Registration for the summer and fall “2026 I Can!” workshops sponsored by the Minnesota DNR is now open. The I Can! series of outdoor recreation programs helps beginners learn outdoor skills, including camping, fishing, mountain biking, and paddling. They are held in various state parks from June through September.
Since 2010, more than 100,000 people have participated in I Can! programs. The series is made possible with funding from the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund, created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008. The Parks and Trails Fund receives 14.25% of the three-eighths percent sales tax revenue to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance.
“Our goal is to help people try new outdoor activities and get started in a safe and supportive setting,” said Eric Pelto, special programs supervisor who oversees the “I Can!” program.
“I Can!” programs along the North Shore this summer will be at Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, and Tettegouche State Parks. Split Rock is Hosting “I Can Camp!” on June 12 and July 17, 2025. It also offers Sea Kayaking (Level 2) for $55, where you can paddle past the cliffs. Gooseberry is hosting “I Can Camp!” on June 26. Tettegouche is known for the “I Can Climb!” program, in which participants scale the cliffs overlooking Lake Superior.
To register for I Can! programs, visit mndnr.gov/reservations or call 866-857-2757 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily, except holidays). Registration fees include a state park vehicle permit for the program dates. The DNR provides equipment for all programs, giving participants an opportunity to try an activity without investing in gear.
More I Can Camp! Information, including program dates and fees, is at mndnr.gov/state_ parks/ican/camp.html.
The “I Can!” program’s history is linked to the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment passed by Minnesota voters in November 2008. This amendment increased the state sales tax by 3/8 of 1%. A portion of that money (the Parks and Trails Fund) was specifically earmarked to connect people to the outdoors. “I Can!” wasn’t just a marketing whim; it was a structural response to declining outdoor participation.
The program is an “all-inclusive” model. It’s designed for people with little to no outdoor experience. Many of the “I Can!” crews are led by young adults (ages who act as the “training manual” for families, teaching how to set up camp or paddle a J-stroke without tipping the canoe. Since 2010, the program has expanded from basic camping and paddling to include mountain biking, archery, and sea kayaking.
The program has been recognized for connecting people to parks, receiving innovation awards for its “I Can Camp!” and “I Can Paddle!” models from the National Association of State Park Directors, as well as the Governor’s Award for Continuous Improvement.
The “I Can!” series has previously won the Governor’s Award for Continuous Improvement.
The program is recognized for efficiently using Legacy Amendment funds to reach a large number of participants (over 100,000 to date) with a small yet highly effective team of instructors and Conservation Corps members.
