{"id":5137,"date":"2025-08-04T11:13:46","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T16:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/?page_id=5137"},"modified":"2025-08-20T14:45:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T19:45:15","slug":"natural-lands-faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/natural-lands-faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Natural Lands FAQs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Wes Braker (brakerw@stolaf.edu), Charles Umbanhower Jr. (ceumb@stolaf.edu), or Olivia Hebblewhite (hebble1@stolaf.edu) if you have a question not answered here.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

–When are the Natural Lands open?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: 24 hours (for students, staff, and faculty). We are open to the public from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–How do I report a problem?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Please report it in our Questions\/Comments\/Concerns form<\/a>. If it\u2019s more pressing, please call Wes Braker (507-786-2159) or, as in matters of endangerment, St. Olaf Public Safety (507-786-3666).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–Restrooms?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: There are porta-potties across from the Art Barn next to the Natural Lands shed,<\/a> near the shed at the North Avenue entrance<\/a>, and next to the Campus Avenue gate<\/a>. Otherwise, nearest public restrooms are in Tostrud Center<\/a> on the west end of campus or the Ade Christensen Complex<\/a> on the east end (see campus map<\/a>). Every other public building and dorm hall has restrooms, but key card access is required.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–Parking?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Parking is available at the North Avenue entrance<\/a>, at the Art Barn<\/a> right next to the wind turbine, the lower Heath Creek lot<\/a>, and at the Highway 19<\/a> entry point. Our full-color map<\/a> shows available parking.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–Is there a dog policy?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Yes, dogs must<\/em> be kept on a six-foot leash to protect the health of our fauna and flora and keep the Natural Lands a pleasing place for everyone.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–Which species can I find in the Natural Lands?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

See our running list on iNat<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–Are bikes allowed?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Bikes are allowed, but please avoid non-biking areas (such as Norway Valley). Bikers must yield to pedestrians and runners.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–What about picking flowers, seeds, etc.?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Except in volunteer events we may host, under the circumstances of authorized research, or otherwise with explicit permission, the Natural Lands prohibits picking and collecting flowers, berries, seeds, etc. See this use permit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–What about releasing animals?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Releasing all animals is prohibited. Released animals negatively impact present wildlife and potentially damage our on-going restorations.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–What about hunting?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Hunting is prohibited with the exception of occasional deer archery by permit only. Please see our Heath Creek deer hunt page<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–Photo shoots?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Photo shoots are allowed, but please let our staff know and stay on trail. Please see our use permit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–Do you hire students?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Yes! We have four positions available at different times of the year. Please see this link<\/a> for more information on jobs. We encourage all interested students to apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer technicians and\/or <\/em>School-year technicians<\/strong> (technicians starting in the summer may continue):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning foci: forest\/prairie\/wetlands restoration and management, plant identification, seed collection, trail maintenance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student naturalists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning foci: outdoor education and community engagement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STOGROW farmers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning foci: hands-on organic farming and collaboration with campus food service<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–Where can I find information on volunteer events?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: Instagram<\/a> or the St. Olaf Events Calendar<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–When was the Natural Lands founded?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: 1981 marked the first year of intentional management of the natural areas that St. Olaf owned, initiated by student David Wedin (\u201881) and professor Gene Bakko. See further details on our history<\/a> here.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

–How is the Natural Lands funded?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

A: The Natural Lands is funded through generous grants and endowments. The college has also received support from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture through their Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which supports the conversion of erodible farmland into permanent cover. See our benefactors<\/a> page for more information.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Natural Lands FAQs Contact Wes Braker (brakerw@stolaf.edu), Charles Umbanhower Jr. (ceumb@stolaf.edu), or Olivia Hebblewhite (hebble1@stolaf.edu) if you have a question not answered here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7312,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5137","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7312"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5137"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5283,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5137\/revisions\/5283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}