Field Biology Resources

The 2400 acre campus of St. John’s University comprises a variety of habitats, including managed and unmanaged deciduous forests, coniferous forests, restored oak savanna, tall grass prairie, and diversity of large and small lakes and wetlands. Many of these habitats are within a 20 minute walk of the Science Center and Biology Department. Much of the St. John’s campus has been designated as the Saint John's Arboretum.  As the arboretum has grown, many opportunities for students to participate in management and restoration projects on the campus have developed.  In a recent Stearns County biological survey, the Minnesota Department of Resources recognized the valuable wealth of species present on St. John's campus.

The College of St. Benedict also owns about 300 acres of natural habitats, including prairie and wetland restorations and 100 acres of relatively undisturbed "big woods" deciduous forest and on the campus. In addition, the College owns a 140 acre woodland and wetland tract about 3 miles north of campus.

In addition to sites available on campus, the colleges are in proximity to a variety of natural areas located in the surrounding communities and countryside. Quarry Park in Waite Park and Roscoe Prairie in Roscoe are popular destinations for laboratories, research, and comparative studies.

Supporting Facilities

In support of our excellent “outdoor classrooms” the biology department maintains collections of plants and plants and animals for research and educational use. The Bailey herbarium, managed by our chief botanist Dr. Saupe, is the largest in the state aside from that at the University of Minnesota. It includes over 30,000 specimens of vascular and lower plants representing both local and global collections ranging in age from modern to over 150 years. The department also maintains both invertebrate and vertebrate research and teaching collections in dedicated research and preparatory rooms in the Peter Engel Science Center. In addition, the department maintains the Herbert & Birdella Hall Natural Science Museum which houses a large collection of mammals, birds, and insects in the New Science Center.   Finally, the  Melancon greenhouse houses a wide variety of teaching specimens, including excellent desert and tropical rooms. The  greenhouse also has dedicated space available for both student and faculty research