Minnesota Bound co-hosts Bill Sherck and Laura Schara with black lab Millie. Photos: Minnesota Bound
The outdoor adventure show shares a profound love of nature with viewers.
Ron Schara’s professional background started as a journalist with the Minneapolis Tribune, but the outdoorsman also had an early brush with show business. “I was a nightclub singer in earlier times,” Ron says. Soon, he’d be back in the spotlight.
Ron says he watched some early outdoor TV programs, but he felt he could do it better. “KARE 11 reached out for some outdoor features in the ’90s,” Ron says. “The rest is history.”
Ron Schara with Raven
The history he’s referring to is the three decades that Minnesota Bound has been on TV, hosted by Ron and a successive trio of black labs named Raven. Ron and Raven brought tales of adventure and outdoor living to Minnesotan living rooms over the course of more than 1,000 episodes.
In the last 10 years, Ron and Raven have been joined by reporters-turned-co-hosts Laura Schara and Bill Sherck, with Laura joining her father to host the segment Wild in the City. “Joining Minnesota Bound was an idea I pitched to my father back in 2002,” the Excelsior resident says. Wild in the City focused on outdoor activities in the Metro area. “Fast forward 20 plus years later, and my role has certainly grown to co-host, writer and producer,” Laura says. “It’s been wonderful working alongside my father all of these years. He has been a wonderful mentor, and I feel so fortunate to have had so much quality time together.”
Laura and Ron Schara hosting an episode of Minnesota Bound.
Sherck joined the team a year later after a career climbing through the ranks of local TV news stations. “I loved telling television stories but didn’t like the negative context of so many television news stories,” Sherck says. He initially joined Laura on Due North Outdoors, where his personal background with camping and fishing—which was honed in the Lake Minnetonka area, among others—was able to come to the fore.
We connected with the co-hosts to discuss the long-lasting legacy of Minnesota Bound and share some favorite stories from the past 30 years.
Hunting and fishing stories play a key role on Minnesota Bound.
What’s been a story from the earlier seasons of Minnesota Bound that you still find yourself thinking about to this day?
Ron Schara [RS]: The time I went fishing with a fella who ran the boat, dropped the anchor, baited his own hook with a minnow, made a cast, landed a fish and did it all with no arms or hands. [It was an] amazing demonstration of human determination and spirit.
Bill Sherck [BS]: Leo’s Last Ride: The story of a young boy who wanted a boat ride. We were able to give it to him (on Lake Minnetonka). He was a young victim of shaken baby syndrome. We lost Leo not long after his story aired.
How about a story that you’d like to revisit?
RS: I’d like to return to the Amazon River to fish and mingle with river natives and catch giant peacock bass. I originally did the story for a show I had on ESPN called Backroads with Ron and Raven.
BS: I have a strange love of winter camping. (We get more feedback on those stories than darn near any other I produce.) There is always room for another winter adventure at -40 F!
Minnesota Bound has spent 30 years on TV, what do you contribute its staying power and success to?
RS: I think it’s ingrained in us to like stories, bedtime or otherwise. We do stories of interesting people and places and nature. And our Minnesota audience can relate because of our outdoor pastimes, which are so prevalent.
Laura Schara [LS]: People in Minnesota are so passionate about the outdoors and nature, and our job is to share stories about those people. We hope viewers feel good watching Minnesota Bound, just like they do when they step out onto a hiking trail. When people are curious about wild places and spaces, they care about them, and I believe we are still on air today due to the passion people have for nature.
BS: Our stories are about people and emotion. The stores are mostly positive and people want more of that optimistic energy in their lives.
After over 1,000 episodes, how do you continue to find fresh topics?
LS: One would think we would run out of stories after 30 years, yet the opposite is true. There are more stories about people connected to the outdoors than we have time to capture. We love hearing about story ideas from our viewers.
What has been one of your biggest takeaways from your time on the show?
RS: The amazing power of television. I am recognized almost everywhere I go in the state. It’s wonderful.
LS: How important wildlife conservation and wildlife habitat is to the overall health of our planet. Every critter on our Earth has a purpose and a role in the health of our environment. It’s important to maintain the correct balance.
What’s your favorite off-the-beaten-path park or trail in Minnesota?
RS: Whitewater. [It’s] well-known, but it has unmatched scenic bluffs, trout streams and … no mosquitoes.
LS: Banning State Park.
BS: Anywhere in southeast Minnesota in the Driftless Region. The glaciers that created the Great Lakes stopped just south of St. Paul. That entire southeast region of Minnesota was never scoured by the glaciers. [It’s] exactly why we have tall bluffs and deep valleys with pristine trout streams down there.
What are you most looking forward to in regard to Minnesota Bound as you finish up this milestone 30th year on the air?
RS: Staying on track, keeping viewers happy with what they see. I’m also assured that Bill, Laura and crew will keep the ship afloat as I follow my three Ravens.
LS: Getting back out on the trail to capture more stories about those who love the outdoors.
Watch new episodes of Minnesota Bound at 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 10:35 p.m. on Sundays on KARE 11 or visit mnbound.com to watch episodes and listen to the Minnesota Bound podcast.
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