Talk:Northland College, WI Land Stewardship Program
Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
Institute History
On August 27, 1971, a little more than a year after the celebration of the first Earth Day, Northland College hosted its first environmental conference. Among those invited to address the two-day conference were Senator Gaylord Nelson and Sigurd F. Olson. The conference became "the instrument of origin of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute," as Robert Matteson, the founder of the Institute, wrote. With energy to move in an exciting and new direction, the Institute opened its doors in spring of 1972, embarking on more than three decades of serving Northland College and the Lake Superior region.
- 1972 - First problem solving workshop held: Land Use and Zoning
- 1973-75 - Creation of the first post-graduate fellow positions and basin programs
- 1978 - Project LoonWatch begins/environment and spirituality programs begin
- 1981 - Sustainably designed Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute dedicated
- 1982 - Memorial service to honor Sigurd F. Olson held following his death
- 1983 - Sigurd F. Olson professorship endowed
- 1985 - First Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award given
- 1985 - First Apostle Islands School held
- 1987 - Timber Wolf Alliance created
- 1989 - Infusing Ojibwe World Views curriculum developed
- 1992 - U.S. Secretariat position for the Lake Superior Binational Forum created
- 1994-95 - Sustainable Forestry Guidelines written for three states
- 1994 - First Lake Superior Youth Symposium held at Northland College
- 1998 - Northern Forest Restoration program begins
- 1999 - Wilderness Horizons Conference held
- 2001 - Land Stewardship outreach services begin
- 2004 - First Pathfinders session held
- 2005 - North American Loon Fund endowment established for the Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award
Institute Philosophy
The Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College is guided by the philosophy of writer and conservationist Sigurd F. Olson.
- In the spirit of Sigurd F. Olson, we empower citizens to be good stewards of the environment.
- We facilitate solutions to environmental problems in the North Country through education, research, and citizen involvement.
The Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is an environmental outreach organization, consisting of outreach specialists who use student and faculty support to distribute messages about protecting and restoring the natural water and terrestrial habitats in the Lake Superior region and beyond.
Our outreach specialists are a voice of Sigurd's legacy. Here at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, we help people connect to their environments and take pride in their communities. We make tangible Sigurd's philosophy of respectful relations between humans and nature. We help foster these sentiments in those with whom we interact, whether elementary or middle school students, high school students, Northland College students and faculty, continuing education students, or the general community.
For more information about our programs please contact us at (715) 682-1223, or drop us an e-mail at [email protected]