Explore life above the Arctic Circle and close to home
Carol Urness and Janet and Craig Swan shared two outstanding presentations with us. Carol's focuses on Traveling at Home and showcases a wide variety of animals, birds, bugs, plants that we can see around us if we pay attention and look. Carol has also provided a bibliography for the website.
Janet and Craig shared fabulous maps, pictures, and descriptions of their amazing trip to the Arctic.
Explore life above the Arctic Circle and close to home
Wed, Mar 6, 2024, 10am
Explore life above the Arctic Circle and closer to home when UMRA’s Armchair Traveler program meets via Zoom from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6.
Janet and Craig Swan will discuss and show pictures of their travels to and above the Arctic Circle: the land of the Midnight Sun, glaciers and mountains of amazing beauty, arctic birds and mammals that are at the heart of this challenging environment.
"Traveling close to home" is how Carol Urness describes her presentation (rescheduled from January 24). “At some point most of us have to give up travel to distant lands. In this presentation, we will consider ways to ‘travel’ to interesting areas near home, even our own backyards.”
Please mark your calendars. A Zoom invitation will be emailed to UMRA members a week before the program.
—Lynn C. Anderson, Armchair Traveler program chair
Upcoming Events
Well-known Twin Cities-based financial journalist and economics commentator Chris Farrell will be the featured guest for UMRA’s February 17 Living Well Workshop via Zoom. He will discuss why and how the current generation of older Americans is not following the traditional retirement pattern of a relaxed lifestyle.
Gather with UMRA board members and members for lunch and informal conversation in the Campus Club West Wing.
UMRA's Book Club I will discuss Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother's Life. Author is Kao Kalia Yang. Discussion leader is Linda Lindeke.
Renee Alexander’s first job at the Great Minnesota Get-Together was as an intern in 1989. She took over the top job in 2023, following the 26-year tenure of her predecessor.
Growing Up by Russell Baker.
Join us to explore wildlife along the Mississippi River in Fort Snelling State Park on Monday, March 2, 2026. We usually see a lot of deer and fascinating river views.
The UMRA Photo Club will next meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony branch library in the small shopping center at New Brighton and St. Anthony Boulevards in St. Anthony, just north of the Twin Cities. For those interested in lunch, meet at the nearby Great Dragon Buffet at 11:30 a.m.
Family history with Michelle Casey.
Gather with UMRA board members and members for lunch and informal conversation in the Campus Club West Wing.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss The Bohemian Flats by Mary Relindes Ellis when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Jim Lewis will lead the discussion.
'Seabiscuit' by Laura Hillenbrand
Join fellow UMRA members for a morning hike in Theodore Wirth Park.
Featuring University Vice President Chris Gade.
Third Wednesdays in the West Wing" is a pilot program for spring 2026.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss Rin Tin Tin by Susan Orlean when it meets via Zoom on Friday, April 17. Diane Madson-Kay will lead the discussion.
Bev leads a hike along Old Cedar Avenue.
.