Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center

09/03/2026

Every Student. Every School. Outdoor School.

A new cohort of Naturalists is settled in, and campus is once again buzzing as we prepare for the first school groups to arrive one week from today.

🌲Last year, nearly 10,000 students and educators experienced learning that comes to life in nature at Wolf Ridge.

🌲This year, our commitment remains clear: Every student deserves the opportunity to experience Outdoor School.

That's why we continue to work on removing the barriers that can stand in the way. Funding support is available to help with tuition, transportation, and even teacher stipends!

Thanks to the support of our generous funding partners, we can once again make this level of support possible.

Space is limited — but we want to help make Wolf Ridge possible for your students.

Parents and educators: reach out and let's find a way to get your students to Wolf Ridge. 👉Learn more about Outdoor School at: https://wolf-ridge.org/outdoor-school-for-all/

Wolf Ridge expands access to Outdoor School for All in Minnesota—connecting students to nature through immersive learning and social-emotional growth.

09/02/2026

🍂The migration happening above your head.

Every late summer, thousands of dragonflies take to the skies along Minnesota’s North Shore.

Wolf Ridge naturalist Joe Walewski has watched this seasonal movement unfold for nearly four decades. Common Green Darners can travel 70–90 miles in a single day, and on peak migration days, tens of thousands may pass over the North Shore.

It’s a remarkable journey — and one that’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking up.

In this nature note, Joe takes us into the world of dragonfly migration, from the Common Green Darner and its incredible aerial abilities to the birds of prey that follow the same migratory corridors.

👉 Read Joe Walewski’s The Migration Happening Above Your Head: https://wolf-ridge.org/blog/the-migration-happening-above-your-head/

Did you know dragonflies migrate? Wolf Ridge naturalist Joe Walewski takes a closer look at the thousands of dragonflies moving south along the North Shore.

08/31/2026

Enjoy an evening amidst the fall colors!

Each year, Wolf Ridge has a front-row seat as the hillsides along the shore turn brilliant colors. This year, we invite you to take in the views at the inaugural Dinner on the Ridge fundraiser: an evening of connection, discovery, and learning.

Saturday, September 26th, 2026 | 4:30 - 8:00 PM
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Finland, MN

Join us to connect with old and new friends, including Wolf Ridge’s newest Executive Director, Vanessa Mendillo Riegler. Your evening will feature naturalist-guided walks along the Ridge's trails for an up-close look at the season's color, a catered dinner, and a featured presentation from resident naturalist Charlie Pavlisich.

We look forward to welcoming you as we celebrate all we’ve accomplished and carry on the adventure.

Space is limited! RSVP today at https://tinyurl.com/dinner-on-the-ridge

08/19/2026

The Superior Hiking Trail isn't just a path through the North Woods—it's a classroom, a community, and a place where people connect more deeply with nature.

In Episode 6 of Blazing Trail, former Wolf Ridge Executive Director Pete Smerud shares how the partnership between Wolf Ridge and the Superior Hiking Trail has inspired generations of children and adults to discover the ecology of Minnesota's North Shore and Lake Superior, and why the missions of our organizations are so closely connected.

If you've ever hiked the trail, learned at Wolf Ridge, or simply love the North Shore, this episode is worth a listen.

🎧Listen here: https://wtip.org/archives/blazing-trail-ep-6-trail-helpers/

In Episode Six of Blazing Trail, we meet Chaz Gallet, medical advisor for the Superior Hiking Trail who also helps manage the hiker logbook program. We also talk to Donna Siska, a trail helper who assists hikers with unexpected situations on the trail, such as broken water filters, supply drops and....

08/12/2026

🍂This fall, find your people.

Join a community of curious explorers, lifelong learners, and nature lovers on Minnesota's North Shore.

Whether you're seeking quiet reflection through our Fall Equinox Yoga Retreat or hands-on discovery at our Retreat for Naturalists, you'll leave with new perspectives, meaningful connections, and memories shaped in the the North Woods.

Space is limited: https://bit.ly/4zijkh0

Find your fall at Wolf Ridge. 🧭 September 25 - 27, 2026

08/05/2026

Join us on Monday, August 24th at LTD Brewing in Hopkins for Give Back Monday! 20% of proceeds from 2 to 10pm go towards outdoor education at Wolf Ridge.

