• Go upstream
    with us.

    Help us shape a better future.

Join as an individual.

You love Minnesota, and it shows. Join Upstream in celebrating and amplifying all the ways we care for our natural spaces. When you go upstream, you are demonstrating that you share the values of optimism and love for our home place.

Join Upstream

Join as an organization.

Whether your organization is big or small, we want to help amplify the good work you and your team is doing. When you go upstream, you are showing that your love of Minnesota’s natural spaces is something we all have in common.

Let’s Partner Up

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  • Introducing Upstream Photo Fellow, Thai Phan (@thaiphypq). Throughout these breathtaking photos, Thai was adventuring through and capturing the trails at Jay Cooke State Park, Minnehaha Falls, and Cherokee Park. 🏞️ During this May shoot, @thaiphypq's vision was to capture the movement of water with human subjects in the frame because he knew it would be rushing hard that time of year. Thai mentioned that "finding the right shutter speed to capture the flowing water as well as keeping people in focus proved to be challenging yet satisfying." Towards the end of their long trail hikes, he got his son and some of his friends together to play in the park. Bubbles and the Mentos/Coke challenge are always a good way to end a successful walk. Upstream is grateful to be partnering with an artist who cares about authentically experiencing MN trails…#goupstream #mnupstream #mntrails #mncommunity #minnehahafalls #jaycookestatepark #cherokeepark
  • This week, Upstream is focusing on caring for our Minnesota wildlife. What can you do to play your part and help protect our wildlife? Here are some ways we can care for our community of animals so we can continue to live in harmony:🗑️ Enclose waste bins near wildlife areas Be mindful of motor use on the water️ Maintain a clean habitat Reduce lights when it is dark🪴 Plant native speciesStay tuned for more tips on how we can care for all things Minnesota!..#goupstream #mnupstream #mnwildlife #caringforwildlife #recycle
  • Meet Upstream Partner: Fairview (@mhealthfairview)Upstream partner Fairview Health Services looks beyond the walls of clinics and hospitals and meets people where they work, live, learn, play, and worship, including in our shared natural spaces. Whether it's writing a prescription for fresh vegetables, supporting health and affordable housing, or having a sustainable local footprint, Fairview has a unique investment in Minnesota, our shared natural spaces and the people who care for them. We’re proud to have them as an Upstream Partner!Learn more here: https://mhealthfairview.org
  • Introducing Upstream Photo Fellow, Tyler Anderson (@drftless). During this photoshoot, he was working with @rootriverrodco out of Lanesboro, Minnesota. 🌲 Every spring @rootriverrodco organizes a river clean-up. This event happens annually in April or early May. They get out with their drift boats in the river and have folks walk the banks to clean up after the snowmelt. In Tyler's own words, "It's an awesome day where everyone is outside, celebrating and caring for the natural spaces in southeast Minnesota." ️ Upstream is lucky to be partnering with such a talented artist!..#goupstream #mnupstream #springcleanup #mncommunity #lanesboro
  • Come with @_naturallyrach for a beautiful and relaxing morning paddle on the lake. 🚣‍♀️One of her favorite ways to enjoy summer is to go adventure Minnesota’s thousands of lakes. She has found lots of hidden gems. As said best by Rachel herself, “the lakes, the walking and hiking trails, the lush parks. Too many beautiful places to explore!” Upstream believes this to be true as well. 🦋How do you enjoy the outdoors during the summer season? Comment below! ️#minnesotaupstream #goupstream #mnupstream #exploremn #minnesota #getoutside #getoutdoors #paddleboard #lakes #summerdays #minnesotagirl #minnesotanice #girlswhoadventure #adventuremore #nature #naturelover
  • Meet Upstream Partner: India Association of Minnesota (@iamnor)India Association of Minnesota works in sustainable ways to leave no trace behind at their events, eliminating plastic water bottles in favor of compostable cups, reducing plastic usage, and incorporating QR codes instead of paper brochures. “Minnesota is home. We’re all here together, so we need to take care of our home together. We’re always looking for opportunities to keep our home clean and safe", says IAM Board Member Suyash Jains.Learn more here: https://iamn.org
  • Target Field – the Greenest Ballpark in America! Water management, energy reduction, best in the league recycling and composting are all ways the @twins care for Minnesota. They were proudly awarded the 2021 MLB Green Glove Award for their near-100% waste diversion rate. “The team at Target Field is committed to operating this great ballpark in the most environmentally responsible way we can. We want to be good neighbors, and we want to set good examples for sustainability in pro sports. It’s the least we could do for our great community.” -Dave Horsman, VP Ballpark Operations
  • Meet Upstreamer Jason Adkins 🚣‍♀️Jason believes in experiencing the beauty of nature by rowing in the mornings and on weekends to capture the wonders of Minnesota. 🏞Share your Upstream story with us: https://mnupstream.org/#mnupstream #goupstream #mn #celebratemn
  • Check it out! Minnesota Upstream was featured in the Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine! ✍️ This article introduces Brad Donnay, Leanne Donnay, and family, who are parishioners at Holy Cross in Pearl Lake/Marty, Minnesota. Together, they operate a 10-acre dairy farm in Kimball, which uses sustainable farming practices and avoids products that contain genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) and chemicals. 🧑‍ Their 160 goats eat locally-sourced feed when possible and also have access to pasture. 🐐We are proud The Donnay's are supporters of “Upstream, Loving Where We Live,” our initiative that seeks to make a change by amplifying Minnesotans’ shared connections to a place with a spirit of optimism. As said best by Brad, “Caring for the land is important to us, as is sharing our story with others, I’m not trying to showcase Donnay Dairy like an advertisement, but we’re doing things that might inspire others to be good stewards for Minnesota’s land. Upstream is a new way to share our story — it brings people together from every aspect of life.” 🌞Read more here: https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/minnesota-upstream-initiative-celebrates-loving-where-we-live/#Minnesotaupstream
  • Meet Upstream Partner: Diversity Landworks (@diversitylandworks)Since its inception in 2014, Diversity Landworks has worked throughout Minnesota to preserve the land with a unique solution: goats. They use goats, in addition to other restoration tactics like controlled burning, to manage populations of invasive species throughout the state in an effort to care for Minnesota’s natural places.https://www.diversitylandworks.com
  • Have you heard?! 😮 Our first ever podcast, Voices of Upstream, is now live on Spotify (no subscription needed)! Our show is perfect to listen to while your fishing, hiking, gardening, biking, and more! 🥾Tune in to join Upstream director Andy Goldman-Gray and Upstream founder John Larsen in his award-winning garden to hear about the genesis of Upstream, how care for place figures into architecture and the most creative chicken names you’ve ever heard. 🏞️ A new episode will be out each week for the next 8 weeks. Find the link to our podcast here: https://spoti.fi/3AaiZR5
  • Meet Upstream Partner: The University of Minnesota (@umntwincities)Operating on over 28,000 acres of land across the state, the University of Minnesota knows the value of loving and caring for our places. They think about stewardship of our natural places at organizational and personal levels. From researchers to students like Jaqueline, who applies her marketing education to help encourage pollinator gardens in underserved communities, the U loves, and cares for Minnesota.📸 : @metrobloomshttps://twin-cities.umn.edu