September 1, 2016 - August 31, 2017ANNUAL REPORT

Today’s leaders cut the ribbon for the opening of Lakeview House, Wolf Ridge’s residence for our seasonal staff. Tomorrow’s leaders breaking ground for the

Margaret A. Cargill (MAC) Lodge Living Building Challenge (LBC) renovations.

BOARD OF TRUSTEESChair: Russell BierbaumMembers: John Anderson Gene Champeau Doug Connell Pat Coppo John Daniels Andy Datko Kirk Geadelmann Earl Gransee Kate Knuth Nancy Quattlebaum Burke Ron Sackett Nancy Schultz Lee Thao John Thein

EMERITUS TRUSTEES Thomas Atchison*

STAFFExecutive Director: Peter SmerudEducation Director: Shannon WalzFinancial Director: Ken SmithDevelopment Director: John ChandlerOffice: Coleen Clough Krysty Pirsig Jessica VanceFarm: David Abazs Lise Abazs

Jim Brandenburg William M. Burns Richard Gray* Peter Heegaard Robert Heller* Ron Kirk Donn Larson Mike Latimer* Sigurd Olson* Jack Pichotta Michael Plautz* Rene Settergren Werner Tismer* * deceasedFounder: Jack Pichotta

Program: Carrie Anderson Jenny Bushmaker David Butcher Peter Harris Danielle Hefferan John Kohlstedt Erin Manning Betsey Mead Joe Walewski Lori Walewski Elizabeth WilliamsMentor Naturalists: Sarah Bransford Rachel Enwright Julia Luger Luciana Ranelli Danielle Tikalsky

Off-Site Instructors: Eric Holmstrom Olivia Kinsinger Alison WoodFood Service: Zach Bates Sandy Gunnink Christopher O’Brien Sonique Sutherland Bernie Vadner

Buildings/Grounds: Gary Olson Roger Swensgaard Mike Sutherland Jason VelacichCustodial: Morganne Curtis Ashley Evans Rosemary Evans Megan Johnson Dawn Simula Lynn Varney

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center and the USDA are equal opportunity providers and employers.

STAFF

Hello Friends,

What I want for my children and Wolf Ridge students or campers is likely the same that most everyone wants - to simply learn how to live in a better, more sustainable manner for the planet. In the world today, it can feel overwhelming as we repetitively take in all the bad news. Conditions relative to how our planet is changing and our ability, or inability, to adapt have become commonplace reports. Don’t lose your hope or optimism. We can do this!

Nothing was more apparent at Wolf Ridge this past year than the construction on the main campus with our Making Waves projects. These projects began as the need to renovate a building but became an inspired tool of change for children, graduate students, contractors, and the building material manufacturing industry. Build-ing trades workers stepped up to sustainability behaviors and methods never performed in the upper Midwest. Manufacturers changed their product ingredients to be free of toxic chemicals, or modified their process of design and construction to meet the highest of environmental sustainability standards.

Learning experiences at Wolf Ridge are where knowledge meets inspiration. Inspiration may not be enough to make change if one can’t envision the path to the outcome or believe it can be done. This past year was one of tremendous achievement at Wolf Ridge in large part due to people with like-minded values seeing these acts occur-ring and a decision to join Wolf Ridge by provision of financial support that ensured these goals would be met.

Wolf Ridge serves as an international lesson of hope and optimism for our collective future. Wolf Ridge is an ex-ample of how our citizenry and our world can be changed for the better. This year is evidence that with knowl-edge, newly acquired skills, positive attitudes and commitment to work together, whether it is in small communi-ties, on project teams, or even at the level of international industrial manufacturers, we can live more sustainable lifestyles. Whatever the challenge, if we work together we can solve it in better and more effective ways.

On behalf of thousands of children and adults who attended and worked at Wolf Ridge this year, thank you for your commitment to expanding our learning experiences.

