Friends of the Boundary Waters lost about $1.2 5million in state funding for its youth program after the state voted to eliminate the funding. Lawmakers said the organization should not receive public funds because it also engages in anti-mining advocacy related to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The nonprofit says its student education programs are separate from its advocacy work and views the cut as political backlash.
Funding cut impacts thousands of students
Recently, the Minnesota State Legislature voted to remove $1,252,000 in funding from a youth program provided by Friends of the Boundary Waters (Friends). Advocacy for preservation of the Boundary Waters and its watershed is one aspect of the non-profit’s work. Another aspect is the youth program.
The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) reviews project proposals, like the Friends program. Then they make funding recommendations to the legislature for consideration and approval. Funds for these projects come mostly from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, 40% of whose proceeds come from the state lottery.
The “No Boundaries to the Boundary Waters” initiative started in 2020. The program partners with schools and organizations to guide kids on trips to the BWCAW, often reaching those who have never canoed or camped before. It also funds classroom lessons that teach students outdoor skills such as plant identification, map and navigation tool use, and water quality testing.
Each summer, about 600 youth take guided canoe trips in the BWCAW, a million-acre wilderness in northern Minnesota. Another 12,000 more participate in related classroom learning throughout the year.
Concerns raised after social media posting
According to a report by The Minnesota Star Tribune, Republican lawmakers raised concerns after Friends posted a short Facebook video. The video invited people to attend a public hearing on current mining threats. The video reportedly included the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund logo at the end.
During a floor debate in the Legislature on May 11, Sen. Keri Heintzeman (MN-6) argued that the nonprofit should lose the $1.25 million. Heintzeman said the non-profit acted poorly when promoting its anti-mining advocacy near the BWCAW and its watershed.
Lawmakers voted 34–29 to remove funding for the youth program, with all Republicans and one Democrat voting in favor.
Sen. Grant Hauschild (MN-3) told the Tribune that the state environmental funding bill would not have received enough bipartisan support. They said this was because lawmakers would have needed to remove funding for the Friends program.
The video wasn’t supposed to have the trust fund logo, according to Chris Knopf, executive director of Friends. It was an apparent mistake and has since been removed from their page.
In a social media post on May 15, Knopf said, “They cut our grant to punish us for our advocacy, work to protect the clean waters of the Boundary Waters from pollution from the proposed toxic Twin Metals copper-nickel sulfide mine owned by a billionaire Chilean family. We are committed to our education program and to Minnesota students.” He told the news that they are “devastated by this decision”. He noted that students will be most negatively impacted.
Future “No Boundaries” program
We reached out to Friends to inquire about the future of the youth program. Pete Marshall, the communications director of the non-profit, told us that their BWCAW trips and programs will take place this summer. For now, funds have already been set aside for those.
He added that because of the program’s accomplishments, supporters have reached out to help. “Based on the track record of success we have had with the program, and the number of supporters who have stepped forward, I am confident that we will be able to fund the program going forward, and kids will be able to enjoy this marvelous wilderness,” Marshall said.
More information about the Friends’ outdoor youth program is available online.
More info:
- Funding for youth Boundary Waters program cut over anti-mining advocacy – The Minnesota Star Tribune
- State lawmakers cancel funding for Boundary Waters educational trips after criticizing nonprofit as too political – Kare 11