When more people connect to the outdoors, everyone benefits
Spending time in nature improves physical health, reduces stress, and strengthens social bonds.
Outdoor access is also a key ingredient in thriving communities—fueling local economies, supporting mental well-being, and offering young people vital opportunities for growth.
But not everyone has equal access to these experiences. Historical and present-day inequities, lack of green space, and infrastructure gaps can leave entire communities disconnected from nature.
That’s where we come in.
The Minnesota Land Trust expands outdoor access
Partnerships
Supporting local partners who lead inclusive, community-based programs.
Advocacy
Advocating for outdoor recreation as essential to conservation and health & wellbeing.
Protection
Protecting and restoring natural places where people and wildlife can thrive.
Because the more people care about the land and the more-than-human world, the more they’ll work to protect it. And as our communities become healthier, the future outlook for Nature becomes brighter too.
We use our experience and relationships to support and connect outdoor groups, land managers, and communities—creating more opportunities for people to experience the outdoors and protect the places they love. The Minnesota Land Trust is a:
- Founding member of the Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance
- Founding partner of the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit
- Leader in statewide outdoor recreation advocacy and community engagement
- Member of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership of Minnesota (ORIP)
- Founding partner of Minnesota’s Outdoor Recreation Network
Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance (DAOA)
We helped launch and continue to support this thriving community-led network. The DAOA connects organizations, builds trust, and improves nature access for recreation in and around Duluth. The group exemplifies how a strong, functioning network has the power to plan, produce, and initiate important projects, and offers a model that can be replicated in other communities across Minnesota.
Great Lakes Outdoor Summit
We co-founded this three-day regional gathering of outdoor advocates, planners, and community leaders in 2023. To date, more than 1,000 attendees have participated, building connections and sharing ideas to shape the future of outdoor recreation across the Upper Midwest. In 2026 the Summit levels up again in collaboration with the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals and the National Outdoor Recreation Conference.
Minnesota’s Outdoor Recreation Network
Our latest initiative brings together outdoor recreation leaders from across the state. By creating a shared platform for learning, funding, and advocacy, we’re helping communities invest in outdoor access and conservation. Additionally, this coalition is positioned to advocate for policy or funding to strengthen outdoor recreation and nature access in Minnesota.
Outdoor experiences connect people to place—and that connection can lead to conservation
Not everyone grows up with access to safe, immersive outdoor experiences. That’s why we’re partnering to ensure that more communities—especially youth and historically and strategically under-resourced groups—have opportunities to explore, connect, and care for Minnesota’s natural spaces.
We’re here to help you:
- Build or expand inclusive outdoor programs
- Connect with land managers and partners
- Access funding, planning resources, and statewide networks
Let’s work together and get more people outside!
Are you part of a nonprofit organization or outdoor group, a city leader, or land manager looking to grow outdoor access and engagement? Let’s connect!
Email Hansi Johnson, Director of Engagement, at hjohnson@mnland.org to join the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Network or explore partnership opportunities.
Want to support the vital work of the Minnesota Land Trust? Give a gift today.
More Outdoor Recreation Stories
- Small Game Hunting with Modern Carnivore in Southeastern Minnesota
A critical part of the mission at Minnesota Land Trust is helping people who may experience barriers to access build connections with nature to deepen their appreciation for natural spaces and ultimately instill a conservation ethos. With this mission in mind, Minnesota Land Trust launched a new engagement program in 2021 called Ambassador Lands. The… Read more: Small Game Hunting with Modern Carnivore in Southeastern Minnesota - Establishing the St. Louis River National Water Trail
The St. Louis River Estuary was officially designated as a National Water Trail by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior on October 22, 2020! The Minnesota Land Trust worked hand in hand with the City of Duluth to both create the vision around the St. Louis River National Water Trail and also to pull together… Read more: Establishing the St. Louis River National Water Trail - Nature Nearby
By Josephine Marcotty The first find of the day — right next to the parking lot — was a tiny green caterpillar. After that they came thick and fast: a toad, another toad, deer prints in the mud, a snakeskin, and most thrilling of all, a tiny garter snake. It was the last day of… Read more: Nature Nearby
The Minnesota Land Trust supports community leaders, outdoor recreation groups, and public land managers across the state. Through planning, partnerships, and advocacy, we help ensure that every Minnesotan has access to nature and that the places we play are protected for generations to come.
