Our campus is surrounded by wonderful community resources. Visit the City of Orono website for parks, fields, beaches, swimming areas, and trails. 

The Three Rivers Park District website offers a directory of parks and trails, things to do, programs and events.

A 2022 University of Pennsylvania study shows that visiting a museum can have measurable mental health benefits and are good at reducing anxiety and depression.

Directory of Museums

Explore Minnesota has a great listing of museums to explore across the state.

Highly recommended: 

• The Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona exhibits Impressionist and Hudson River art including works by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Homer, O'Keefe and many other artists. Other permanent exhibits include wooden marine folk sculptures, and temporary shows highlight regional artists and other marine themes and collections.
• The Bell Museum is Minnesota’s official natural history museum and planetarium located on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in Saint Paul.

The benefits of hiking are many, including physical exercise, mental health and companionship.

Directory of Trails in Minnesota

Go out and explore! The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website offers a directory of Minnesota state trails for biking, hiking, horseback riding, and more. 

Mental wellness is improved when you have something to look forward to! Day trips offer a low-cost, quick getaway with plenty of options for enjoying exercise, relaxation, natural beauty, history, culture and food. 

Directories of Day Trips and Activities

• The Only in Your State website includes a list of the very best day trips in Minnesota. Choose a new place and plan a trip with family or a friend!
• The Twin Cities Mom Collective website offers a whole range of "go, see, explore" activities and events for families. 

Minnesota is about 400 miles long from top to bottom, and the width varies from 200 to 350 miles across. This means that you have access to unique destinations in a short period of time. 

Learn more and chart a course!

• For a statewide travel guide, visit the Explore Minnesota website. 
• Explore Minnesota's road trips & scenic byways
• You can also order a free, printed Minnesota travel guide online. 

Wellness is just up the road! The Orono Activities Center (OAC), managed by Orono Community Education, is a hub of physical activity and encouragement every day of the week. Be sure to check out the affordable annual membership fees and remember... OAC members get a 10% discount on select, in-person fitness classes offered through Orono Community Education. 

• Orono Community Education is your connection to fun and popular Adult Fitness & Recreation activities for well-being and companionship
• Yoga with Adriene - No-cost yoga video library
• Fitness Blender - Variety of video workouts, including cardio, HIIT, yoga, strength, core, etc.
• Cosmic Kids Yoga Videos - Yoga for children
• Go Noodle - Videos for kids intended to get them dancing, stretching, running, jumping, and deep breathing

If you are not eligible for healthcare benefits through your workplace, explore the MNsure website to find, choose, and enroll in comprehensive health coverage. Per the MNsure website, this is the only place to get financial help to lower the cost of insurance.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Education & support for mental health, including resource directory
• Mental Health America - Mental health resources for employees; balancing work & life priorities, working with a mental health condition, dealing with common workplace stressors
• PsychHub - Library of more than 1,000 courses, videos, podcasts & other content on mental health + community forum
• Ginger Roots - Free, clinically validated tips for mental well-being by topic, including work life, parenting, low mood, meditation, etc.
• Find Your Words - Tools for asking for help, helping someone else, talking with kids about mental health, understanding depression and more.
• UC Berkeley: The Science of Happiness Videos - Brief videos on a variety of topics such as: how to clear your head, be kinder to yourself, apologize, etc.
• National Institute of Mental Health stress and anxiety videos - Scroll down for featured videos on helpful practices, guided visualizations, etc.

Mindfulness Association offers free daily online meditation to bring you a few minutes of calm and rejuvenation. 

• Park Nicollet Melrose Center website and "Melrose Heals" podcast
• Emily Program
• The Joy Project - treatment options in the Twin Cities area

If you or your family are experiencing food insecurity, please reach out to these agencies and organizations:

Local resources for assistance

• WeCAN - Western Communities Action Network, Inc. 
• Interfaith Outreach (IOCP) provides services in food, case management, emergency financial assistance, employment services, and child care resources to those residing in Plymouth (west of 494), Hamel, Long Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Wayzata, and four housing communities near Medicine Lake .
• Love INC-Heartland can provide basic needs such as food and clothing. This organization serves the communities of Cokato, Corcoran, Dassel, Delano, Greenfield, Howard Lake, Independence, Loretto, Maple Plain, Mayer, Montrose, Rockford, Watertown, Waverly, and Winsted.

State and federal programs

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) - SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being.

Our area is blessed with local farms that grow fresh, healthy food. Many are open to you and your families for a fun, back-to-nature outing. There is nothing like fresh fruit and vegetables for your table or your freezer!

Minnesota Grown - Search the MinnesotaGrown.com site to learn what's in season, which products are available, the location of farmers markets, great recipes, pick-your-own farms, and more. 

Directory of Pick-Your-Own Farms

Pick Your Own - The interactive map will help you find farms close to your home so you can plan a wonderful day out. 

PickYourOwn.org - Minnesota U-Pick Farm directory for fresh produce, pumpkins, corn mazes, apples, and more. 

Recommended:

• Knapton's Raspberries, Pumpkins & Orchard in Rockford, a 20-minute drive from the Orono Schools campus. Supervised children are welcome! Call ahead for availability 763-479-1184
• Deer Lake Orchard, a beautiful drive to Buffalo

The Minnesota Department of Health recommends these resources for baby and early childhood nutrition:

• Minnesota Department of Health: Breastfeeding provides information for Minnesota mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding and includes FAQs
• Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition a nonprofit organization that provides strategies and resources to support breastfeeding families
• CDC: Foods and Drinks for 6 to 24 month olds: Learn about when to introduce new foods for infants and toddlers as well as examples of foods to limit or encourage
• AAP Healthy Children provides resources and tips on healthy eating for kids with recipes and FAQs

Dietary Guidelines for Americans reflects the latest nutrition science to help individuals make healthy food and beverage choices.

• MyPlate videos - MyPlate basics from the USDA for choosing healthier options at meals & snacks
• EatRight videos - addressing picky eating, cooking with kids, recipes, etc.
• The Big Know - Nutrition videos covering all the basics of nutrition education