MAKING WAVES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

PHASE ONE COMPLETEDPhase One of the Making Waves project, which includes the maintenance shop and Lakeview Staff House for Wolf Ridge’s graduate students and seasonal staff was completed in May. Lakeview House is a state of the art net zero facility that will allow residents to get real time feedback on their resource consumption and provide the framework for the intentional practice of sustainable living. The building was constructed to Living Building Challenge (LBC) standards. The maintenance shop brings together all the maintenance staff and tools into one space providing a critically needed resource for the care of all our facilities.

Fundraising for the $9.4 million project is well underway. As of August 31, 2017, $6,727,411 was raised. Wolf Ridge met the $6.25 million goal to get the $250,000 match from Margaret A. Cargill Foundation.

LEADING THE NATION IN SUSTAINABILITY

FUTURE GENERATIONS LEARNING HOW TO BUILD TO THE LBC

Phase Two of the project began in June with the arrival of thirty RV trailers for temporary housing during the renovation of our original dormitory. When completed it will become the Margaret A. Cargill (MAC) Lodge, one of only 45 such sustainability projects in the world. The MAC Lodge is the first in Minnesota to be designed and constructed to full certification of the Living Building Challenge (LBC). The LBC is the highest international stan-dard to pursue in sustainable building design and per-formance. With standards such as 90% landfill diversion for waste, net zero energy and water, and vetting of all materials to assure they are free from toxic chemicals, it will be a teaching tool of sustainability for future genera-tions of students who will live and learn at Wolf Ridge.

Throughout construction the Wolf Ridge team partnered with Gardner Builders to provide hands-on learning experiences for students by allowing them to actually participate in the construction. Students hammered nails, applied beads of caulk, and helped assemble wall sections. With help from all the building trade workers, students were able to envision a future of working in sustainability by working in the trades, as an engineer, or architect.

NEW SPECIALTY CAMPS

SCHOOL PROGRAM

SCIENCE IMMERSION CREDIT PROGRAMS

New summer camp offerings included Green Energy Camp, Superior Service Learning, a three-week BWCAW canoe trip, and a kayak trip in Voyageurs National Park. Wolf Ridge summer programming continues to provide learning experiences that connects kids with nature and develop skills necessary for future generations to be leaders in conservation and sustainability.

From early September until mid-June and several weeks through the summer, schools and groups continue to be the primary audience of learners at Wolf Ridge. One hundred and seventy nine schools and groups attended this year, averaging a stay of four days per person. It’s not a vacation, as Wolf Ridge is an accredited school. These students are still considered to be in school; here, the learning is an outdoors, facilitated, hands-on experience.

Having completed our 46th year of school programming it is now a weekly occurrence that some of the chaperones accompanying their child, attended Wolf Ridge decades earlier as a student. These parents and their teachers are affording their child experiences in environmental learning that lasts a lifetime. At this point in our culture, where screen time far exceeds time outdoors for a child, these schools are assuring children grow up with an understanding and connection to the natural world. This outcome is needed now more than ever.

Academic Science Immersion Programming continues to provide Middle School and High School students with multi-week residencies at Wolf Ridge where students earn high school and college credit doing field science both at Wolf Ridge and in the BWCA wilderness. In addition, this year was our third year of the High School SEAK program and 12 students were placed in paid internships in environmental fields. All of the recent graduates then went on to college in the fall.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ORGANIC FARM

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

With grunts and heaves, the human plow activity joined the all-day food and farming curriculum. The curriculum reaches hundreds of students who help harvest part of the five tons of vegetables grown for our dining hall. We are on our way to providing 100% of the vegetables in our dining hall from our site with children learning integrated into the process. The farm leadership mentored the education of young farmers in the positions of field manager and three internships. A three-year Minnesota Department of Agriculture Soils pH Research Project was completed that provided Minnesota farmers with evidence of how best to adjust pH when farming acidic soils. A ten-foot tall

deer fence was completed around the entire six-acre farm and we finished clearing the remaining three-acres to be turned into crop fields.