07/21/2026

The past week has brought unprecedented conditions to northern Minnesota. Wildfires burning across the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, combined with heavy smoke, hazardous air quality, and extreme heat, have affected communities, organizations, and public lands across the region.

Our thoughts right now are, first and foremost, with the people, businesses, and organizations most directly and immediately affected: those who have been evacuated, those fighting the fires, and our neighbors and partners in the Boundary Waters and Gunflint Trail communities whose lives and livelihoods have been upended.

Wolf Ridge has felt these impacts too. From canceled trips into the Boundary Waters and program adjustments to air quality concerns on our campus in Finland, MN. But we’ve also seen the power of the greater Wolf Ridge community coming together. Folks have been checking in, asking how they can help, contributing, and supporting us from afar.

As we navigate the ripple effects of this event and the continued uncertainty about what the coming weeks will bring, it's this community that keeps Wolf Ridge strong and able to continue serving youth and families.

Thank you for standing with us, and with all of northern Minnesota.

06/27/2026

Some moments shape not just an organization—but generations to come.

We're grateful to the Minnesota Star Tribune for highlighting Wolf Ridge's partnership with The Nature Conservancy to permanently protect 928 acres of forests, streams, and wildlife habitat through a conservation easement.

This isn't simply about preserving land. It's about safeguarding a place where curiosity is sparked, resilience is built, and countless young people discover a lifelong connection to the natural world.

As Wolf Ridge enters a new chapter under Executive Director Vanessa Mendillo Riegler, we're inspired by what lies ahead.

"Protecting this landscape is ultimately about protecting possibility. Every student who stands beneath these trees, explores these streams, or looks across Lake Superior has the opportunity to discover something meaningful about the natural world—and about themselves. This conservation easement ensures that those transformative experiences will continue for generations. I'm honored to join the Wolf Ridge community at such a hopeful moment and to help carry this vision forward." — Vanessa Mendillo Riegler

Read the full Minnesota Star Tribune story: https://bit.ly/4xNw3XY

06/23/2026

Summer programming is in full swing at Wolf Ridge this week, and there truly is something for every age and stage of learning!

🐦 Our Ornithology Field Camp is welcoming students in grades 9–12 for an immersive week of advanced birding techniques, field research, outdoor adventure, and meaningful connections with nature and fellow campers.

🔥 Campers in grades 2–7 are diving into our Leap Into Camp sessions, enjoying outdoor exploration, games, campfires, and opportunities to build new friendships while creating unforgettable summer memories.

🌿 Adults are joining us for a Naturalist Retreat, exploring the forests, cliffs, wetlands, and shores of Lake Superior through guided experiences, evening presentations, and shared discovery with fellow nature enthusiasts.

🐤 Our Beginning Bird Banding Workshop participants are gaining hands-on experience in the art and science of bird banding, learning safe bird handling techniques, data collection methods, and conservation practices while contributing to meaningful research.

🍎 Educators from across the state are also gathering for our Teacher Training Workshop, where they are immersing themselves in the practices of a naturalist through watershed studies, bird banding, nature journaling, outdoor pedagogy, and experiential learning designed to inspire the next generation of outdoor learners.

🎉 And we're capping off an incredible week with our Annual Open House! Join us for a FREE day of outdoor fun and exploration. Families can enjoy rock climbing, adventure ropes courses, canoeing on Wolf Lake, hiking the trails, and more. Picnic areas will be available, no advance registration is required, and all ages are welcome. It's the perfect opportunity to experience Wolf Ridge, connect with nature, and discover all that the North Woods has to offer!

From youth campers to lifelong learners, Wolf Ridge is buzzing with curiosity, discovery, and adventure this week. We are grateful to welcome such an incredible community of learners to the North Woods and hope to see many of you at our Open House!

Limited spots still available for summer programming: https://wolf-ridge.org/events/

06/22/2026

Thank you for making the 715-mile round trip each year. That's a lot of miles over the years that Blue Earth has been attending Outdoor School at Wolf Ridge!🚌