University of Minnesota, Duluth
EN-3: Student Life

There are a variety of student groups working on sustainability at UMD. Some focus on environmental justice and activism, others on recreation and wellness, some on food, while still others focus on social sustainability: building relationships, community connections, and service. The following list includes many (though likely not all) currently active student organizations focused on sustainability: Sustainable Innovations, Biology Club, Ducks Unlimited, Engineers Without Borders - UMD, Environmental Science Club, SEE Change, Outdoor Educators Club, Student Government Association, Eco Reps, S.E.R.V.E., Helping Hives, The Bark, Plant The Revolution, Robotics at UMD, Bulldog Rocketry, and the Queer and Allied Student Union. https://kirby.d.umn.edu/student-organizations

The UMD Land Lab is a food justice and environmental research and outreach center located just five miles from the UMD campus. It consists of 10 acres of actively managed transitional organic farmland and a five-acre apple orchard. The UMD Land Lab is a food justice and environmental research and outreach center located just five miles from the UMD campus. It consists of 10 acres of transitional organic farmland and a five-acre apple orchard. The Land Lab is connected to the larger Research and Field Studies Center (RFSC) which houses other UMD research and outreach projects. The purpose of the Land Lab is to explore research that assists growers in our community, educate students about food and agriculture, and to serve as an incubator for community and university interactions. https://sustainability.d.umn.edu/landlab

The UMD Green Revolving Fund was established in 2011 to invest in sustainable projects at UMD. Projects are intended to contribute to efforts to save energy and become a more sustainable campus, along with providing long-term financial savings to the University of Minnesota Duluth. Any UMD student, staff, or faculty member may apply for Green Revolving Funds. The fund is replenished through energy efficiency rebates from MN Power (local utility). Since its inception with $100,000 in seed money from the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations, the Green Revolving Fund has spent over $526,000 on campus sustainability projects, and the current balance is around $310,500 as of the close of FY23. https://sustainability.d.umn.edu/green-revolving-fund

"Student Engagement & Leadership Forum for Sustainability” (SELFsustain): Sponsored by the Institute on the Environment, this annual conference brings together 50 student leaders to share ideas, empower each other, and make progress on sustainability projects across all U of MN campuses. This is an annual event and has occurred for over 10 years. Many one-off speakers, seminars, and activities occur on campus each with students as the target audience as well. https://environment.umn.edu/leadership/susted/conferences-events/selfsustain-conference/

“Our Climate Futures” (OCF) Conference: The OCF Conference is jointly hosted by the Insitute on the Environment Duluth and the UMD Office of Sustainability. For the 2023 conference, the theme was "Equity & Inclusion at the Center" and involved speakers on disrupting discrimination, housing challenges in a climate refuge city, and equitable diversity in the environmental sector. The conference had over 150 students, staff, faculty, and community members attend. https://ione.d.umn.edu/events/fall-conference-2023

UMD is lucky to host the Tweed Museum of Art directly on campus. Student projects are displayed and often focused on sustainability topics across environmental ecosystems, human health and behavior, and consumerism. In October 2023, the Tweed Museum of Art hosted the Black Gold - Living Memory: Portraits of the Lake Sturgeon exhibit as a part of the OCF conference to encourage and showcase sustainability-focused artwork. https://tweed.d.umn.edu/

The student organization, SEE Change, hosts Arts for Activism, a fundraising and awareness annual event that provides a platform for students, faculty, staff, and community members to contribute artwork around environmental, economic, and social justice issues to engage in new dialogue around these topics. https://calendar.d.umn.edu/event/74789-arts-for-activism

The UMD Recreational Sports Outdoor Program (RSOP) fosters active, healthy lifestyles, and connections to the natural world. RSOP offers regular Outdoor Activities and Trips, provides opportunities for students and community members to participate in nature-based workshops and excursions, and leads How-to workshops and seminars. The goals of RSOP programs include skill development, social interaction, environmental awareness, and relaxation. Outdoor trips are offered for incoming freshmen to partake during the final days before move-in, which are always a big hit. Additionally, each semester can hold as many as 30 outings, skill training, and excursions -- even in the dead of winter. Winter camping trips are some of the most popular events offered. Additionally, in February 2024, RSOP held a Leave No Trace training for student volunteers and other interested parties. https://umdrsop.d.umn.edu/
https://calendar.d.umn.edu/event/94106-volunteer-with-the-outdoor-program-winter-leave-no

UMD also has outdoor education majors and environmental education graduate students who organize and participate in course-based activities and they are often recruited to lead the events and work for the Recreational Sports Outdoor Program.

