List of nature centers in Minnesota explained

See also: List of nature centers in the United States. This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of Minnesota.

Current nature centers

NameLocationCountyRegionSummary
Agassiz Environmental Learning Center PolkNorthwest website, 640 acres with environmental learning center, wildlife preserve, and endangered sand dune ecosystem
Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center (formerly Audubon Center of the North Woods)East Central website, Two campuses (Main/Sandstone: 535-acres; Blacklock/Moose Lake: 562 acres[1]) residential environmental learning center and day use nature center
Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center St. Louiswebsite, education and research about the Boulder Lake Management Area, over 18,000 acres
Camp Foley CassCentral website, includes Foley Environmental Education Center for school groups
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center website, 425-acre main property in MN, additional 300-acre Wisconsin nature preserve
Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center Southeast website, 90 acres, regional resource for environmental education with a focus on energy, water, and wetlands
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature CenterArrowhead website, area’s cultural and natural history, 50 acres with trails, partnership of the Gunflint Trail Historical Society and Superior National Forest, Gunflint Ranger District, open seasonally
Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center Minneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, exhibits and material interpreting the Mississippi River habitat, aquarium, outdoor nature exploration area, education programs, operated by the Three Rivers Park District
Deep Portage Learning Center CassCentral website, residential environmental learning center
Dodge Nature Center DakotaMinneapolis–Saint Paul website, 462 acres across four pieces of land, founded by Olivia Irvine Dodge
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center FillmoreSoutheast website, 80 acres, private residential environmental learning center
Minneapolis–Saint Paul 5,315 acres, operated by the Three Rivers Park District
Eden Prairie Outdoor Center Hennepin Minneapolis–Saint Paul website, operated by the City for outdoor recreation and environmental education
Elk's Nature Center South Central website, operated by the City in 150-acre Rasmussen Woods
Harriet Alexander Nature Center RamseyMinneapolis–Saint Paul website, operated by the City in 52-acre Roseville Park
Hartley Nature Center Duluth Saint LouisArrowhead website, independent organization adjacent to 660-acre municipal Hartley Park
Duluth Saint LouisArrowhead website, 315-acre municipal nature reserve, major site for observation of raptor migration, fall education programs
Houston Nature Center HoustonSoutheast website, located in Trailhead Park for the Root River Trail, operated by the City
International Owl Center HoustonSoutheast website, Home to biological and cultural programs and displays, the World Owl Hall of Fame, the International Festival of Owls
Saint LouisArrowhead Wolf conservation and education center, museum, resident wolves
Southeast 500 acres, operated by the City
Saint LouisArrowhead Located in Superior National Forest, public residential environmental educational facility, operated by Mounds View Public Schools
Washington Minneapolis–Saint Paul 700 acres
Long Lake Conservation Center East Central website, 760 acres, operated by the County as a residential environmental education center, grounds open to the public
CarverMinneapolis–Saint Paul 3,719 acres, operated by the Three Rivers Park District
Maplewood Nature Center Ramsey Minneapolis–Saint Paul website, 40 acres, operated by the City
Hennepin Minneapolis–Saint Paul 2,400-acre Long Meadow Lake Unit, Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
Carver Minneapolis–Saint Paul 1,480-acre Rapids Lakes Unit, Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center
MSU Regional Science Center website, program of Minnesota State University Moorhead, interpretive center and observatory, nature and environmental education programs, adjacent to the 1,068-acre Buffalo River State Park
Southeast Conservation, research and educational efforts relating to eagles
South Central Facebook site, information, 446-acre environmental learning center and county park
Ely Saint LouisArrowhead website, museum with exhibits about bears, three bear ambassadors living in a 2.5 acre naturally forested enclosure with a pond and waterfalls
Oakdale Discovery Center Washington Minneapolis–Saint Paul website, operated by the City in the 220-acre Oakdale Nature Preserve
Olmsted Southeast 620-acre county park with zoo featuring rehabilitated native wildlife, a nature center and campsites
CentralOperated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4 miles of trails
Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center Central website, 500 acres, includes a Native American history village and a shooting sports range
Olmsted Southeast website, located in 320-acre Quarry Hill Park
Ramsey Minneapolis–Saint Paul website, raptor education and rehabilitation center, live raptor programs, operated by the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
HennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paul Operated by the Three Rivers Park District
RiceSouth central 734 acres with 10 miles of trails
StearnsCentral website, 2,830 acres, environmental education programs and events
Anoka Minneapolis–Saint Paul 127 acres, operated by the City
Sugarloaf Cove Interpretive Center Cook Arrowhead website, operated by the North Shore Stewardship Association, education, preservation and restoration of North Shore of Lake Superior
Tamarack Nature Center Ramsey Minneapolis–Saint Paul website, operated by the County, 320-acre preserve within Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park
Vince Shute Wildlife SanctuaryBetween Orr and Nett LakeSt. LouisArrowheadWebsite Operated by American Bear Association
Voyageur Environmental Center Hennepin Minneapolis–Saint Paul website, 110 acres, year-round environmental education center, operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities
Wargo Nature Center Anoka Minneapolis–Saint Paul website, outdoor learning center operated by the County, part of the 5,000-acre Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve
Westwood Hills Nature Center HennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paul website, 160 acres, operated by the City
Wildlife Science Center Stacy ChisagoMinneapolis–Saint Paul website, wolf research and education center, weekend public tours
LakeArrowhead 2000-acre K-12 school and residential learning center
HennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paul 150 acres, operated by the City

Former nature centers

Resources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ELC . Press Release Osprey Wilds . Osprey Wilds ELC receives ownership of Blacklock Nature Sanctuary . 2022-03-22 . pinecitymn.com . en.
  2. Web site: Agassiz Audubon : Visit the NW Minnesota Pollinator Garden .
  3. Web site: Profile: Jeff Maltby, Maltby Nature Preserve's executive director. Norrthfield News. 31 May 2015. June 23, 2007.

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