Wolf Ridge staff attended, hosted, and presented at a number of conferences. The Minnesota Association of Environmental Educators (MAEE) held their annual conference at Wolf Ridge. Wolf Ridge presenters included Shannon Walz and Luciana Ranelli on assessment and Joe Walewski on the Spiral Learning Model and ferns. At the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), Joe Walewski presented on the student teacher training program with Kevin Zak and Mary Beth Factor (former Wolf Ridgers) and Shannon Walz collaborated with Dave Chase, Libby McCann, and Laura Andrews of Antioch University of New England for a presentation on our graduate program partnership. At the Association of Nature Center Administrators National Conference, Peter Smerud presented on the Living Building Challenge and sustainability education. We also hosted the Minnesota Naturalist Association (MNA) conference with a record of 130 attending. David Abazs showcased our organic farm and farm curriculum. Several other Wolf Ridge staff presented and led various sessions. Staff also attended the National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA) and the Minnesota Educator Academy conferences.

SCHOOLS & GROUPS

Youth 8,554

Adults 2,384

NATURALIST TRAINING 22

COLLEGES/CONFERENCES/

OTHER 1094

ROAD SCHOLAR & FAMILIES 160

OFF SITE 675

SUMMER YOUTH 475

2016-2017Program Attendance

C - Commemorative H - Honorary M - Memorial

DONOR MEMBERSLIFE MEMBERSElmer & Eleanor AndersenVictor & Helen Anderson Tony AndersenTerry & Vicki AndersonPeter Harris & Carrie AndersonTom & Nancy AtchisonNoah AtchisonDavid AtchisonAbram AtchisonRoger BakerThe Baker FoundationRick BatesonRep. Dave Battaglia - HTom & Margit BergRuss & Becky BierbaumBlandin Paper CompanyTom & Christina BlumBernhard BoeckerIver & Nancy BogenIsaac & Sophie BolgerBoise CascadeAndrea BolgerJim BrandenburgHeidi BrandenburgAnthony BrandenburgJudy BrandenburgCole Spencer Brodersen - MWilliam & Patricia Burns - CBlanche Burroughs John & Kathy ByrneRene & Mark CarlsonEric ChangJohn ChellJan ClymerTerry CollinsSheldon & Carol DambergJohn & Gwen DanielsGary DeasonDelta Environmental ConsultantsMadeline DenisMary DjubenskiDaniel Dobbert & Joan DobbertJosh Duke, Duke Tree CareDuluth Camera ExchangeMary Jean EkmanRory Ellsworth - HEnbridge Energy CompanyFaribault Woolen MillDonald FerryRay FesenmaierJohn & LaJean FirminhacAndrea Plautz & Scott FollandJim & Sandra GilbertGravelle Wildlife FundJim & Cathy GrayRichard GrayRichard G Gray - CEric & Virginia GreenThe Hadley CompaniesLea HallMegan Olivia HallCorky & Katie HallHanft, Fride, O’Brien, Harries & SwelbarRuth HarrisAnne & Peter HeegaardKurt & Beth HeikkilaGeraldine HellerRobert & Geraldine HellerFreya HemingwayRowan HemingwayBob & Joanne HersheyBob & Joanne Hershey - CDonna HillDr. David HoffmanJudith K HoffmanSkip HofstrandBarbara & Thomas HohlVP Hubert Humphrey - H1988 IRRRB Board - HMary Lynn JeffriesHolly JenningsOscar JohnsonRay & Susan Johnson

