Happy Dancing Blog

HDT Team

Aug 7, 2020
4 min

Nature Notes: Dragonfly Daze

The hot days at the end of July and early August are often referred to as the “dog days” of summer. While I always thought they were...

HDT Team

May 1, 2020
5 min

Spring Birding for Conservation

Looking for something to keep you busy? Birding is the perfect activity to enjoy while social distancing and your observations can help...

HDT Team

Nov 6, 2019
2 min

We Are Water MN Summit Review

HDT was recently invited to attend the We Are Water Summit, part of a statewide traveling interactive exhibit led by the Minnesota Center...

HDT Team

Oct 24, 2019
6 min

Minnesota Tree ID – Part 2

Now that we’ve covered how to identify some of the popular deciduous trees in Part 1 of this blog, we’ll move onto our coniferous tree...

HDT Team

Oct 18, 2019
8 min

Minnesota Tree ID – Part 1

No one should go through the fall season without stepping outside to admire the colors of nature. Albert Camus, a French philosopher,...

It’s Clean Beaches Week! BLA’s Best Beaches

HDT Team

Jul 1, 2019
6 min

It’s Clean Beaches Week! BLA’s Best Beaches

July 1-7 is Clean Beach Week, and boy does the Brainerd Lakes Area have some doozys! Let’s be frank: They don’t call it the Brainerd...

HDT Team

Jun 26, 2019
3 min

Canoeing & Mindfulness

Introduction Hello there! My name is Tatiana. I began working for Happy Dancing Turtle just three weeks ago. I am the new summer...

A 2019 Minnesota Summer Festival Highlight

HDT Team

Jun 20, 2019
2 min

A 2019 Minnesota Summer Festival Highlight

Minnesota has a wide heritage that is as eclectic as it is unique. For those of you that have grown up in rural Minnesota, you understand...

Turtle Talks Podcast – Episode 21 (Part1): Foraging 101, a Q&A With Travis Grimler

HDT Team

Apr 6, 2019
1 min

Turtle Talks Podcast – Episode 21 (Part1): Foraging 101, a Q&A With Travis Grimler

A few weeks ago, we were able to sit down with local news reporter Travis Grimler, who is fanatical for foraging! We chatted with Travis...

Outdoor Adventures: Tracking Animals in Winter

HDT Team

Mar 1, 2019
4 min

Outdoor Adventures: Tracking Animals in Winter

Clear, Individual Print – Yes, it must be clear! Not all snow is going to provide you with a crisp print. Super dry, light, fluffy snow...

HDT Team

Feb 22, 2019
3 min

Cold Weather Comfort Foods

As a lifelong resident of the Midwest, I’ve come to the realization that there is no escaping winter. It will have it’s way with you....

Turtle Talks Podcast – Episode 19: Reconnecting Indigenous Cultures, a Q&A With Sean Sherm

HDT Team

Feb 15, 2019
1 min

Turtle Talks Podcast – Episode 19: Reconnecting Indigenous Cultures, a Q&A With Sean Sherm

Jim, Allison, and Chris went to the MDA Organic Conference last month and Sean Sherman was the keynote speaker. Jim took a shot and asked...

HDT Team

Feb 15, 2019
7 min

Outdoor Adventures on Snowshoes & Skis

As a Minnesotan, I find you get the most out living in this state if you come to embrace all four of our very distinct and wonderful...

Turtle Talks Podcast – Episode 18: Kids in Nature

HDT Team

Jan 29, 2019
2 min

Turtle Talks Podcast – Episode 18: Kids in Nature

We were able to tear Michelle H. and Nora W. from their Back to Basics setup (taking place THIS SATURDAY, February 2) to talk with us...

Introduction to Camping: Wilderness Camping

HDT Team

Aug 22, 2018
11 min

Introduction to Camping: Wilderness Camping

“In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and...

An Introduction to Camping: The Why & The Where

HDT Team

Aug 12, 2018
4 min

An Introduction to Camping: The Why & The Where

We’re talking about camping all this month here at HDT. It’s a great time to squeeze in that last minute camping trip with the family...

Take Time To Recharge (In The Great Outdoors!)

HDT Team

Jul 2, 2018
4 min

Take Time To Recharge (In The Great Outdoors!)

During the first week of June, I left for a 10 day adventure in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). This was the third annual trip...

Nature Notes: Birding Bonanza in the Driftless Region

HDT Team

May 14, 2018
3 min

Nature Notes: Birding Bonanza in the Driftless Region

The Trempealeau Hotel, a quintessential restaurant of the Driftless Region located in a historic building from the 1880s. It is one of...

HDT Team

Jul 24, 2017
2 min

Brainerd Lakes Beaches Review: Part 4

In our last post reviewing the Brainerd Lakes Area beaches, I wanted to go to a beach that I had never been to before. I wanted to...

It’s About Time (or What to do in Minnesota in the Summer)

HDT Team

Jun 9, 2017
7 min

It’s About Time (or What to do in Minnesota in the Summer)

For anyone who lives in Minnesota, you know that summer is when everyone is eager to enjoy what our great state has to offer. Home of...