Field Trips: Forest History Center

Discover the past, present, and future of Minnesota’s forests at a 1900 logging camp and through action-packed environmental learning programs.

1. Learn about your visit

Immerse students in the life and times of Minnesota lumberjacks. Costumed interpreters and an authentically recreated logging camp from the year 1900 bring history to life in a discovery learning experience. Best for grades 2–6, but adaptable to students of all grades.

Upon arrival, we will welcome you, provide an overview of your visit, and get you started! The ideal visit is three hours, which allows time for the logging camp, the river wanigan, and the visitor's center. Shorter visits may be accommodated.

• The Logging Camp will bring students to a logging camp in the winter of 1900, where they will meet costumed interpreters and have the opportunity to get a sense of the life of a lumberjack.
• The River Wanigan is a re-creation of life on a log drive in the spring of 1901, where students will explore a "floating cookshack" (permanently anchored), and have the chance to try to roll a log, just like the river drivers from days of old.
• The visitor center includes the Forest History Museum, the Cloquet/Moose Lake Fire Movie Experience, the Last Log Drive in Minnesota film, and more.

2. Schedule your field trip

Detailed information to help plan and schedule your visit.

Field trip scheduling
Tuesday through Friday during the month of May.
Ideal start time is 10 am, but other timing is available to accommodate bussing.
Full field trip (logging camp, river, visitor's center, time for lunch) is three hours. Experiences can be removed to accommodate shorter availability.

Step 1: Gather information
The online field trip request form will ask for the following information:

• School / Organization name, address, and phone number
• Name and email address of teacher or other leader who will receive confirmation materials and serve as group contact
• Grade level(s)
• Date and time you'd like to visit, with two alternate dates
• Number of students
• Number of chaperones
• Lunch plans (only outdoor space available)
• Accommodations for special needs your group requires

Step 2: Contact the scheduling office
Request a field trip online
fieldtrips@mnhs.org
 

3. Day of Your Visit

Take a few minutes to prepare yourself, your chaperones, and your students for your field trip.

• Give bus drivers directions and parking information. Buses should park and unload at the top parking area.
• Divide students into groups using emailed confirmation.
• Give chaperones a list of the students in their group and scheduled activities (provided upon arrival).
• Students will enjoy a brief orientation before starting their day.
• Running late? Please call 218-328-8511.
• Late or early arrivals will impact your schedule and activities for the day.

Lunch (if scheduled)

• Outdoor grassy space and/or picnic pavilion are available. There is no indoor lunch space available.
• There are no refrigerators or microwaves for school group use.
• Groups from multiple schools might share outdoor lunch spaces.

Museum store (if scheduled)
School groups are welcome to visit the museum store located in the visitor's center.