Senator Doug Johnson - HJohnson’s Carpet, Tile, & LinoleumCharlotte JonesHarpreet KaurLes & Jan KentCarol & Kenneth KidderRon KirkKirk Program Management, IncTom & Pat KleinJeff & Katherine KlimmekTerry KlompsJanet KohlstedtJohn & BJ KohlstedtRon & Nancy KolarChris & Jim Kustritz1988 Lake Cty Commissioners - HRobert & Eunice LangeBJ LangeJesalyn LangeWinifred LatimerAnn LinneaBruce & Stephanie LunningLutsen Resort CompanyNancy & Bayard LyonSally & Robert MancieriMK Klarich & Julie MattsonVern Gersh & Terry McLaughlinBetsey & Kurt MeadKathryn Iverson & Michael MenzelScott & Lucy MeyerSara MeyerMark MeyerJoe MeyerJohn MillerMN Deer Hunters Assn1985 Minnesota Legislative - HJim & Julie MontanaSamuel MorganRichard & Karen MorganMichael & Jananne NelsonEloise & William NelsonNorshor AgencyNorthern EngineNorthshore Mining/Cleveland CliffsCongressman Jim Oberstar - HDan & Sallie O’BrienRobert O’HaraDenny OlsonElizabeth Olson - HSigurd Olson - HOwens Forest ProductsGovernor Rudy Perpich - MRobert & Betsy PetersonGenea PichottaJack PichottaCyril & Evva Pichotta J Andrew & Heidi PichottaBruce & Lisa PichottaGloria & Michael PlautzMary PulfordDick & Janet PutmanRahr Malting CompanyReprotech LimitedJohn & Joy RichardsNorm RiihiluomaRay RiihiluomaSteven & Margot RobertsColleen & Dave RonneiThomas & Catherine RootnessThomas RumreichTom & Phyllis RuperMargaret SeelyDavid & Rene SettergrenWeber ShandwickRobert & Linda ShermanKim SkyelanderRichard & Ella SladePete & Sue SmerudAaron & Jennifer SmithCharles & Dorothy SmithSonju MotorsLarry Sorenson - CSpectrum Research Inc.Peter SpinkStewart-Taylor Printing Co.

Nancy SunRandy SutterRandy R Sutter - CScott & Rachel ThunStephanie TismerWerner TismerAnn Glumac & William UllandUnited Power AssociationUpper Lakes FoodsStanley & Cecilia VerdevDave & Connie WanbergJaia Wilbour

CAPITAL CAMPAIGNKristi Achor Pursell FamilyMark & Tess AhlbornTom & Sandra AhlstromBen AhrensAl Schrader Family FoundationBruce AlbrechtAmerican Legion Post 550Kelly AmothGretchen Anderson HansenEvan & Nancy AndersonJames AndersonJohn AndersonKen & Shirley AndersonMichael AndersonTerry & Vicki AndersonThomas AndersonPete & Margie Ankeny FundKaren AsphaugAthwin FoundationDale & Ruth BachmanBraden BarberBarr EngineeringTom & Kay BeckenBrittany BennettTom & Margit BergRuss & Becky BierbaumDavid & Meghan BlodgettBloomington Lions ClubTom & Christina BlumBeth BockesKen BrownWilma BuhlElizabeth BurkeNancy Quattlebaum BurkeBill & Patricia BurnsJohn CallahanWendy CampbellChris & Sheri CamperCannon Family FoundationAnnie ChampeauChristine ChampeauGene & Tamara ChampeauGene ChampeauMike & Theresa ChampeauSarah ChampeauJohn ChandlerHarriet ChuteKatharine ChuteCaitlin ClearyDennis ConferDoug & Gail ConnellJeanmarie CookLeslie CookPat Coppo & Susan McCabeElizabeth CorbinJuan & Renne’ CristianiRobert & Teri CrosbySheldon & Carol DambergDan & Sallie O’Brien FundJohn & Gwen DanielsPeter DanielsAndy Datko & Lisa HesseDiadra DeckerJohn & Bette DeMarsMike DicksonMary C. DolanDonald Heian FundDonald Weesner Charitable TrustDriscoll FoundationKathleen EagleRobert Eddy

