The Natural Lands, encompassing over 430 acres surrounding the St. Olaf college campus, is centered on three primary goals: conservation, education, and recreation.
Conservation
Much of the areas that make up the Natural Lands have been restored from corn and soybean agriculture. We seek to foster the growth and establishment of native flora and fauna while reducing the populations of invasive species. Serving as a refuge for native species, the forests, prairies, and wetlands of the Natural Lands encompass a wide variety of niches allowing a multitude of Minnesota species to thrive. You can read more about the biomes of the Natural Lands and our management efforts on our Habitats of the Natural Lands page.
Education
The Natural Lands seeks to provide information about native Minnesota species, land management techniques, and invasive species to the St. Olaf and broader Northfield community. The students who work in the Natural Lands as Natural Lands Technicians and Student Naturalists get hands-on experience with land management, outreach, and education. The Natural Lands is a setting for many educational events, including visits from the local Open Door Preschool and Northfield elementary schools where kids can learn about native species, plant trees, participate in Student Naturalist-led activities, and even try removing invasive species.
The Student Naturalists are responsible for a variety of activities that both educate them and the St. Olaf community, including leading ‘Walkie-Talkies,’ educational Natural Lands walks on topics of their choice, writing articles for the Natural Lands website, hosting environment-centered class sessions, and more!
A variety of student and faculty research projects are conducted in the Natural Lands, ranging from bird banding and monitoring painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) populations to analyzing soil health, water quality, and tree growth. If you wish to conduct research in the Natural Lands, please fill out a Project Permit to ensure our staff know the scope, scale, and location of your research!
Recreation
The trails that span the Natural Lands are open to anyone who wishes to spend some time outdoors. Visitors can walk their dog (on a 6-foot lease please!), bike through our forests and prairies, and appreciate the scenic views at their leisure.
A number of St. Olaf sports teams and clubs also make use of the Natural Lands including Cross Country, OUTS (Oles Under the Sun), the Running Club, Disc Golf, and more.
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