United Tribes Technical College

Interpretive Trail

Join us for a walk along the Nature and Culture Interpretive Trail on UTTC's South Campus and discover the beauty and stories of our environment!

UTTC’s south campus has extensive grasslands, a woodlot, and two wetlands, providing valuable outdoor space for classes and outreach programs. Trail cameras in these locations routinely capture a wide range of wildlife that is not common in close proximity to the city and airport. The simple rustic trail weaves through the various habitats to provide access to the area for classes during the academic year and community members year round.

This collaboratively designed Nature and Culture Interpretive Trail, incorporates art and sustainability concepts and provides opportunities for walkers to learn STEM concepts at their own pace. Interpretive signs placed along the trail correspond with critical habitat or cultural features. Innovative art pieces will also guide users along the trail to enhance the immersive culture and nature connection.

Values Guiding Our Planning Process

The Trail was Created for:

Sharing experiences and having fun
Opportunities to find serenity
Relationship with mother earth
Understanding the ways of all creations

Follow Along...

Join us on our journey as we explore the evolution of the Interpretive trail, showcasing our milestones and updates from its inception to the present day. We encourage visitors to share thoughts and suggestions on we can enhance the trail experience.

Contact aeastman@uttc.edu or kknoll@uttc.edu.

Buffalo Skull

A painted buffalo skull was installed on the trail summer of 2025.

Weekly Nature Walks 2025

Take a break and join the IRRC Department every Friday, from 2:00- 2:30 pm for our reoccurring nature walks along the interpretive trail!

Experience the beauty of nature around the campus and connect with the great outdoors. A great opportunity for fresh air and wellness.

Spring 2025

9 new signs have been installed on the trail:

7 Animal Cut-out Signs
Turtle Island Sign
Star Sign

Winter 2024-2025

Take a look at the wildlife captured on the trail...

Rough-legged hawks, which breed in the Arctic and winter in North Dakota, are large, chunky raptors known for their distinctive hunting style of hovering into the wind and scanning the ground for prey.

Vole tracks, these tiny tracks indicate that voles have been active in the area, likely foraging for food or exploring.

American Bald Eagle, soaring over the trail on South Campus.

Fall 2024

Summer 2024

Additional signs were installed as fun animal cut outs, perfect for snapping a picture and making memories on the trail.

IRRC and Sacred Pipe Resource Center Collaborate

The IRRC hosted a trail walking event that involved participants from various age groups with the Sacred Pipe Resource Center. The event included discussions on native plant species prevalent in the trail areas, as well as their distinguishing characteristics.

The group also discussed some of the invasvie plants that are common in the area and how they have become problematic. Along the way, participants also were able to identify some wildlife.

Spring 2024

Enjoying the fresh air after winter.

Trail Sign Prototypes (In developent-constantly changing)

Summer 2023

6 new signs installed! Anishinaabe, Lakota, and Sahnish Foodways, Milkweed, Cottonwood, and Rabbit.
Benches, picnic table, and adirondecks installed
Community art workshops planned and created additional art features
Stay tuned for:

I. Life size Bison Metal Silhouette

II. Skyscape Painted Buffalo Skull

III. Culturally important plant and animal cutout murals

IV. Rock Art

Three more interpretive signs

Spring 2023

Spring Highlights:

Tanner Presenting at the National Conference and reflecting on the diverse lessons learned, skills developed, and outcomes beyond just designing the trail
New student involvement!
New interactive trail map-with input from high school students: https://sites.google.com/uttc.edu/interpretive-trail/home
Final decisions on locations of signs and benches
Made progress on chokecherry, landscape, star, and buffalo features
More general awareness of the trail as a whole-but still more to share!

Fall 2022

We installed our first sign! (pictured to the right) Unfortunately, an early snowstorm delayed installion of the other six finished signs. We will install the signs as soon as the ground thaws. You can view images of the signs on the subpages located on the top of this page. We continued collaborative work on the remaining trail features: a welcome sign, a landscape sign, star knowledge sign, and a life size metal buffalo silhouette. Keep an eye out for spring community workshops to help us finish the trail and plan events for summer. Trail events continued with classes, school groups, and community walks. The second annual Haunted Trail event doubled in size!

Spring to Summer 2022

We collaborated with numerous partners to design and finalize plans for 7 signs: Cottonwood, Milkweed, Rabbit, Eagle Wingspan, and 3 Foodway Calendars. See the final designs on the subpages located on the top of this page. We hosted trail walks with elementary, middle, and high school aged youth throughout the spring and summer.

Fall 2021

Walk with us on the trail! First Wednesday of the Month and pop-up walks for special events. Learn information about culturally important species along the trail and offer feedback for things you would like to see along the trail.

Spring 2021

Biology 151 and 230 students teamed up with the Graphic Design department to create ideas and resources for interpretive signs on the trail. For Phase 1, Biology 151 students identified species they want to learn more about and feature along the trail. Do you have cultural or scientific knowledge related to these species that you think could be incorporated into their sign designs? Please share with our students!

Ermine

Tiger Salamander

White-tailed deer

Garter snake

Dragonfly

White-Tailed Jack Rabbit

Milkweed

Curly Cup Gumweed

Winter 2020-2021

Use our STEM at Home Activity "Tricky Tracks" to investigate tracks on the trail as a family.

Fall 2020

Trail route finalized and created. Robert Fox assisted with mowing the trail and measuring each section. Colleen Brehdal created the initial trail map. Remote work and school continued due to the pandemic but many students, staff, and families safely enjoyed the trail throughout the fall as a way to enjoy the outdoors and remail "socially distant".

Summer 2020

Early planning with facilities director Melvin Miner

Robert Fox and Linda Black Elk brainstorming trail routes

Families and staff envisioning who will use the trail

This project is funded by NSF Grant 1953864

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