Media Kit: FAQ
What is Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center?
Wolf Ridge is an accredited K-12 environmental school offering life-changing adventures in education. During the
school year, more than 13,000 students, teachers and chaperones come to Wolf Ridge for residential programs that
extend classroom learning into immersive experiences. Each summer, Wolf Ridge serves an additional 3,000 people
through summer camps, family programs, wilderness trips, ecology credit camps and more. Founded in 1971, Wolf
Ridge was the first environmental learning center in the United States to be accredited as a K-12 school, and it’s the
largest school of its kind between the coasts, serving about 750,000 people to-date. Wolf Ridge Environmental
Learning Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Where is Wolf Ridge located?
Nestled between two national ecological treasures – the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Lake
Superior – Wolf Ridge is located on a 2,000-acre campus near the town of Finland, Minnesota. The property
overlooks Lake Superior and features two lakes, two high peaks, 18 miles of trails and a mixed forest of maple, birch
and spruce. The Baptism River and Sawmill Creek flow through property. Wildlife is abundant and includes moose,
black bear, white-tailed deer, fox, wolves, beaver, pine marten, eagles, peregrine falcons, loons and more. Wolf
Ridge is proud to say it’s located in one of the snowiest places in Minnesota.
Describe the facilities.
Facilities at Wolf Ridge include four classroom buildings, two dormitories, a dining hall, raptor aviary, library, two
auditoriums, two rock climbing walls, two outdoor ropes courses, numerous outdoor class sites and an administration
building. A new organic farm is currently under development. Residential students and campers live in a dorm-like
setting with a large community room, health facilities and laundry. Each single gender room houses 4–8 students with
shared bathroom facilities located across the hall from their rooms.
Who goes to Wolf Ridge, and for how long?
People of all ages come to Wolf Ridge, from K-12 students to college students, adult learners, seniors and families.
Day programs are available, but most programs are overnight, ranging in length from a few days to as long as four
weeks.
What kind of educational opportunities does Wolf Ridge offer?
Wolf Ridge excels at hands-on learning in the natural world. The knowledge a student gains in a traditional classroom
setting comes alive in the outdoors where she or he can observe, measure, compare, touch, smell, hear and even
taste the real world. Educational programming at Wolf Ridge focuses on environmental science, cultural history,
contemporary environmental issues, personal growth, team building and outdoor recreation. Classes and activities
are nearly all outdoors, and more than 50 different options are available.
Describe the summer camp program in more detail.
More than a dozen different summer camp experiences are available each year at Wolf Ridge, beginning with day
camps for students as young as first grade and extending to four-week camps for high school students. Some camps
are residential and explore the 2,000-acre Wolf Ridge campus. Others are wilderness trips lasting as long as two
weeks and journey from the BWCAW the Canadian wilderness. Staff to student ratio is typically 1:4. Family camps
are available too.
Describe the organic farm in more detail.
The goal for the farm is to supply Wolf Ridge cafeteria with healthy organic produce throughout the year. The farm
will play an important role in education, teaching about sustainable farming, the benefits of eating locally grown food
and land stewardship. Produce will grow year-round in three high-tunnel green houses measuring 30-feet wide by 96feet long.
Who works at Wolf Ridge?
Wolf Ridge employs 35 full time staff, seven part-time staff and 60 seasonal teaching naturalists, trip leaders, camp
counselors. Volunteers help with projects varying from bird banding to office work. During the course of a year, the
organization employs a staff of about 100 people, making Wolf Ridge one of the largest rural employer in Lake
County, Minnesota.
6282 Cranberry Road | Finland, MN 55603 | 218-353-7414 | wolf-ridge.org
(more)
Who founded Wolf Ridge?
Husband and wife Jack and Genea Pichotta co-founded Wolf Ridge after they became interested in environmental
education in the late 1960′s. It was an era when more and more people were raising concerns about the future health
of the planet. At the time, Jack was a teacher in Cloquet, Minnesota. As he recalled many years later, “I had two little
girls then, and I was sincerely concerned about their futures. I still am, maybe even more.”
Who currently leads the organization and develops educational programming?
Peter Smerud, Director, pete.smerud@wolf-ridge.org
Shannon Walz, Education Director, shannon.walz@wolf-ridge.org
Jenny Bushmaker, Summer Youth & Family Program Director, jenny.bushmaker@wolf-ridge.org
Describe the board of trustees.
The Wolf Ridge Board of Trustees oversees all activities the organization is involved with, providing fiduciary
leadership, strategic direction and guidance to Wolf Ridge senior staff. There are 15 board members, currently led by
Tom Berg, Chair. Past and present members include classroom teachers, university professors, corporate
executives, non-profit leaders, lawyers, architects and more. Emeritus board members include naturalist Sigurd
Olson, photographer Jim Brandenburg and many others.
Does Wolf Ridge partner with other organizations? If so, what kind?
Yes, Wolf Ridge enjoys dynamic, long-lasting partnerships with a wide range of organizations, from the University of
Minnesota Duluth to schools at every level as well as other youth programs. Examples of educational partnerships
include the Environmental Inquiry Immersion program with Murray Middle School in St. Paul as well as the Scientists
Eagerly Acquiring Knowledge (SEAK) program. In addition we partner on specific projects with a variety of natural
resource organizations and businesses.
What organization maintains Wolf Ridge accreditation?
Wolf Ridge was the first residential environmental education center in the nation to be accredited by the North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation is now maintained by AdvanceED (www.advanc-ed.org/about-us)
on behalf of the NCA. The entire curriculum at Wolf Ridge is aligned with Minnesota Department of Education
Academic Standards. The matrices address the primary student audience at Wolf Ridge, grades 4-12.
Are there notable Wolf Ridge alumni?
Eric Larsen. Polar adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher and educator, Eric Larsen has traveled in some of the
most remote and wild places left on earth. His “Save the Poles” Expedition made exploration history trekking to the
North Pole, South Pole and Mount Everest, all with-in one year. Prior to that, in 2006, Eric completed the first ever
summer expedition to the North Pole with fellow polar explorer Lonnie Dupre. Eric travels extensively giving
motivational and educational lectures to schools, universities, non-profit organizations and corporate groups. He is
also finishing the documentary COLDER about the Save the Poles expedition. With the heart of the teacher we saw
when he was a naturalist at Wolf Ridge, Eric continues to inspire others about connecting with our natural world, its
beauty and the values of adventure.
Contact Information
6282 Cranberry Road Finland, MN 55603
800-523-2733 (MN, WI, ND)
218-353-7414
wolf-ridge.org
mail@wolf-ridge.org
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