top of page
Matthew at TG photo cred Maddie.jpg

Tuesday Group

Tuesday Group is a Boundary Waters Connect sponsored community gathering that takes place weekly over the noon hour on Tuesdays at the Grand Ely Lodge.

 

We provide a space for people to come together and learn something new, and strive to feature speakers and topics relevant to northeast Minnesota. Tuesday group attendees are encouraged to order lunch, but ordering lunch is not required. 

 

Many Tuesday Group presentations are offered in a hybrid model: both in-person and live online via Zoom. Go to the Events page for information on upcoming Tuesday Group sessions. 

Recorded Tuesday Group presentations can be found below and on the Boundary Waters Connect YouTube channel

Tuesday Group -- From Red Rock to Ely, MN: The Fight for America's Red Rock Wilderness
48:46

Tuesday Group -- From Red Rock to Ely, MN: The Fight for America's Red Rock Wilderness

Tuesday Group on March 18, 2025 was a presentation led by Chris Riccardo from the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), who explored pressing environmental issues and the nationwide impact of the America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (ARRWA) and its reintroduction into the 119th Congress. The program highlighted how the fight to protect Utah's Red Rock wild lands is not just a regional issue—it’s a national one, with implications for places like Ely and beyond. Chris discussed the importance of preserving wildlife habitat, ensuring the health of biodiversity, and creating wildlife corridors to sustain ecosystems, with Utah's Red Rock country serving as ground zero for public lands issues—where decisions made today could shape the future of our nation's natural heritage. These challenges don’t recognize state borders—what’s at stake in Utah can have ripple effects here in the Midwest. Chris also explored how protecting clean air, water, and vital ecosystems is crucial to our collective future. Whether you're dedicated to conservation efforts in your local community or eager to understand broader environmental policies, this program will offer meaningful insights and motivation to take action. Raised exploring the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and Florida’s Palmetto Woodlands, Chris later co-owned a disaster restoration business in Illinois while raising two daughters. His love for the wild led him to ecological restoration, where he became a volunteer leader in over 30 projects across Southern Utah and the Colorado Plateau. Before joining SUWA in 2023, he worked with Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium installing floating wetlands. A longtime SUWA activist, he discovered the job opportunity through a lucky scroll on social media. When he’s not fighting for wilderness protection, you can find him performing in bands across Chicagoland, the Midwest, and beyond.

©2025 by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness. Proudly created with Wix.com

  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
bottom of page