Our community is growing.

And you can be a part of it!

Founded in 1998, Listening Point Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Listening Point and advancing Sigurd Olson’s wilderness philosophy.
 
Listening Point was a place of connection for Sig, continually renewing his sense of wonder and gratitude for the natural world. Honoring that legacy, our vision is to foster people’s connection to wild places by inspiring them to find their own listening point.
 
We at the Listening Point Foundation are excited and ready to step into the future with fresh ideas and new energy. Explore this page to find out what is happening in our community and how you can be a part of the action!

 
Learn more about Sigurd Olson, Listening Point, and the Listening Point Foundation below. 

2020 Calendar

  • February 16 — Board Meeting – Ely, MN
  • April 4 — Annual Luncheon – St. Paul, MN
  • June 6 — Board Meeting – Ely, MN
  • September 11 — Annual Northwoods Dinner – Ely, MN
  • October 26 — Board Meeting – Ely, MN

Newsletters

To keep you connected throughout the year!

 

Our free, twice-yearly newsletter reaches thousands of people every year, recording the history and activities of the Foundation in print and digital form. Many exciting things are happening here at the Listening Point Foundation, so…

Sign up for your free newsletter here!

And browse our previous issues and read the most current one online!

Interested in Volunteering?

Join us!

 

Do you live in Ely, or live here seasonally? Do you come to visit every year? 

Whether once a year or on a regular basis, we always appreciate an extra pair of hands! We have a strong group of volunteers and could not do our important work without them. 

We also have seasonal and yearly opportunities for larger group service projects. 

Learn more about our numerous volunteer opportunities here. 

What's New

Stay informed!

 

  • Thank you to everyone who donated in support of our canceled Sigurd Olson Birthday Luncheon that was to be held on April 4th. As we move through the present situation with COVID-19, we are grateful to be supported by such a caring community. .
  • We are not currently scheduling any summer tours for event groups, student groups, or the general public. We will be releasing updates in regards to summer programming and tours as we learn more about how to keep our volunteers and supporters protected in the best way possible.  
  • Our 2020 Spring/Summer Newsletter, The View from Listening Point is in the works! Copies will be distributed through print and digital form later this summer. Make sure you get your copy by signing up here!
  • Artist in Residence Program — More details and guidelines will soon be released about our Artist in Residence Program. For now, contact us if you are interested!

Follow Us!

As we continue connecting people to the value of wild places through Sig's legacy.

 
Historical photographs, thoughtful quotes, upcoming events, interesting articles, and all sorts of updates…
 
Keep track of what’s going on at the Listening Point Foundation by following us on Facebook and Instagram! 
 
Note: We enjoy featuring photos of our world up here in Ely, MN, but we respect the privacy of our guests and visitors. We will only publish photos of people with their express permission and will do our best to properly credit photographers and our sources.

Listening Point Foundation, Inc.

Listening Point Foundation, Inc.
Listening Point Foundation, Inc.
Sunsets had always brought me joy and I had marveled at those almost level rays before the sun dropped below the horizon, but with him I became so completely conscious of their wonder that never again did I accept them with complaisance. I discovered later that even more than the beauty of the sunset itself, or its miraculous color effects, was a certain indefinable impact on the mind that brought a scene within the realm of unreality and gave it a patina it did not have before. In its glow came deeper meaning and dimension and, at the moment, all that was bathed in it was illumined and exalted until the vision before me became one of fantasy and delight. - Sigurd F. Olson, Runes of the North
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Photo: Sigurd Olson. Listening Point Foundation Archive
#sigurdolson #sigolosn #singingwilderness #runesofthenorth #summer #freedom #letsgooutside #listeningpoint #reflection #boundarywaters #bwca #wildernessphilosophy #wilderness #sunsets
Listening Point Foundation, Inc.
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Sigurd F. Olson

Sigurd Olson (1899-1982) was a well-known environmentalist, award-winning conservation activist, and best-selling author. Though he lived in Ely, Minnesota and took numerous trips within the Quetico-Superior wilderness, he traveled widely and influenced the creation and preservation of natural areas across the country. Learn more about Sigurd Olson here.

Listening Point

Sigurd Olson created Listening Point in 1956 as a private retreat on the shores of Burntside Lake. It became widely known and celebrated after Alfred Knopf published Olson’s book, “Listening Point” in 1958. Learn more about Listening Point and how to visit here.

The Foundation

Founded in 1998 by Sig’s younger son, Robert K. Olson, the Listening Point Foundation continues to promote Sigurd F. Olson’s legacy. Located in Ely, MN, the Foundation headquarters in the Olson family homestead, and continues to preserve Sig’s Writing Shack and the Listening Point property, along with providing educational tours and opportunities to the community. Learn more about the Listening Point Foundation here.

Keep the legacy alive by donating

We are working hard to create a sustainable financial future for the Listening Point Foundation.

 Your donation helps us keep the mission alive and the Foundation moving forward. You can also make a lasting impression by donating a brick to our patio engraved with a message of your choice. Learn more by clicking below!

Donate Now Donate Engraved Brick

Events

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