Minnesota’s wilds on wide display in new nature film

Welcome to Out Here, a weekly feature that looks ahead to upcoming outdoor activities in Minnesota. A new film captures the breadth of Minnesota landscapes, from the North Woods to the tallgrass prairies, and their yearly transformations. “A Dance of Seasons” opens this weekend at the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum on its planetarium dome. The 28-minute film is “really a love letter to Minnesota, and that is in our wheelhouse as the state’s natural history museum,” said Holly Menninger, Bell Museum executive director and a co-producer. Advertisement The museum’s partner is Ravenwood Studios UK. The late wildlife photographer Jim Brandenburg first brought them together, working with both on the film “Secrets of the Forest,” which explored the intersection of nature and art. The film also played in the planetarium dome. With Brandenburg’s aid, Ravenwood began scouting locations for the new film in 2024. A team of filmmakers returned every season for two years, Menninger said. Brandenburg died in April 2025. “The thing that makes Minnesota so special is the wild swing in seasons,” she added. That wildness delivered. Filmmakers were at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland when a volatile Lake Superior storm kicked up spray that encased parts of the forest in a skin of ice. Advertisement Advertisement “A Dance of Seasons” opens with shows beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. For details, see bellmuseum.umn.edu . – Bob Timmons Advertisement Expanded image view Lake Elmo Park Reserve will host a guided bird Saturday. ( Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune ) Citizen science opportunity Take a hike and help natural resources staff plan restoration projects at Lake Elmo Park Reserve. Birders, both beginner and experienced, can go on a guided bird hike at 9 a.m. Saturday at the east metro park. Sightings are reported to the agency’s citizen science data collection, where natural resources staff use the data to help plan restoration projects, said Sara Armstrong, Washington County Parks coordinator. Related Coverage Outdoor Activities The humble turkey trot is giving Minnesota’s marathons a run for their money Outdoor Activities Your favorite Minnesota state park might be closed this weekend. Here’s why. The event is one in a series of birding hikes at the park held on the second Saturday of every month. During last month’s birding event, 74 birds were seen, spanning more than 17 different species, Armstrong said. “[We] get a pretty good group of birders, lately it was in the twenties. And then this is always kind of fun seeing the winter migration coming through,” she said. “It’s also a good way to get to know the parks too.” The event is free with a vehicle permit. To learn more, go to st.croixsplash.org . -Alex Chhith Advertisement Most Read Vikings Vikings are reuniting with Kirk Cousins. Here’s what to know. Vikings Vikings bring back Kirk Cousins at NFL trade deadline. Can he save the season? Sports Scoggins: Kirk Cousins trade is an act of desperation for Vikings — a necessary one Chip Scoggins Wild Kirill Kaprizov’s OT winner lifts Wild past Canadiens for sixth straight road win Most Read Vikings Vikings are reuniting with Kirk Cousins. Here’s what to know. Vikings Vikings bring back Kirk Cousins at NFL trade deadline. Can he save the season? Sports Scoggins: Kirk Cousins trade is an act of desperation for Vikings — a necessary one Chip Scoggins Wild Kirill Kaprizov’s OT winner lifts Wild past Canadiens for sixth straight road win Advertisement Expanded image view Cyclocross riders can deal with all manner of challenges, including weather and hilly terrain. ( Carlos Sabillon/Provided by West River Racing ) Cyclocross championship takes the field A brand of cycling in Minnesota geared toward fall and winter conditions, with origins in Europe, will have its moment this weekend. The state cyclocross championship is Saturday and Sunday at Hansen Park in New Brighton. It’ll bring together more than 200 cyclists for the modern-day version of what Europeans call “field riding.” Navigating hills, dismounting and remounting, negotiating tricky terrain or conditions — all are part of the equation for cyclists . The state championship course will challenge participants and will interest spectators, too, the race director said. “It is one of the most watchable types of racing because they do laps in a confined area,” said Michael Cisek of West Riving Racing, a metro team and the event organizer. Age group races are Saturday; category, or “cat,” races are Sunday. The lower the cat number, the more skilled and experienced the rider. Fatbike and singlespeed riders also have events. Advertisement The cyclocross races span a wide range of ages. There is a course for riders 10 and younger. An age group also was added to accommodate cyclists 75 and older, Cisek said. Advertisement Advertisement The championship also has tapped into the Minnesota Cycling Association, a popular high school mountain biking league that has more than 2,600 cyclists. Their season ended in early October. “[Cyclocross] is very popular with what we call the ‘dirt crowd,’” Cisek added. Registration still is open. See West River Racing’s website for details. – Bob Timmons ID trees, state park closures and a winter walk Learn to identify trees Saturday in Fort Snelling State Park’s floodplain. Stay up to date with state park closures amid deer hunting season. The DNR is hosting a “ Winter Walk ” at Sibley State Park at 1 p.m. Saturday. What outdoor event or activity would you like to see in Out Here? Share it with Alex or Bob . 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