Stewardship Initiatives

Grow Young Oak Forests

For decades we have been working to ensure that oaks are still a component of this forest for future generations.
More Information here!

A group of nine people stands in front of a greenhouse surrounded by red-leaved bushes. The group includes both men and women, with some wearing green shirts. The scene is outdoors on a sunny day with trees in the background.

A bee is perched on a light purple flower in a grassy field with more flowers in the background. The scene is bright and vibrant, capturing the essence of nature in spring or summer.

Restore Native Biodiversity

Work continues throughout the Abbey Arboretum to increase the native biodiversity of plants and wildlife they support. Recent successes include work expanding and enhancing our restored prairie, oak savanna, and over 80,000 square feet of inner campus turf grass converted to pollinator gardens.

Tap into a Sweet Tradition

Since 1942, the monks have making maple syrup. This labor intensive rite of spring brings together monks, community members, faculty, staff, students and more to tap trees, collect sap, and cook to the liquid gold syrup! There are many opportunities to learn about and be a part of the process.

A group of people in a forest pour sap from white buckets into a large blue barrel. Bare trees surround them, and the ground is covered in leaves. They are dressed in casual, warm clothing and appear to be engaged in a syrup-making process.

Two people are in a small green boat on a lake. One person is paddling while the other is sitting with a red notebook. There are cooler boxes in the boat. The background shows a shoreline with trees in autumn colors.

Protect Water Quality

We take great pride in protecting the water quality of our lakes, ponds, streams, vernal pools, wetlands, and groundwater. We do not allow motorized travel on our lakes and try to keep most of our shorelines undeveloped. Recently, we have focused on redirecting stormwater flow to raingardens and improved native vegetation buffer strips along shorelines. We continue to test and monitor several water quality parameters in our major lakes.

Model Sustainable Forestry

Saint John’s Abbey is one of the first monasteries in the nation to obtain Forest Stewardship Council certification for their responsible forestry operations. Most of the lumber harvested from the woods to spur forest regeneration is utilized by Saint John’s Abbey Woodworking for much of the woodwork you see on campus.

A serene forest scene with a dirt path winding through tall, green trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A misty beam of light illuminates the center of the path.

A person wearing a gray cap and orange vest is measuring the circumference of a tree trunk with a yellow measuring tape. The tree is marked with a blue stripe. Fallen leaves cover the ground in a forest setting.

Train Leaders of Tomorrow

A key priority for our program is to act as professional/career development center for College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University students and local high school students interested in pursuing careers related to caring for or teaching about the natural world. Saint John’s Outdoor University and Abbey Arboretum invest in future leaders through student employment, internships, capstone projects, fellowships, service-learning opportunities, and more.

Promote Outdoor Renewal

A part of our mission is to make accessible a natural environment that promotes active, healthy lifestyles and invites spiritual renewal. The monks of Saint John’s Abbey generously share this beautiful nature sanctuary with
thousands of visitors annually. Please respectfully enjoy hiking, birding, running, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and paddling while practicing leave no trace principles.

A snowy pathway is lined with glowing lanterns leading to a building in the distance. The scene is set at night under a starry sky, with trees silhouetted against the twilight. People are walking along the illuminated path.