PS 2-21 - The importance of nature reserves in undergraduate education

Background/Question/Methods

The Natural Lands at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, USA have been developed as an educational resource, mainly through restoration of farmland, over the past 30 years. The Natural Lands consist of 142 ha of restored prairie, forests and wetlands adjacent to the main campus. Through the first-ever survey we aimed to examine how the Natural Lands are being used and their importance as part of undergraduate education. After approval from the Institutional Review Board in 2020, a survey was sent to faculty, staff and students in biology and environmental studies and a random sample of the rest of the campus community for a total of 1,124 survey invitations. In addition, 732 alumni who had majors or concentrations in Environmental Studies from the classes of 1989-2019 were surveyed. We asked respondents how using the Natural Lands affected their college/work experience and career/life goals, and what changes they would like to see to improve its educational, recreational, health and aesthetic value.

Results/Conclusions

Response rates for surveys ranged from 33% for alumni to 48% for the current campus community, with 77.8-99.2% of the respondents reporting use of the Natural Lands. About 47% of the students said the Natural Lands either influenced their decision or somewhat influenced their decision to attend St. Olaf College. Faculty responses showed 26% used the reserve in their courses and additional faculty wanted more information and training. Survey results showed 83% of the alumni did research in the reserve, mainly through biology courses. Overall, favorite uses of the reserve were for exercise, relaxation, and exploration. Favorite places were Big Pond trail, Prairie Loop trail, and Norway Valley forest trail. Suggestions for improvements focused on more comprehensive and accessible signage and information online, a safe highway crossing, and a wheelchair accessible trail. From the alumni responses, the Natural Lands were essential for maintaining mental and physical health for 40%, helped 23% realize the importance of nature and ongoing support of conservation, and provided crucial hands-on experiences for 27% in biology-related careers. Overall these results showed experiences in natural areas have positive and lasting impacts on learning, daily activities, careers and personal values of the campus community.