Interest Groups

Minnehaha Creek hike

Join us for a lovely walk along Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis for a hike of 5-6 miles (1 hr).  We will meet at the free parking lot at Lynhurst Park.

August 1 Hike is cancelled

The August 1 hike at Lake Nokomis is cancelled. Only 1 person registered. I'm sorry but we need more hikers to make it worthwhile and fun. 

August 15 Hike

Join us for a 5 to 6 miles hike around lakes and through the woods at Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington. This will be a moderate to brisk paced hike. 

July 18 Hike

Join us for an urban hike and lunch! of about 5.4 miles at a pace to accommodate all hikers. We will meet outside Longfellow Grill in Minneapolis, walk across the Franklin Avenue Bridge to University's River Flats.

Book notes | Strangers in Their Own Land

Event Date: June 24, 2022, at 2:00 PM

On June 24, at the end of a week like no other (House Jan. 6 committee hearings, and Supreme Court decisions on gun control in New York and overturning Roe v. Wade), UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club had a deep and passionate discussion on Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild.

Photo Club to meet IN PERSON

"Horizon" is the theme for the in-person meeting of the UMRA Photo Club on July 12.

June 20 Hike

Please join us for a moderately paced 5.5 mile hike through the woods and around the ponds and lakes of Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. This trail is a bit rugged so wear good hiking footwear. Picnic after.

Family History Group covers a range of topics

Event Date: May 11, 2022, at 11:00 AM

On May 11, 2022 the Family History Interest Group met for an open forum that gave participants the opportunity to discuss any aspect of Family History.

June Hike

Join us for a brisk 3 to 4 mile walk on Monday, June 6th at the U of M St. Paul Campus. We will be walking mostly on level sidewalks although we may encounter some gravel roads too. There will be some hills and steps along the way. At the end of our walk, we will stop for ice cream at the St. Paul Student Center.  

Turkey: April Armchair Traveler Program

Event Date: April 27, 2022, at 10:00 AM

Jean Kinsey and Frank Busta spent 3 weeks in Turkey in 2013. They share their incredible experience through pictures and wonderful descriptions that include archaeological, historical, religious, political, culinary, and geological perspectives.

May 23 Hike

Please join us for a special event hike and outing on Monday, May 23 at Franconia Sculpture Park at 29836 St. Croix Trail N, Shafer MN 56074, near Taylors Falls.  You must sign up online for this hike.

May 9 Hike

Please join us on Monday, May 9, 2022 for a 5 to 6 mile hike at Hyland Lake Park Reserve located at 10145 East Bush Lake Road in Bloomington. You must sign up online for this hike.

Fourth Friday Book Club to meet May 27

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is the Fourth Friday Book Club selection for its meeting on May 27 via Zoom.

Book notes | The Things They Carried

Event Date: April 15, 2022, at 2:00 PM

"The Things They Carried" is an exquisitely written collection of short stories by Minnesota-born author Tim O’Brien about a platoon of American soldiers fighting on the ground in the Vietnam War.

Photo Club to meet outdoors

The UMRA Photo Club is planning an outdoor photo shoot at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in May.