Boreal Stargazing Week
A Week of Discovery, Stargazing, and Nighttime Wonder
February 10-17, 2025
Embrace the winter darkness and discover the magic of Minnesota’s starbright skies! Join us for a week of free activities for students, families, and friends that will immerse you in learning and stargazing.
The third annual Boreal Stargazing week will take place from February 10-17, 2025 with free dark sky experiences for all ages and backgrounds. These free events are friendly for all ages and feature captivating night sky tours, snowshoe hikes, live conversations with astronomers, and more!
Register for FREE Boreal Stargazing Week programs and speakers live streamed directly to your classroom!
Boreal Stargazing week will have something for everyone!
- School Programs – Virtual, February 10-13, 2025
- Community Programs – Dark Sky viewing in BWCA, Voyageurs, Twin Cities, Duluth and International Falls
Boreal Stargazing in-person and virtual events are brought to you by Voyageurs Conservancy, Friends of the Boundary Waters, Starry Skies North and the National Park Service, Superior National Forest, Expeditions in Education, and The Bell Museum.
School Programs
Virtual Night Sky Experiences for K-12 Students
Bring your students out of their desk and into the largest International Dark Sky Region in the world – right here in Minnesota!
By participating in Boreal Stargazing Week, your classroom will receive FREE live virtual programs on the wonders of dark skies with special speakers from NASA, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Expeditions in Education, Voyageurs Conservancy, and Friends of the Boundary Waters. Students will learn about protected Dark Sky Regions, the natural and cultural importance of the night sky, and how they can engineer ways to protect them!
Who can participate? Boreal Stargazing Week programs are available and free for K-12 classrooms across the country. See specific programs for grade-level targets.
Last year’s Boreal Stargazing Week attracted 40,000+ students from around the country, including classrooms in Maryland, Minnesota, California, Florida, Tennessee, and New Mexico! Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to immerse your classroom in Minnesota’s starbright skies and get your students interested in the fascinating world of astronomy.
Boreal Stargazing Week programs will be live-streamed directly to your classroom! Teachers will also receive the recorded sessions if they cannot attend the live programs.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to immerse your classroom in northern Minnesota’s starbright skies and get your students interested in the fascinating world of astronomy.
Virtual Kickoff to Boreal Stargazing Week
Pre-recorded video intro, released Week of February 3rd
Where can you see dark skies? Why are dark skies important? How do we protect dark skies?
Winter Night Skies & The Aurora Borealis (Virtual Program)
Monday, Feb 10th
12pm CST
Middle – HS students
While winter months may bring freezing temperatures, there are advantages to experiencing the night sky during this time of year! Join Voyageurs Conservancy’s dark sky enthusiast, Jesse Gates, as we explore the wonders of the winter night sky and learn about why the rare and beautiful phenomenon of the aurora borealis may be best viewed in the year 2025.
Tracks in the Snow & Stars Above (Virtual Program)
Tuesday, February 11th
12pm CST
Grades K-5
Join us for an exciting journey into the snowy, star-filled nights of Voyageurs National Park, where we’ll uncover the secrets of nocturnal animal behavior and the importance of dark skies. From tracking wildlife in the snow to exploring the unique challenges of winter nights in northern Minnesota, this livestream offers a glimpse into the wonders of life after dark.
Owl Detectives program with the International Owl Center (Virtual Program)
Thursday, February 13th
12pm CST
Grades 4-8th
Join the International Owl Center to find out whooo’s in your backyard! Learn more about the traits of these nocturnal animals and why dark skies are important to them. Discover how to identify the more common owls of the Eastern U.S. by size, shape, sound, and silhouette, with an emphasis on the sounds they make.
Community Programs
Nighttime Exploration Across Minnesota
Preview Event! Wood Lake Nature Center – Family Dark Sky Party
Friday, January 31st, 6:00-9:00PM
Wood Lake Nature Center, Richfield, MN
Learn about the importance of dark skies at Wood Lake Nature Center. Discover how Minnesota’s wildlife – from bees and frogs to birds and wolves – depends on natural darkness.
Enjoy family-friendly indoor activities featuring educational displays and art, then head outside for guided stargazing. View the moon and stars through telescopes, learn about constellations, and hear the stories behind them. Warm up with a bonfire and hot cocoa. All ages are welcome.
