Bedding & towels

The station does not provide bedding. Please bring sheets (twin sized), pillows, blanket (or sleeping bag), and bath/swim towels. Nights are often cool, even in summer, so make sure to pack a warm blanket.

Kitchen and bathroom items (for faculty cabins)

The station provides dish towels, a dish cloth, pot holders, dish soap, hand soap, toilet paper, and trash bags. Station users should bring their own coffee filters (basket style), food storage bags/wrapping, paper towels, and facial tissues.

Clothing and personal items

At field stations it's not about fashion - it's about function! Make sure you pack for a wide range of weather conditions (shorts, long pants, short- and long-sleeved shirts, fleece jacket and/or wool sweater, rain gear, sturdy shoes or boots for fieldwork, warm socks, swimsuit). Avoid cotton clothing, as it does not dry easily and does not keep you warm when wet.  Make sure to pack toiletries, medications, sunscreen, a water bottle, bug repellent (see the "Tick-borne diseases" section of our Health and Safety page for recommendations), and laundry detergent. See our printable student packing list for a more complete list.

There is ample parking at the station. A Minnesota state parks vehicle permit must be purchased from the DNR and displayed in all vehicles at the station (MN state vehicles are exempt from this requirement). An annual pass provides access to all Minnesota state parks for an entire year.

Please park in designated areas and do not drive on the grass or off of the roadways. We have many pedestrians and bikers moving around campus, so please drive cautiously on station roadways.

Connecting to Wi-Fi with eduroam

Station users with a UMN X500 account can connect to “eduroam” with their [email protected] and password when prompted. Visitors from eduroam-participating universities can obtain access to the University's Wi-Fi using the usernames and passwords they use at their home institutions. Detailed instructions on how to connect to eduroam are provided on the University's website.

Connecting to Wi-Fi as a guest

If you do not have institutional access to eduroam, you can connect to Wi-Fi as a guest. On your device, navigate to the area where you can view all Wi-Fi networks that are in range. Select UofM-Guest from the list of available Wi-Fi networks. A web browser will automatically open to a network authentication page. You can also open a web browser manually if the Terms of Use page does not open automatically (e.g., Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer). See UMN Wifi Guest Access for more information. 

Cell service

Cell phone service at the station, and in the State Park in general, is not reliable. Please take that into account so you are not relying on your phone for communication or navigation when you are away from station buildings with wireless access.

The station has a small maintenance staff relative to the number of buildings and spaces on our campus. Cabins are cleaned between users, but there is no daily cabin cleaning service. We appreciate station users pitching in to keep spaces tidy during their stay. Cleaning supplies are available on request.

Trash attracts wildlife, including black bears. It is everyone at the station's responsibility that we not habituate bears or other wildlife to eating trash. Bears that are habituated may need to be euthanized. Don't leave trash out overnight. Trash should only be placed in outside receptacles between 6:30-7:30am to coordinate with our maintenance staff rounds. Otherwise, trash should be kept inside cabins or placed in the sanitation building (#67 - see station map). Recycling bins are located across from cabin #2 and in the sanitation building. A fish cleaning house is also located in the sanitation building. Fish cleaning waste should be taken directly to the lockable dumpster near building 73 (see station map for location).

There are laundry facilities in the station bathhouses, across from cabin 6 on faculty row, and in the basement of cabin 13. There is no fee to operate the laundry machines, but with sustainability in mind, please make sure loads are full to make the most of a load. Users must provide their own detergent. We use water softener to treat our well water, so use half of the regular amount of detergent to avoid over-sudsing. 

If you discover any emergency issues with your cabin, in a building, or station equipment, please notify a station staff member immediately, either in person or by calling Facilities Lead Eric Sather at 218-308-0863.

If you have a non-urgent issue with your cabin/building or equipment, you can report it on one of the designated Maintenance/Repair Request forms, which are located on clipboards in the Assembly Hall and the table under the mailboxes in the Biome Center. You can also email Eric Sather at [email protected] for assistance and repairs.

Families of faculty, staff and researchers are integral to the Itasca Station community and are always welcome. The station tries to be as helpful as possible in maintaining safe and enjoyable conditions for families. However, the station cannot assume responsibility for the conduct and safety of children. There are numerous safety concerns with the waterfront, roadways, laboratories with potential hazards, and wilderness setting.  Responsibility for the conduct, safety, and well-being of children at the station belongs to the parent(s). With this in mind, please follow these important guidelines:

• Children under age 12 must have adult supervision at all times.
• An adult must go through the meal service line with children to assist. Our kitchen staff greatly appreciate this, as it helps avoid food waste, spills, and broken dishware.
• Families with children are asked to use extra caution at the station waterfront and on roadways.
• Lab spaces on campus are only accessible to station users 18 and over.
• Children are not allowed to use AV equipment or station computers.

The station provides highchairs (in the dining hall), infant and youth sized life jackets (at the waterfront), and a variety of puzzles, a few toys, and games (in the assembly hall).

Itasca State Park has many amenities that are child- and family-friendly, including a public swim beach with changing rooms and showers, paved bike trails, and a playground. Park naturalists run regular programming that is geared towards audiences of all ages, including some that are specifically for children. Bike trailers and child-sized bikes are available for rent through Itasca Sports.