Scott & Jan EllingsonAnn Ellis & Clayton FrancisEsterbrooks Scott SignorelliMarie FargoJulie Flotten & Alison WoodFred C and Katherine B Andersen FoundationFrels Family FoundationPhil FreshmanRachel FribergGardner BuildersBeth GastineauWilliam GausmanKirk & Kelly GeadelmannJerrold GershoneJan GerstenbergerLarissa GiebnerJim & Sandy GilbertScott GislasonKen GoldfineToby Grabs & Jen KobyleckyEarl GranseeTeri HammarbackHanft FrideBill & Cindy HansenGreg & Cindy HansonJeff & MargitGaylen & Julie HarmsPeter Harris & Carrie AndersonKyle & Eileen HeitkampDonna HillPaul & Laura HolmesNancy HolmgrenElizabeth HooverJan HorakLisa HuntleySandra Jensen & Samuel BroaddusJennifer JohansenBrad Johnson & Gail BuhlGregory JohnsonJeff Johnson & Beth PeterC Eugene & Judith JonesKenneth Jones, Donna Slipher JonesNathan JonesHarpreet KaurKathryn Kellyer-MillerBill & Pat KellyDylan KellyKen & Carol KidderJanis Kivela HooeyDan & Joann KnuthKate & Sam KnuthJohn & BJ KohlstedtGreg & Coralyn KoschinskaMark & Sara KronholmScott & Sarah KuhlJohn & Anne KunkelPete LangerDonn & Donna LarsonKris LarsonMark & Joan LaudemanCharles & Hope LeaArnold Leonard & Holly ArnfeltLeuthold Family FoundationLloyd K. Johnson FoundationDavid & Margaret LucasBruce & Stephanie LunningMaas FoundationDavid MackeyTony MancusoMargaret A Cargill FoundationJames & Jane MartinDavid & Brenda MaxwellKenneth & Marnie McMillanMedtronicDavid & Karen MingeRobert & Marveen MinishSarah MismashLucy & Bob MitchellJohn & Sheila MohrMichael & Rosanne MontenJames & Franchelle Mullin FundKristen NelsonTom & Margaret NelsonTim Norman

Michael NystuenRobert O’HaraGlen OlsenEric & Heidi OlsonNicholas & Joan OlsonRonald & Lynn OlsonJohn & Marla Ordway Charitable Lead TrustMarlene OverbyTom & Anne PearceAnne PharesPhilip H and Barbara Strom Family Charitable FundJack & Genea PichottaPiper JaffrayDavid Platt & Megan KernGloria PlautzDavid & Susan PlimptonMichael & Jessica PocrnichRussell & Lisa PonessaKeri Powell & Daniel MarksJoe PriebeRichard & Janet PutnamLiciana RanelliJohn & Betty ReichertSarah RibbensLucy Rogers & Larry GrantPatricia RogowskiGeorge & Sylvia RomanWill & Margaret RouschJim Rustad FundRon & Rosemary SackettDoug SandokFlorence SandokGary & Sue SchiessNancy Schultz & John EckfeldtMargaret SeelyGordon SeitzRobert & Margaret SeitzShanya SellarsG Richard & Ella SladeLambert SmeetsPete & Sue SmerudSonja SmerudAaron & Jennifer SmithTiffany SmithLinda StarrState of MNShane SteeleTerhuly FoundationLee ThaoThe Dietz Family FundThe Helgeson Family FoundationJohn TheinGrace TheisenThrivent FinancialRuss & Sandy TimmermanPeter & Cynthia TritzBill Ulland & Ann GlumacUpper Lakes FoodsUS Bank FoundationDean & Beth Van HoeverBill & Kathy VanderwallBill & Judy WalterCraig WeberMichael WehlingWells FargoSawn Wentz & Judy GibbsGregory & Donnette WheelockMac & Judith WillemessenEleanor & Fred WinstonDavid & Linda WolfBenjamin & Barry Kay WolfeWolohan Family FoundationKirby & Cathy WoodDavid & Diane WrightJeff YostDan & Michelle Young

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IN-KINDAndrens Paint CompanyHearth & Home TechnologiesUHLUponor

ANNUAL CAMPAIGN$5,000+Leuthold Family FoundationThe Helgeson FoundationDonald Weesner Charitable Trust

$2000-$4999Hugh Schilling

$1000-$1999Susan BlumentalsAnna GerendayPeter & Anne HeegaardAllen & Kathleen LenzmeierMargaret A. Cargill FoundationMichael & Joan RajalaSarah Sinks-Kuhl & Scott KuhlMike Steffes

$500-$999Pete & Margie Ankeny FundMary GrafEarl GranseeHaberman Modern StorytellersSteven & Patricia HarrisJeffrey & Lucy HeegaardRuth Himes & Judith MartellAnne D. HullLes & Jan KentKen & Carol KidderChristine & Terry MorseNorth Shore Federal Credit UnionMichael NystuenPamela Bakken FoundationPrior Lake Lions ClubJohn & Nancy StromThrivent FinancialGregory & Donnette Wheelock

