On August 27, 1971, a little more than a year after the celebration of the first Earth Day, Northland College hosted its first environmental conference.  Among those invited to address the two-day conference were Senator Gaylord Nelson and Sigurd F. Olson.  The conference became "the instrument of origin of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute," as Robert Matteson, the founder of the Institute, wrote.  With energy to move in an exciting and new direction, the Institute opened its doors in spring of 1972, embarking on more than three decades of serving Northland College and the Lake Superior region.

• 1972 - First problem solving workshop held: Land Use and Zoning
• 1973-75 - Creation of the first post-graduate fellow positions and basin programs
• 1978 - Project LoonWatch begins/environment and spirituality programs begin
• 1981 - Sustainably designed Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute dedicated
• 1982 - Memorial service to honor Sigurd F. Olson held following his death
• 1983 - Sigurd F. Olson professorship endowed
• 1985 - First Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award given
• 1985 - First Apostle Islands School held
• 1987 - Timber Wolf Alliance created
• 1989 - Infusing Ojibwe World Views curriculum developed
• 1992 - U.S. Secretariat position for the Lake Superior Binational Forum created
• 1994-95 - Sustainable Forestry Guidelines written for three states
• 1994 - First Lake Superior Youth Symposium held at Northland College
• 1998 - Northern Forest Restoration program begins
• 1999 - Wilderness Horizons Conference held
• 2001 - Land Stewardship outreach services begin
• 2004 - First Pathfinders session held
• 2005 - North American Loon Fund endowment established for the Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award

Learn more about our Philosophy, our Programs, and the Staff Members at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute who help make what we do, reality.