Happy Dancing Blog

As June 8 - World Ocean Day - approaches, it’s easy to feel that as a Midwesterner living very far from the ocean, our actions don’t have impacts on that ecosystem, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

There are many good steps to take to assist turtles, especially in the spring

It’s fire season again, as are most spring seasons in the Midwest. This time the wakeup call came closer to the Northern Lakes campus of Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River in May 2026. Wildfires are a concern statewide. The 1600-acre Flanders fire burned in Mission township in north central Crow Wing County. Flanders Lake sits on the western end of several thousand acres of publicly owned land. That land surrounds the Pine River, just before it enters the Mississippi River. M

We need to ensure that our lakes are clean and healthy. But how can we tell? One way to tell is to look at the bugs in the water!

Interest in local food isn’t just a passing trend, it’s a return to something deeply rooted in our culture: knowing where our food comes from and who grows it. Across communities, the prevalence of farmers markets reflects a renewed desire for fresh, flavorful, and responsibly grown food, along with connection.

Tips for getting ready for Bike to Work Day, both for the rider and the bicycle.