$250-$499Stephanie Andrews-Schowalter & Jim SchowalterAngela BorlandDillon CodyG&G Septic Service LLCJillian GodfreyWesley Haut

Rick & Helen MarkwardtEric & Heidemarie OlsonDon & Ellen RichardKim SwansonDaniel HulseSteve & Ann RobertsonPaul Miller

$100-$249Ken & Marianne AkerNora & Brent BatemanDan BehrensTerry BongardKim & Terry BoveeSherry BoyceJim & Carol BrackeCarla Brink & Paul RanelliMelissa BrownMark & Gita BuddBuffalo Valley Inc.John & Mary Ann CallahanSheri CamperTom & Gail CliffordTom & Linnea CliffordVicki DemmerG Elizabeth DerrEduweb IncMicah FriedmanPaul & Joan FuchsJames & Sandra GilbertBill & Pat GurnonPeter & Carol HarrisLinda HolecekDoug HolmEric Holmstrom & Becky Anderson HolmstromDavid & Lynn HomzikMarvin & Judith HoopsKathryn Iverson & Michael MenzelMaggie KingGordon & Janice KleinKatherine KnuthMichelle KoomenDeb KornhauserAllyz Kramer Polacsek & Bart PolacsekLemon Wolf CafeDaniel & Karen Lodin

Stewart & Kathy McIntoshAnne McKinseyScott & Phyllis MeadCarlyle & Christopher MillerDavid & Karen MingeMichael & Rosanne MontenRebecca MontgomeryRobert & Betsy MyersAnne Nelson Fisher & Steven FisherJudi NuottilaJo Ann OlsonTom & Lynn OsbornMaren & Svend PetersenNancy & Steven PiragisGeorge PopeAnn & John RethlefsenKaren RoachRoses GardenJason & Anne SchlukebierPaul & Julie SerakosMary Shedd & Steve WilsonThomas & Mary ShultzGregory & Martha SmetanaJohn SnyderDavid Sorenson & Amy CraneStanley Black & Decker, IncJoe & Kirsten StasneyMike & Nina SweeneyTom & Susan SweeneyThe Lake BankCynthia & Peter TritzTwo Harbors Federal Credit UnionBeth & Dean Van HoeverBill & Kathy VanderwallSusan & Robert WardeStuart Webb & Martha RobertsWest Duluth American Legion Post No. 71Jonathan & Sarah WilmshurstBarb Wonson-LiukkonenKathryn Wussow

<$100Joy & Todd AmunrudCarolyn AndersonJohelen & Ronald AndersonNorm & Cindy BauerDr. Robert Benjamin

Margaret BensonCraig BerdanSarah BransfordJohn BrevigBarbara BrueschKay CapraJohn ChandlerAnn CoffinElizabeth ConnerJeanmarie CookArthur CoppoHannah EdstromJennifer & Chris EllSarah EngstromRachel EnwrightEveleth Elks Lodge 1161Roxanne & Stanley FriesenBeth GastineauBrian & Nancy GezellaLinda GruntnerCarin GulstrandDoug HageTeri HammarbackBarbara HauserJohn & Julie HenrickssonDan HnilickaSkip HofstrandDavid HohleJulia & Paavo HusenJennifer JagielskiRobert & Lenore JandaJohn & Jackie JeffreyGeraldine JensenJay & Kirsten JohnsonNorb & Nancy KellyAnne KerseyAnna KieselbachFred & Lou Anne KoerschnerJohn & Anne KunkelJanet Kurtz & Robert MorganAdina LebowitzDon & Marlyce LeeScott LeGereJames & Sharon LindAndrea Lorek StraussWilliam LutzBetty Magnuson

