by Troy Goodnough While billionaires are blasting off into outer space to find ways to appreciate Mother Earth and see it from a new perspective — organizations, like CURE are closer to the ground and down-to-earth. On Saturday, July 17, CURE, Land Stewardship Project, and Minnesota Master Naturalists hosted a Tallgrass Prairie BioBlitz at the […]
Minnesota Freshwater Mussels at the 2021 BioBlitz! Read More »
My thirteen-year-old daughter is not a fan of rising early on the weekend. Still, this particular Saturday in early October, she woke and declared, “Mom, it is going to be a great day!” Her excitement was that we were headed out to the Pomme de Terre River just south of Morris to meet up with
Elktoe Mussels in the Pomme de Terre River Read More »
Our sixth annual freshwater mussel field day was with MN DNR malacologist, Bernard Sietman. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone as passionate and knowledgeable about mussels as this transplanted Missourian. Since 2002, he has worked across Minnesota surveying mussels. One of the more exciting aspects of his job is the potential discovery of a
Freshwater Mussel Field Day 2020 Read More »
There is only one thing better than a beautiful fall weekend where the air is crisp and the sun warms your face, it is the opportunity to get your feet wet while hunting for the jewels of the Minnesota River: freshwater mussels. It was a beautiful fall day on the Minnesota River near the confluence
Jewels Discovered in the Minnesota River Read More »
On Saturday, September 20th, a group of 16 CURE members and supporters discovered that freshwater mussels are animals with a fascinating life cycle. Blog post by Kylene Olson, Director of the Chippewa River Watershed Project and a longtime CURE supporter and member.
High Waters Did Not Dampen Mussel Field Day Read More »
By Kylene Olson, Executive Director of the Chippewa River Watershed Project and a CURE Member A group of 16 river enthusiasts gathered at Memorial Park on the Minnesota River in Granite Falls on Saturday, September 28, for a Mussel Field Day with Bernard Sietman from the MN Dept. of Natural Resources, one of two specialists
Mussel Field Day on the Minnesota River with Bernard Sietman Read More »
Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.
Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the Minnesota Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, whether this is canning local produce, making kombucha, or other treats!
