island Woods received approval and endorsement from the City of Eden Prairie to conduct a restoration project within the Birch Island Woods Conservation Area. Under the direction of FBIW and/or Eden Prairie City Staff, volunteers will plant, water, fertilize and mulch approximately 35 trees/shrubs ranging in size of 6 to 12 feet tall.

This is a rain or shine event, so please dress for the weather and bring gardening gloves. Volunteers will have the ability to work in teams to move large trees/shrubs and carry 5 gallon plus pails of water, fertilizer and/or mulch.

Location: Birch Island Woods Conservation Area - Birch Island Road and Kara Drive Intersection in Eden Prairie, MN

POTTING DAY – April 17, 2010 – 9AM – 11AM

This is a prelude to our biggest fundraiser - the Birch Island Woods Plant Sale. On April 17th volunteers will pot bare root trees/shrubs to be sold at the plant sale in May. Please dress for the weather as this is a rain or shine event; wear gardening gloves and bring a shovel if you have one.

Location: Picha Heritage Farm, 6649 Birch Island Road, Eden Prairie, MN

BIRCH ISLAND WOODS PLANT SALE – May 7^th thru May 16^th.

Weekdays 2PM-7PM - Weekends 10AM-5PM;

Location: Picha Heritage Farm, 6649 Birch Island Road, Eden Prairie, MN

Greeter/Helpers - volunteers would work a 2 hour shift with responsibilities of welcoming people to the sale, answering simple questions such as where plant groups are located and most importantly assist customers by carrying purchases to their vehicles. This is a rain or shine event held outdoors so please dress for the weather. The plant sale is the organizations largest fundraiser and this will be our 9th year. Many of our volunteers sign up for multiple shifts and come back to volunteer year after year.

PLANT SALE TRAFFIC COORDINATOR

May 7th, 8th and 9th - Weekday 2PM-7PM - Weekends 10AM-5PM.

Location is the Picha Heritage Farm, 6649 Birch Island Road, Eden Prairie, MN Volunteers will work a 2 or 3 hour shift and direct customers to parking areas on the farm property in addition to managing off street parking on Birch Island Road. One volunteer will be located on farm property - the other on Birch Island Road. Team will communicate via two-way radio to resolve issues with customers parking on Birch Island Road and blocking traffic or directing customers onto the farm to park. Dates/Times available for volunteer - May 7th - 2PM-4PM or 4PM-7PM; May 8th & 9th - 10AM-12PM, 12PM-2PM; 2PM-5PM.

BIRCH ISLAND WOODS CLEAN UP DAY – April 17, 2010 8:30AM-Noon

Location: Picha Heritage Farm, 6649 Birch Island Road, Eden Prairie, MN

Join us to help collect a winter's worth of trash. Friends of Birch Island Woods volunteers will pick up trash along Birch Island Rd., Indian Chief Rd. and within the Birch Island Woods Conservation Area. Dress for the weather & wear gloves. Trash bags will be provided.

Please note: Individuals 14 years of age or younger will require adult supervision.

Please contact Vicky Miller at 952-934-5656 or via email at victoriaj2@aol.com to sign up to volunteer with us and confirm dates/times.

A $5.00 fee is charged for seminars and removal workshops. The buckthorn pulls and garlic mustard cuts are free. All events are held at Eden Wood Lodge and BIW Conservation area regardless of weather conditions.

For our portal to the world of buckthorn and invasive weeds

Tour Eden Wood Center

Tours of Eden Wood Center in Birch Island Park next to woods can be arranged for small groups by Friendship Ventures. Friendship Ventures is the non-profit agency which runs recreational, educational, therapeutic, travel, outdoors and confidence building programs for kids with special needs and others in the “up-north” settings of the park, conservation area and lake.

While on the hour-long tour, you’ll learn about FV’s special mission for special needs children as you walk through Eden Wood’s rustic and historic grounds with its conference center, all-season cabins, hiking trails, the 1862 Holasek House and the Glen Lake Children’s Camp which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For tour reservations and more information about Eden Wood or Camp Friendship in Annendale call Friendship Ventures, Inc. at 952-852-0101

To inquire about renting Eden Woods’ conference, meeting, retreat and dining facilities and services call Linda Kelm at 952-852-0104 #4

For more on the Glen Lake Children’s Camp click here

Click here for the Friendship Ventures web site

Directions to Eden Wood Center 952--934-2771
6350 Indian Chief Road, Eden Prairie

Click here for Mapquest Directions!

From Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, Western Eden Prairie and Western Minnetonka and Shorewood.

East on Highway 5 or Hwy 7 to Co. Rd 101.
North (or south if coming from Minnetonka) on Co. Rd. 101 to Crosstown Highway

East on Crosstown Highway to stoplight at the entry to Glen Lake Golf Course and County Boys Home. Stay in right lane.

Turn right onto service road and in 40 yards turn right onto Indian Chief Road. Follow to
Edenwood Center. The center has several parking areas in a rustic, wooded setting. You’ll love it.

From Minnetonka, Hopkins and elsewhere.

Take Crosstown Highway to the first stoplight (at Glen Lake Golf Course) after Baker Road. Stay in left lane. Turn left (south) onto service road and in 40 yards turn right onto Indian Chief Road. Follow to Edenwood Center. The center has several parking areas in a rustic, wooded setting. You’ll love it.