Nancy ManciniRon & Eileen ManningMarlene A Overby TrustLucy & Daniel McInernyAndrea McMahanBill & Jane MellerMary J. OlsonNick & Joan OlsonTim & Carolyn PearaTom & Anne PearceDan PersonsMichael PetersenAnder PetersonDave Platt & Megan KernMaribeth RasmussenRobert & Margo RebarBruce RedmonSteve & Peg RobertsenMargaret SchmitzMartha & Dennis ShaakTed & Sandra ShannonShelley & Matt SheaLou Anne & Richard SiefertAlice SilkeyRick Smith & Lesley AtwoodElaine ThruneDanielle TikalskyJamy TikalskyRonald & Margaret TroyMark & Rachel VanHornwederPaula Viterbo & Andreas BrocscheidShannon WalzMelissa WeimanSally WestbyJo Anne WilsonDavid & Linda WolfAmy WorkmanDavid & Diane WrightJane YoungeGary Zinter

ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN-KINDKen & Shirley Anderson

LEAVE A LEGACYInclude Wolf Ridge as a

beneficiary of your will, trust, retirement account plan, or life insurance policy. Your planned

gift sustains Wolf Ridge’s excellence by supporting

our endowment. Such a gift provides for Wolf Ridge in

perpetuity and ensures we can educate future generations

with a connection to the natural world.

Become part of theWolf Ridge Heritage Circle.

Thank you!

FISCAL YEAR SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 TO AUGUST 31, 2017SCHOOLS & GROUPS

Wolf Ridge served 179 schools and groups in the 2016-17 school year. Students explored the forests, ridges, lakes and streams at Wolf Ridge learning about the natural world and developing their critical thinking skills and environmental litera-cy through hands-on experiences.

Afton-Lakeland ElementaryAndersen ElementaryAndersen United SchoolAnnandale Middle SchoolArete AcademyAssumption SchoolBadger SchoolBarnum ElementaryBeacon AcademyOak Crest ElementaryBenilde-St Margaret’sBethlehem AcademyBirch Grove Community SchoolBirch Lake ElementaryBlue Earth Area Middle SchoolBreck SchoolBug O Nay Ge ShigCamp ThunderbirdCarleton CollegeCarlton High SchoolCentral Cass Middle SchoolCentral Middle SchoolChisago Lakes Middle SchoolCircle of Nations SchoolCloquet Middle SchoolCoCo LLCCommunity of SaintsCongdon Park ElementaryCoon Rapids Middle SchoolCooper ElementaryCowern ElementaryCSS Youth Theology InstituteCumberland Middle SchoolDrayton Public SchoolNorth Star AcademyECFE Lake Superior School DistrictEly Memorial MSEmanuel LutheranEpiphanyFace To Face AcademyFirst Lutheran SchoolFisher Public SchoolFive Hawks ElementaryFond du Lac ReservationFox West AcademyFranklin ElementaryFrassati Catholic AcademyFriends School of MNGirl Scouts Troop 4054 & 4055Glen Lake ElementaryGlendale ElementaryGrainwood ElementaryGrand Marais Public LibraryGreat Expectations SchoolGustavus Education StudentsHeilicher Mpls Jewish Day SchoolHennepin Elementary SchoolHibbing Community CollegeHilltop PrimaryHinckley-Finlayson ElementaryHoly Name of Jesus SchoolHoly Trinity SchoolHomecroft Elementary

Hope Community AcademyHubbard in PreventionImhotep Science AcademyImmaculate Conception SchoolIntl Spanish Language AcademyJeffers Pond ElementaryJEM Yoga & MassageJohn CrosbyJohn Ireland Catholic SchoolJordan Middle SchoolKing Of Grace LutheranLake of the Woods Youth InitiativeLake Superior Youth ChorusLakewood ElementaryLester Park SchoolLifeCare Medical Center Lowell Elementary SchoolLoyola Catholic SchoolMAEEManvel Public SchoolMaple Lake ElementaryMarcy Open SchoolMarquette Catholic SchoolMarshall County Central HSMinneapolis AcademyMinnehaha ElementaryMinnesota Naturalists’ AssociationMinnesota New Country SchoolMinnetonka Middle School EastMinto SchoolMN DNRMount Olivet Lutheran ChurchMurray Jr. HighNerstrand Elementary SchoolNew London/Spicer Middle SchoolNorman County West ElementaryNorth Shore Community SchoolNorthern Lights Community SchoolNyQuist SchoolOak Grove Middle SchoolOak Park ElementaryOdyssey AcademyOnamia Junior HighOur Lady of Grace Catholic SchoolOur Lady Of The LakePark River Area SchoolPeace United Church of ChristPiedmont ElementaryPilgrim Congregational ChurchPine Island High SchoolPrairie CreekPresentation Of MaryProctor Hermantown Community EdProvidence AcademyQueen of PeaceRaleigh Edison SchoolRCTC Upward BoundRedtail Ridge Elementary Richard R. Green Central Park SchoolRochester Montessori SchoolRockwood Community EducationRogers Middle SchoolSacred Heart - East Grand Forks