Free! Register online.
Teen Science Galaxy!
Tuesday, Feb. 11th, 3:15pm – 4:15pm
Coleraine Library, Coleraine, MN – Register online
After school ends, team up with the Bell Museum for interactive astronomy activities and discover the beauty of our winter night skies. Explore how your individual passions can pave the way for a future in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics at the University of Minnesota.
Youth Galaxy STEAM
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 3-4pm
Grand Rapids Area Library, Grant Rapids, MN – Register at the Children’s Desk (pre-registration is required)
After school ends, team up with the Bell Museum for interactive astronomy activities and discover the beauty of our winter night skies. Explore how your individual passions can pave the way for a future in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics at the University of Minnesota.
Voyageurs: Full Moon Night Hike!
Wednesday Feb 12th 7-8pm
26000 Blackwater Road, Cohasset MN
Embrace the winter darkness and discover the magic of Minnesota’s starbright skies! Join the City of Cohasset, Bell Museum and Voyageurs Conservancy in celebration of Boreal Stargazing Week. We will start the hike with a short presentation led by Bell Museum Educators about the importance of preserving our dark skies while we take in views of stars, planets and the Moon through telescopes (weather permitting) . Bring a headlamp, dress accordingly and wear sturdy footwear.
Free – no registration required
Ely: Dark Sky Documentary Showings
Friday, February 14, 12:30-5:00 pm
8 Sheridan St., Ely, MN
Dark sky documentaries will be playing throughout the afternoon in the Friends of the Boundary Waters Office in Ely. Come and go as you please. Snacks will be provided.
Free – no registration required
Ely: Snowshoe Hike
Friday, February 14, 7-9pm
Meet at Bass Lake Trailhead, Ely
Enjoy the magic of a Winter’s night this Valentine’s Day with an interpretive snowshoe hike at the Bass Lake Trail. Bring your own snowshoes and a headlamp, and dress appropriately for the weather.
Free – no registration required
Voyageurs: Polar Polers Cross Country Ski Event
Saturday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m.
Voyageurs National Park: Black Bay Trailhead
XC ski with Park Rangers and members of the Polar Polers Nordic Club. All ages and abilities welcome.
Bring your own skis or if you’re new to the sport, the park’s XC rental equipment from Rainy Lake Visitor Center is free to use at this special event while supplies last (first come first serve). No advance registration necessary for the event. Winter Recreation Equipment Rental Reservations can be made throughout the season here.
No registration needed – meet at the trailhead.
Voyageurs: Telescope Night Sky Viewing
Saturday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m.
Voyageurs National Park: Black Bay Trailhead
After our ski with the Polar Polers, stay for a campfire at 6 pm and Telescope Night Sky Viewing Opportunity at the Black Bay Beaver Pond from 6:30 – 8 pm. (a short half mile hike, snowshoe, or ski)!
No registration needed – meet at the trailhead.
Duluth: Evening Snowshoe
Saturday, Feb. 15, 6:30-8:30
Hartley Nature Center – 3001 Woodland Ave, Duluth, MN 55803
Snowshoe and stargaze on the snowy trails of Hartley Nature Area and hear Ojibwe star stories from Jim Rock, former Director of Indigenous Programming for the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium.
This family-friendly event is free to attend and no prior snowshoe experience is needed. Free snowshoes for youth, adults will need to provide their own snowshoes.
St. Paul: Space Fest
Feb. 16-17, 10am – 4pm
Bell Museum, St. Paul, MN
Catch up with Voyageurs Conservancy, Friends of the Boundary Waters and Starry Skies North during Space Fest at the Bell Museum and learn about what makes Minnesota’s dark skies special!
Why are we celebrating?
For generations, humans have looked to the stars for inspiration and connection. Located along the Minnesota-Canadian border is a rare sanctuary for starry skies. Voyageurs National Park and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota make up one of the largest Dark Sky Regions in the world.
The Boreal Stargazing Week celebrates the importance of dark skies through virtual school programs and community events. Friends of the Boundary Waters, Voyageurs Conservancy, Starry Skies North, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the Bell Museum, are joining together to share boreal dark skies with folks of all ages and backgrounds. Enjoy snowshoe programs, telescope sessions, and live conversations with amateur astronomers. Join us for a free program and discover the wilderness above your head.
