“Maple Grove Days is just the perfect way for families to get out and do something fun.” — Deb Syhre, president of the Maple Grove Community Organization
There’s something about summer in Minnesota. Those glorious three months almost make the intolerable winter...well, tolerable. Almost. We drink in the days filled with picnics and barbecues and sunburns. Freckles mark the moments spent in the sun, while sun-streaked hair shows the damages of chlorinated water from the neighbor’s pool. But after living like Eskimos for nine months, we accept those sunburns and that dry hair. In fact, we celebrate them. So relish those summer days like only a Minnesotan can. Outdoors.
June
Maple Grove has countless gems and hidden treasures dotted across the city in the form of local parks, so pack the snacks, sunscreen and swimsuits and go exploring. Elm Creek Park Reserve is the largest of Three Rivers’ parks and features amenities for almost every outdoor activity, including hiking, biking and a dip in a man-made swimming pond.
“We love the park,” says Amanda Hedin, who lives in Blaine. “It’s huge and has so much to do. The cushy ground at the play area is nice for little one’s falls.”
Eastman Nature Center is also on the premises and offers several classes and workshops, like the one on Tuesday, June 24 called Take a Grown-up to Camp Day. This is your chance to re-live those lazy days at summer camp and release your inner child. Explore nature with your little one by following your senses through the woods to find hidden creatures.
On your way out for a day of hiking, stop at Whole Foods in Maple Grove and prepare your own trail mix. Jen Finger, marketing and community relations specialist at Whole Foods, suggests creating your family’s favorite mix.
“Although there are no hard and fast rules, the foundation of a good trail mix starts with nuts and/or seeds that provide quality fats and healthy plant protein,” Finger explains. “Adding the “extras” provides energy, great taste, good nutrition and some serious diversity.” She suggests adding dried fruit like papaya and banana chips, chocolate chips and whole grain cereals like puffed brown rice.
July
What better way to commemorate the most recent brutal winter than by watching a movie about...winter. During the Friday night of Maple Grove Days (July 9-13), Disney’s Frozen will be shown at the Town Green. Happily sing along to songs like “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, all the while knowing you won’t have to build a snowman for another few months. We hope.
Then, lace up your tennis shoes for Saturday morning’s Rice Lake Classic, a 3.7 mile race around Rice Lake. And after that, cheer on the kiddos as they race in the Fun Run, following a trail around Arbor Lake.
“Maple Grove Days is just the perfect way for families to get out and do something fun,” says Deb Syhre, president of the Maple Grove Community Organization. She also notes that along with the movie on Friday night, there’s a diaper derby, kiddy parade and live music—all of which are free.
August
On Tuesday, August 5, along with more than 15,000 communities nationwide, Maple Grove will celebrate National Night Out. This special night is designed to strengthen neighborhood relationships and raise crime prevention awareness. It’s also a good time to finally meet the new family that moved in across the street and try Betty Sue’s famous spinach dip.
Bring a picnic-friendly salad like Whole Foods Mediterranean Crunch Salad, which will have neighbors singing your praises for days. The recipe for this light but hearty dish can be found at maplegrovemag.com.
So there you have it. A recipe for the perfect Minnesota summer and the perfect Minnesota salad. Enjoy!
Mediterranean Crunch Salad
Ingredients:
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added garbanzo beans, drained
1 cucumber, chopped
1 cup small broccoli florets
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup finely sliced kale, tough stems removed
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
2 Tbsp. finely chopped Kalamata olives
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutritional Info: Per Serving:130 calories (35 from fat), 4g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 140mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (5g dietary fiber, 3g sugar), 6g protein
