4. Tourism Mission & Core Values
SCANDIA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
2020 – 2025
Mission
To promote Scandia as a travel destination in ways that enrich community life and
bring economic vitality to the City by capitalizing on Scandia’s historic, cultural, art,
and environmental assets.
Core Values
These values guide our work:
Diversity of all types. We believe that as a tourism destination, Scandia offers a
diverse array of destinations, activities, features, and events. We believe that as a
tourism destination, Scandia offers a diverse array of destinations, activities, features,
and events to welcome people of all race, cultures, and origins.
Sense of Place: We embrace the charming, unique character of our community,
recognizing its roots as Minnesota's first Swedish settlement and a historic center of
mercantile business and agriculture on the St. Croix River.
Creativity in product and problem solving. We believe we can develop creative
ways to market Scandia as an attractive tourism destination.
Teamwork. We embrace members of the committee working together with other
groups and individuals, including the broader Minnesota tourism industry, who share
similar goals, to promote Scandia as a great place to visit.
Our Vision
Scandia will be a community that has worked together to build on its community
historic, cultural, arts and natural landscapes by preserving, restoring and celebrating
them. It will have a vibrant village center with preserved buildings that complement
the existing Gammelgarden Museum and an expanded community center complex
that includes the Water Tower Barn: Scandia Arts and Heritage Center, an
amphitheater and connecting trails. Tourism will be appropriately scaled to support
the small-town, rural character of the community.
2/12/2020 Minutes: The Committee started a discussion on refining its mission. The Committee indicated
that its purpose is to promote Scandia as a destination by highlighting the community’s unique history,
picturesque environment, and its creative arts and culture scene. They indicated that focus should be placed
on capitalizing on the promotion of local businesses and community groups that are reflective of these
attributes. The Committee did not settle on exact wording of a mission statement. It decided to revisit the
issue at its upcoming meeting.
The Committee discussed the idea of interviewing community members about interesting and significant
events in the history of Scandia. Mitchell volunteered to lead an inquiry with regard to producing a public
access TV program with possible help of LATV.
The Committee also discussed ways to help preserve Elim Cemetery tours, looking into opportunities with
the Minnesota University Gold Pass, the mapping of significant sites and businesses, and the future
promotion of the Barn Quilt Trail that is currently in development.
5/13/2020 Minutes: Mayor Maefsky also presented a proposed mission and vision statement including a
set of core values for the Committee’s consideration based on previous discussions of the committee and
guidance from the City’s tourism study.
Mission
To promote Scandia as a travel destination in ways that enrich community life and bring economic vitality to
the City by capitalizing on Scandia’s historic, cultural, art, and environmental assets.
Core Values
These values guide our work:
Diversity of all types. We believe that as a tourism destination, Scandia offers a diverse array of destinations,
activities, features, and events.
Sense of Place: We embrace the charming, unique character of our community, recognizing its roots as
Minnesota's first Swedish settlement and a historic center of mercantile business and agriculture on the St.
Croix River.
Creativity in product and problem solving. We believe we can develop creative ways to market Scandia as an
attractive tourism destination.
Teamwork. We embrace members of the committee working together with other groups and individuals,
including the broader Minnesota tourism industry, who share similar goals, to promote Scandia as a great
place to visit.
Our Vision
Scandia will be a community that has worked together to build on its community historic, cultural, arts and
natural landscapes by preserving, restoring and celebrating them. It will have a vibrant village center with
preserved buildings that complement the existing Gammelgarden Museum and an expanded community
center complex that includes the Water Tower Barn: Scandia Arts and Heritage Center, an amphitheater and
connecting trails. Tourism will be appropriately scaled to support the small-town, rural character of the
community.
The Committee agreed to adopt the mission, values, and vision presented.
6/9/2020 Minutes: Update to Committee Values Statement – A successful motion was made to
add the following language to the Committee’s value statement, “We believe that as a tourism
destination, Scandia offers a diverse array of destinations, activities, features, and events to welcome
people of all races, cultures, and origins.” The motion was made by Porubcansky and seconded by
Libby.