Overnight guests of registered station users are not allowed. Anyone staying overnight at the station must be registered through [email protected] and will be charged the daily station use fee.

Pets, including support animals, are not allowed at the station due to allergen and cleaning considerations in our close communal living setting. Those who do not follow this policy will be asked to leave immediately, and those using station overnight lodging will be charged a $200 minimum cleaning fee. Pet boarding options are available in Park Rapids.

Trained service animals are permitted, but station staff must be notified before arrival so arrangements can be made. According to the UMN Animals on Campus Policy: a Service Animal may accompany its owner on university grounds and in University buildings at all times, except under rare circumstances where the animal’s health or safety may be compromised.  Service Animals are not required to wear any special type of harness or garment, and must be under the handler’s control at all times.  In situations where it is not obvious that the animal is a Service Animal, university officials may ask the following two qualifying questions:

1. Is the Service Animal required because of a person’s disability?
2. What work or task has the Service Animal been trained to perform?

It is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 609.833 to misrepresent an unqualified animal as a Service Animal. See the ADA definition of a service animal for more information on the distinction between support and service animals.

Our kitchen staff is familiar and experienced with accommodating special dietary needs, and dishes are strictly prepared and labeled for people with food allergies. We can provide vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and other special dietary options upon request. The kitchen will attempt to accommodate requests, but it may not be possible to prepare separate options to meet requests for every meal. Special diet meals that are prepared by kitchen staff are reserved for only those who have made prior arrangements with station staff.

All special special diet requests must be arranged with station staff at [email protected] prior to arrival at the station. Program coordinators are responsible for collecting and communicating any special dietary requirements for their group.

Itasca Station is working hard to break down barriers to field participation. As we work to make progress, the station is committed to identifying barriers to access, and communicating accessible aspects of our programs/facilities to help individuals identify whether they can safely participate. 

Mobility

Those with mobility concerns should reach out to station staff ([email protected]) to learn more about availability of ADA compliant cabins and building access.

Field Biology course learning accommodations

Because the living-learning environment at Itasca is distinct from a typical on-campus class, extra time and communication ahead of the start of Field Biology courses is required of students who request accommodations. See our Student Life and Logistics webpage for more details. 

Quiet hours in the State Park, including the station, are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Conversation, music and other sounds must be kept low enough to not disturb others.

Minnesota residents can fish without a fishing license on Lake Itasca, including ice fishing. Non-Minnesota residents can purchase a fishing license online through MN DNR or locally at Rock Creek General Store near the Park's north entrance. It is not allowed to pick wildflowers or other plants, even for personal use in MN State Parks. Learn more about MN State Park regulations. 

Recreation at the station

During spring, summer, and fall, registered station users have access to:

• Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards (station waterfront)
  Motorized boats are reserved for field courses or research purposes only.
  Please see our Health and Safety page for waterfront and watercraft safety information.
• Bicycles and helmets (located outside the Assembly Hall)
  A limited number are available for short-term checkout on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Field games (located on the David Parmelee Memorial Field):
  • Volleyball
  • Softball
  • Soccer
  • Badminton
  • Lawn games
• Indoor recreation (located in the Assembly Hall):
  • Ping-pong
  • Foosball
  • Board games

  • Puzzles

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Recreation in the state park

Itasca State Park maps

Enjoy outdoor activities year-round, just steps beyond the station:

Spring / Summer / Fall

• Biking, hiking, swimming, fishing
• Equipment rentals (bikes, pontoons, fishing boats, etc.) at Itasca Sports – ½ mile north of the station
• Free loaner equipment (fishing kits, birding kits, Kids Discovery kits) from the state park ranger station

Winter

• Cross-country skiing on groomed trails
• Snowshoeing on designated trails
   (Rentals available at Itasca Sports)

Here are some popular excursions from the station (round-trip distances listed):

• Walk (2.7 mi) or Bike (4.3 mi) to the Mississippi Headwaters
• Walk the Floating Bog Bay Boardwalk to Bear Paw Campground (2 mi)
• Douglas Lodge for a malt
  • Walk the Brower Trail (7 mi)
  • Bike trail (8 mi)
• Swim at the designated beach (1 mi north of the station)
• Paddle around Schoolcraft Island (No landing — poison ivy!)
• Fish off the station docks or canoes (no fishing license required in MN state parks!)
• Visit:
  • Jacob Brower Visitor's Center (East Entrance)
  • Lakeside Museum (near Headwaters picnic grounds)
  • Preacher's Grove (Main Park Drive - stand amongst towering old growth red pine)
  • Peace Pipe Vista (Main Park Drive)
• Bike (or drive) the Wilderness Loop through the Itasca Wilderness Sanctuary (17 mi)
• Hike
  • Trails from Douglas Lodge:
    • Ozawindib Trail
    • Deer Park Trail
    • Mary Lake Trail
  • Along Wilderness Loop Drive
    • Bohall Trail (dense stands of old growth red pine)
    • Nicollet Trail (hike 1.5mi to discover historic Nicollet cabin)
• Climb the historic Aiton Heights fire tower (1 mi walk from Wilderness Loop parking)

For more information on Itasca State Park, visit the Department of Natural Resources website.