Saint John's Arboretum Environmental Education Program

An Ideal Setting for a
Living Outdoor Library

Dedicated as a natural arboretum in 1997, Saint John’s Arboretum encompasses over 2,500 acres of land in Central Minnesota, including prairie, wetland, lake, oak savanna, and forest habitats.
Our educational programs annually serve over 4,500 public, private, and home school preK-12 students through on-site field experiences and in-class curricula

Unique Advantages of Our Program

Transportation
Grants awarded by a number of organizations, including Gannett Foundation, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Minnesota Forest Industries, and Xcel Energy Foundation, reduce or cover the cost of transportation of students to and from Saint John’s Arboretum.

Low Fees
Teachers and chaperones are not charged, and the cost per student is kept extremely low.

Graduation Standards
Annually updated curricula are designed to incorporate local, state, and national graduation standards. Our staff works with teachers at partner schools to coordinate the field experience and pre-and post-visit curriculum materials with subjects and concepts they are required to teach in the classroom.

Environmental Teaching Supplies
Content-specific teaching trunks are available on a limited basis for elementary grades. They include pre– and post–visit curriculum activities that complement on-site classes.

Teacher Training
Annual training workshops familiarize teachers with Arboretum field visits and teaching trunk activities. Continuing education hours are available.

Additional Campus Offerings School groups often take advantage of other learning opportunities while at Saint John’s University, including the challenge course, climbing wall, and fine arts programs.

Field Experiences at Saint John's Arboretum

Many trails are available, including a 1.5 mile loop through prairie, wetlands, hardwood forest, and oak savanna.
Each class is hands-on, age-appropriate, and science driven. We work to accommodate the specific need and focus for each grade level.
Teachers can choose from dozens of activities we offer based on grade level and academic standards, or select a program centered around a specific theme including: insects, sensory exploration, Minnesota biomes, and environmental changes.
Maple syruping classes are available mid-March through mid-April.
Trained naturalists lead all activities and maintain a low student to teacher ratio.

Please contact Sarah Gainey to schedule a class or for more information.
Phone: 320-363-3133
Email: sgainey@csbsju.edu