Arrival/Departure
You are welcome to arrive and explore Itasca State Park as early as you wish on arrival day. There is no lunchtime meal on day 1, and your cabin will not be available for use until 3pm. Check-out is 11:00am on departure day.
Housing
Each faculty cabin has a full bath (shower or bathtub) and kitchen (stove, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, utensils, dishes, pots, pans), so feel free to bring any grocery, snack, or beverage items you wish. (You can eat all of your meals in the dining hall, so you certainly don’t have to bring additional food.) The cabins range from 1- to 4-bedrooms, depending on your specific cabin assignment. Click here for more information about cabin facilities.
Pet Policy
Guests are not allowed to have pets on Station premises. University policy states that pets are not allowed in University buildings, and this includes Station cabins. Anyone who brings a pet to the Station will be asked to leave immediately (taking their pet with them). Those using overnight lodging will be charged a $200 minimum cleaning fee.
Meals
Meals are provided for all NOL faculty, staff, and families in the dining hall. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated and need to be communicated well in advance with NOL staff. Day 1 of each session will follow a weekend meal schedule, and Days 2-4 follow a weekday meal schedule.
Internet
The Itasca Biological Station & Laboratories has internet access through eduroam. You should be able to use the internet as if you were on campus. You will also have access to Ethernet-connected desktop computers in the Think/Write room in the Biome Center (building 75).
What to bring
Refer to our summer packing list for details on what to pack. Don’t forget to pack bedding and towels, as they are not provided.
Recreational opportunities
The Station has several canoes and kayaks available free of charge at the lakeside docks. Motorized boats are reserved for research and teaching purposes, and are not available for recreational use. Personal flotation devices are required for each person in a watercraft and are located in the building adjacent to the dock. Watercraft will be reserved at certain times for student use. Each session the NOL team will highlight any times where the canoes and kayaks are prioritized for student use.
Volleyball, soccer, and badminton equipment is available for use on the David Parmelee Memorial Field. Ping pong tables, board games, and puzzles are available in the Assembly Hall. Additionally, Itasca State Park offers recreational opportunities, including a swim beach, a fishing pier, hiking trails, and a paved bike path. You can bring your bike and helmet to ride the 17-mile Wilderness Loop or for shorter bike excursions around the Station and State Park. The State Park also offers activities led by Park Naturalists that are open to the public. Refer to the DNR website for their schedule.