Where the Wild Trolls Are

Growing up among the trees, lakes, and fields of central Minnesota, I loved watching the fantastical animated films created by Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki over and over. Many of those movies have environmental themes woven throughout them–Miyazaki is a longtime environmentalist and has talked in interviews about his deep concern for the future of the planet. 

But the environmental disasters in his films all have a thread of hope shining through: rivers can be cleaned, destroyed forests can be restored, a polluted planet can be healed, warring factions of people can come together in the name of peace.

Now when I am on a walk through the woods, around a lake, or over grassy hills, lines from those movies come to my head. I am reminded to “see with eyes unclouded by hate.” That “the earth speaks to all of us, and if we listen, we can understand.”

I carry those stories with me day-to-day and in my work for conservation with the National Wildlife Federation. And this summer, I’ve found a new story that has given me a sense of fun, wonder, and inspiration. Meet Thomas Dambo’s trolls!

Thomas Dambo’s Trolls

Spread out across four continents, over 130 giant trolls created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo lie in wait for visitors to discover. Dambo takes inspiration from Scandinavian trolls in folklore and his own environmentalism to construct each of his creations out of recycled and reused materials, and crafts a unique story into every one.

His latest installation in Detroit Lakes, MN, is a group of five trolls, three “magic mirrors,” and one mysterious hidden golden rabbit. He built these mostly on-site over just a handful of weeks with the help of over 300 volunteers. While each magic mirror can be found within a different small city center in northwestern Minnesota, each troll is located in a different regional park and is a 10-15 minute trek through forests, over dales, and across streams away from any parking lots. To find the Golden Rabbit, a visitor must collect clues that lead to its hidden location.

On my way back from a visit to see family in northern Minnesota, I very excitedly took the time to visit each troll with my mom and sister with the goal of finding the secret Golden Rabbit.

The Scavenger Hunt for Alexa’s Elixir and the Golden Rabbit

The scavenger hunt begins with a story and a quest. The story (in summary) goes as follows:

Once upon a time, there lived a village of little people, and they were happy. They went to bed with their bellies full and their loved ones near. But one day, the sinister Golden Rabbit came to town. He told the little people about a nearby village that was wealthier and happier, and that if they worked harder they could have more too. So the little people began to work relentlessly but ultimately with little reward, after listening to the Golden Rabbit’s lies. Eventually, a kindhearted troll named Alexa decides to step in and take action.

Her mission? To concoct a magic elixir that will weaken the Golden Rabbit and release the little people from his clutches. 

And that’s where the visitors to Dambo’s trolls come in. Each troll has an ingredient for Alexa’s rabbit-fighting elixir. After collecting clues at each troll and magic mirror, we could find the secret location of the golden rabbit—and upon finding him, receive our final task to help Alexa keep him at bay.

The first stop was of course Alexa, the intrepid conservationist. She is a potion-mixing troll who reaches her arm through her magic mirror to leave little bird houses in the middle of nearby towns, symbolically creating spaces for wildlife where buildings and people now reside. 

Second was Ronny Funny Face, a silly troll that peers down from the trees and loves to get a giggle from each of his guests. His ingredient is the gift of laughter.

Long Leif came next, a 36-foot tall troll we hiked over hills and through woods to find. He longs to be a tree and plants saplings wherever he goes. His ingredient is a newly planted tree. (Ironically a tree had fallen over the path to reach him very shortly after we had gone through that area. Our return to the road had a stark reminder that even tall and long-lived trees have finite lives—and that we must tread carefully.)

Afterwards was Barefoot Frida. After hopping over river stones to get up close, we learned that she entreats her visitors to walk a mile barefoot and feel the earth under our toes to contribute to Alexa’s elixir.

Then there was Jacob Everear, who we found after wandering past an old covered bridge (sadly with no trolls hiding underneath). He loves listening to stories so much that he spends his days laid back against the trees, ears wide open ready to hear a tale. His ingredient is patience, and listening.

Finally, after collecting the clues and locating the last path into the woods, we found the insidious Golden Rabbit along with some parting words. A sign tells the visitors that while Alexa’s elixir has been completed, we must do one final thing to keep the rabbit at bay—go one day without buying something new.

Why Stories Matter

Across time, groups of people around the world have long told folktales to teach morals and inspire behavior among their community. In this story, the lesson being taught is very clear: the Golden Rabbit is a cautionary tale of the effects of overconsumption. 

So much of the conservation and environmental movement is focused on the crisis at hand, the urgency, and quite a lot of doom and gloom. While all those things may be true, it’s hard to feel inspired to act when the situation feels hopeless and dull.

That’s the value of storytelling and folktales. Are these trolls changing the world? Maybe not, but they are inspiring people of all ages to appreciate nature and explore little parks that otherwise they might not have ever visited. 

And maybe the joy and whimsy a person feels while on their troll search, and the final message they receive after finding the Golden Rabbit, will inspire someone to change their ways even a little. Maybe they will plant a tree, design a wildlife-friendly garden, or start a recycle/reuse campaign in their workplace or school. 

When I was returning from my visit to Barefoot Frida, I witnessed a little girl walking back with her family carrying her shoes in her hands, taking Frida’s message to heart and walking the earth barefoot.

I know I loved my whimsical little adventure with my family, and I haven’t stopped thinking about these trolls and the Golden Rabbit since. Maybe that’s the point.