Environmental and Outdoor Education Program:
The Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Environmental and Outdoor Education major familiarizes students with nonformal outdoor education settings and provides extensive training in outdoor education methodology and program delivery. In addition, nature-based outdoor recreation is emphasized as both a method and a goal. The major prepares students for professional careers in the broad field of outdoor education, including adventure education, environmental interpretation, and environmental education. Graduates from this program are prepared for careers in a variety of settings, such as environmental education centers (nature centers, residential environmental learning centers); natural resource agencies and facilities (DNR, NPS, USFS, State Parks); non-profits (scouts, museums, zoos, camps); adventure education schools; adjudicated youth facilities; and high adventure camps. Core degree components include outdoor education methods, physical skills development, program planning and delivery, management, evaluation, and principles of outdoor education and recreation. https://cehsp.d.umn.edu/departments-centers/center-environmental-education/undergraduate-degrees/environmental-outdoor-ed

The Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center has 22 campsites to offer and expects all campers to follow Leave No Trace Principles.
https://boulderlake.org/visit/recreation/camping

The Sustainability Living Learning Community (LLC) brings together first-year students with interests in sustainability to live together in a traditional residence hall community, take classes together, and participate in sustainability-related programming and community outreach activities. The Sustainability LLC welcomes students from all backgrounds and majors. Students are provided with opportunities to engage with faculty, staff, and students from sustainability-related majors across campus to help them more successfully navigate their first year at UMD. Activities include local farm visits, waste sorting education, and outdoor adventures, among many other activities.
https://scse.d.umn.edu/students/sustainability-llc

The Office of Sustainability offers sustainable life skills programming each semester and content can include making products such as deodorant, lip balm, laundry soap, and beeswax wraps. The office also offers a Mending Has No Gender program to help students learn to repair clothing and other items. Student organizations, interns, and volunteers partner with the Office of Sustainability to host these events. https://sustainability.d.umn.edu/get-involved

Student Assistants with the Office of Sustainability, sustainable agriculture positions at the Land Lab, Recreational Sports Outdoor Program, Environmental Health & Safety, Facilities Management (composting, recycling, engineering, stormwater management), Resident Assistants with Housing Residence Life, and Dining Services (low-waste meals, food-waste awareness programming).

Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center: Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center (BLELC) was established in 1994 and features a strong and unique partnership with the University of Minnesota Duluth's College of Education and Human Service Professions, Minnesota Power, and Saint Louis County Land and Minerals Department. Boulder Lake's 18,000-acre classroom is a regional leader in fostering connections to natural resource stewardship through education, research, and recreation. Annually BLELC and the outdoor recreation opportunities within its classroom serve more than 8,500 participants including K-12 students, college classes, post-graduate students, and community members from Northeast Minnesota, Northwest Wisconsin, and areas across the upper-Midwest region. http://www.boulderlake.org/

Large Lakes Observatory: The Large Lakes Observatory is an academic and research unit within the Swenson College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Our focus on the large lakes of Earth means that our work supports the sustainability of well over half of the accessible freshwater on Earth.
https://scse.d.umn.edu/large-lakes-observatory

Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI): The Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at the University of Minnesota-Duluth is an applied research organization with research facilities located in Duluth and Coleraine, Minnesota. Employing scientists, engineers, and technicians, NRRI performs applied research to develop and deliver the understanding and tools needed to utilize the state's resources in a balanced and responsible manner while promoting private-sector employment. Currently, NRRI's strategic initiatives include these three categories of research: iron and minerals of the future, ecosystem resilience, and future forest industries.
https://www.nrri.umn.edu/