In addition to our own educational programming, the Itasca Station invites instructors from the University of Minnesota and outside higher education institutions to teach their course (or part of a course) at the station. The common thread in all visiting courses is a focus on environmental science and the natural world. The station is a campus in its own right, but it’s also much more, thanks to our prime location for immersion learning in a field setting in the Northwoods of Minnesota.
Teaching amenities and facilities
Technology-enabled classrooms
Some of our classrooms are housed in our LEED certified Biome Center (built in 2014). Others are located in historic buildings spread across our 49 acre campus. All of our classrooms have projectors and high speed Wi-Fi. Desktop Mac and Windows computers are available for use, along with printing in our "Think Write" room.
Well-equipped "dirty" and "clean" teaching labs
We offer spaces to do clean laboratory-based teaching as well as spaces that are amenable to field-based teaching allowing instructors and students to bring “the outside in”, where tracking in dirt and examining field collections are not only tolerated but encouraged! Visit our research and education facilities page for a more detailed overview of these spaces.
Library
The station houses a physical library with hard copies of student theses, books, maps, and other Itasca relevant resources. See our Publications and Digital Archives page for more information about our collections and the station's library.
Waterfront and boathouses
During the summer, the station provides canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for all users. Station motorboats are also available for teaching and research purposes. Instructors can take students out on Lake Itasca or trailer boats to nearby waterbodies. See our motorboat protocol for more information about access to our motorboats.
Camp-style dining and lodging
In the summer season, students are housed in bunkhouses, and faculty stay in fully equipped cabins. Students eat in our dining hall alongside their professors, enjoying home-cooked style meals prepared by our caring staff. Visit our dining page to learn more about provided meals.
Our dining hall is closed over the winter. During those times students and faculty stay in our cozy year-round cabins, which contain fully equipped kitchens and either a full or 3/4 bathroom. Learn more about our cabins by visiting our lodging page.
Recreation
There is plenty to do around the station during downtime!
In the summer, students paddle station canoes and kayaks, play volleyball and soccer on our fields, play board games and ping pong in our assembly hall, and bike and hike on state park trails. Itasca State Park offers a wide variety of attractions, including a swim beach just north of the station, the iconic Mississippi Headwaters, several historic sites, and a fire tower. Check out the park’s events calendar for upcoming activities guided by park naturalists.
In the winter, the station has several pairs of snowshoes available for users to explore the state park’s winter trails. The groomed trails are a great opportunity for cross-country skiing (note that skis are not provided by the station). Visit the iconic Headwaters of the Mississippi River, or check the park’s events calendar to see if any guided naturalist events are taking place. The Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center also has many exhibits and cozy fireplaces in its front lounge.
Learn more
If you are interested in learning more about scheduling your class at Itasca, please visit our course scheduling process page. We are happy to answer any questions and help you think through the options that are available.