Sacred Heart - RobbinsdaleSawtooth Mountain ElementarySchool of St PhilipSchoolcraft Learning CommunityShell Lake School DistrictShirley Hills ElementarySierra ClubSouth Ridge ElementarySt Anthony ParkSt Bridget Parish SchoolSt Charles BorromeoSt Croix CatholicSt Croix MontessoriSt Croix Preparatory AcademySt Francis De SalesSt John School of Little CanadaSt John the BaptistSt Johns Lutheran SchoolSt Marks SchoolSt Marys School - BreckenridgeSt Mary’s School - MorrisSt Pascal Baylon SchoolSt Patrick SchoolSt Peter’s SchoolSt Stephen’s SchoolSt Thomas More Catholic SchoolSt Vincent De Paul

Stella MarisStowe ElementarySTRIDE Academy MSSuperior CathedralSuperior Hiking Trail AssociationTodd County Health & Human ServicesTrinity Lutheran/Our Lady of the PrairieTriton High SchoolTwo Harbors High SchoolUMM Intl Student SuccessValley Middle SchoolVandenBerge Middle SchoolVintage Sport Camp LLCWarroad Middle SchoolWatershed High SchoolWatertown-Mayer MSWayzata Central MSWayzata East Middle SchoolWest Central Area SchoolsWestwood ElementaryWilderness Medical AssociatesWilliam Kelley ElementaryWillow River ElementaryWinterquist ElementaryYinghua AcademyYWCA Minneapolis

ADVENTURES IN LEARNING

Expenses Program services $2,375,979Management & general 378,313Fundraising 116,407

Total Expenses before Depreciation* $2,870,699

Revenue and Other SupportProgram revenue $2,323,049Investment income & one time gains 61,259Sales (net of expenses) 130,706Free & reduced lunch program 62,944Grants & donations 112,724

Total Revenue $2,690,682

Statement of Financial PositionCurrent assets $883,279Fixed assets 11,130,961Investments & supporting funds Endowment 425,745 Board restricted reserve 754,298Cash Equivalents 221,537

Total Assets $13,415,820

*Depreciation expense = $454,593

** The 2016-2017 revenue for the Making Waves Capital Improvement Projects was $3.4 million. The funds were used for construction projects both underway and completed during the 2016-17 year. See page 4 for full campaign report.

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. This financial information is drawn from the audited financial statements by the accounting firm Esterbrooks, Scott, Signorelli, Peterson, Smithson, Ltd.

FISCAL YEAR SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 TO AUGUST 31, 2017

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Fundraising 4%Management & general 13%

Program 83%

Program 87%

Net Sales 5%

Free & Reduced Lunch Program 2%

Investment income & one time gains 2%

Grants & donations 4%

Current liabilities $1,053,087Temporarily restricted net assets 636,207Permanently restricted net assets 353,232Unrestricted net assets 11,373,294

Total liabilities & net assets $13,415,820

Making Waves CampaignRevenue $3,406,832**

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PAIDPERMIT NO. 1FINLAND, MN

Our mission is to develop a citizenry that has the knowledge, skills, motivation, and commitment to act together for a quality environment.

6282 Cranberry RoadFinland, MN 55603-97001-800-523-2733 (MN, WI, ND)1-218-353-7417wolf-ridge.org