List of nature centers in Minnesota

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

[edit]

Name  | Location  | County  | Region  | Summary

|
|
|
|

Agassiz Environmental Learning Center | Fertile | Polk | Northwest | 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) | Sandstone | Pine | 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 | Duluth | St. Louis | Arrowhead | website, education and research about the Boulder Lake Management Area, over 18,000 acres
Camp Foley | Pine River | Cass | Central | website, includes Foley Environmental Education Center for school groups
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center | Hastings | Washington | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, 425-acre main property in MN, additional 300-acre Wisconsin nature preserve
Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center | Rochester | Olmsted | Southeast | website, 90 acres, regional resource for environmental education with a focus on energy, water, and wetlands
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center | Grand Marais | Cook | Arrowhead | 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 | Coon Rapids | Anoka | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, 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 | Hackensack | Cass | Central | website, residential environmental learning center
Dodge Nature Center | West Saint Paul | Dakota | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, 462 acres across four pieces of land, founded by Olivia Irvine Dodge
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center | Lanesboro | Fillmore | Southeast | website, 80 acres, private residential environmental learning center
Eastman Nature Center at Elm Creek Park Reserve | Dayton | Hennepin | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 5,315 acres, operated by the Three Rivers Park District
Eden Prairie Outdoor Center | Eden Prairie | Hennepin | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, operated by the City for outdoor recreation and environmental education
Elk's Nature Center | Mankato | Blue Earth | South Central | website, operated by the City in 150-acre Rasmussen Woods
Harriet Alexander Nature Center | Roseville | Ramsey | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, operated by the City in 52-acre Roseville Park
Hartley Nature Center | Duluth | Saint Louis | Arrowhead | website, independent organization adjacent to 660-acre municipal Hartley Park
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory | Duluth | Saint Louis | Arrowhead | website, 315-acre municipal nature reserve, major site for observation of raptor migration, fall education programs
Houston Nature Center | Houston | Houston | Southeast | website, located in Trailhead Park for the Root River Trail, operated by the City
International Owl Center | Houston | Houston | Southeast | website, Home to biological and cultural programs and displays, the World Owl Hall of Fame, the International Festival of Owls
International Wolf Center | Ely | Saint Louis | Arrowhead | Wolf conservation and education center, museum, resident wolves
Jay C. Hormel Nature Center | Austin | Mower | Southeast | 500 acres, operated by the City
Laurentian Environmental Center | Britt | Saint Louis | Arrowhead | Located in Superior National Forest, public residential environmental educational facility, operated by Mounds View Public Schools
Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center | Marine on St. Croix | Washington | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 700 acres
Long Lake Conservation Center | Palisade | Aitkin | East Central | website, 760 acres, operated by the County as a residential environmental education center, grounds open to the public
Lowry Nature Center at Carver Park Reserve | Victoria | Carver | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 3,719 acres, operated by the Three Rivers Park District
Maplewood Nature Center | Maplewood | Ramsey | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, 40 acres, operated by the City
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge | Bloomington | Hennepin | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 2,400-acre Long Meadow Lake Unit, Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge | Carver | Carver | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 1,480-acre Rapids Lakes Unit, Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center
MSU Regional Science Center | Glyndon | Clay |  | 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
National Eagle Center | Wabasha | Wabasha | Southeast | Conservation, research and educational efforts relating to eagles
Ney Nature Center | Henderson | Le Sueur | South Central | Facebook site, information, 446-acre environmental learning center and county park
North American Bear Center | Ely | Saint Louis | Arrowhead | 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 | Oakdale | Washington | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, operated by the City in the 220-acre Oakdale Nature Preserve
Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo | Byron | Olmsted | Southeast | 620-acre county park with zoo featuring rehabilitated native wildlife, a nature center and campsites
Prairie Wetlands Learning Center at Fergus Falls Wetland Management District | Fergus Falls | Otter Tail | Central | Operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4 miles of trails
Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center | Spicer | Kandiyohi | Central | website, 500 acres, includes a Native American history village and a shooting sports range
Quarry Hill Nature Center | Rochester | Olmsted | Southeast | website, located in 320-acre Quarry Hill Park
The Raptor Center | St. Paul | Ramsey | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, raptor education and rehabilitation center, live raptor programs, operated by the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
Richardson Nature Center at Hyland Lake Park Reserve | Bloomington | Hennepin | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | Operated by the Three Rivers Park District
River Bend Nature Center | Faribault | Rice | South central | 734 acres with 10 miles of trails
Saint John's Outdoor University | Collegeville | Stearns | Central | website, 2,830 acres, environmental education programs and events
Springbrook Nature Center | Fridley | Anoka | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 127 acres, operated by the City
Sugarloaf Cove Interpretive Center | Schroeder | Cook | Arrowhead | website, operated by the North Shore Stewardship Association, education, preservation and restoration of North Shore of Lake Superior
Tamarack Nature Center | White Bear | Ramsey | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, operated by the County, 320-acre preserve within Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park
Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary | Between Orr and Nett Lake | St. Louis  | Arrowhead  | Website Operated by American Bear Association
Voyageur Environmental Center | Mound | 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 | Lino Lakes | 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 | St. Louis Park | Hennepin | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, 160 acres, operated by the City
Wildlife Science Center | Stacy | Chisago | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | website, wolf research and education center, weekend public tours
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center | Finland | Lake | Arrowhead | 2000-acre K-12 school and residential learning center
Wood Lake Nature Center | Richfield | Hennepin | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 150 acres, operated by the City

## Former nature centers

[edit]

* Agassiz Audubon Society Center, Warren[2]
* Maltby Nature Preserve Science Center, Randolph, Goodhue County, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 12, 2009, due to a decrease in donations[3]

## Resources

[edit]

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

* Minnesota Association for Environmental Education

## External links

[edit]

* Map of nature centers and environmental education centers in Minnesota

* v
* t
* e

Protected areas of Minnesota

National|

| Parks|

* Voyageurs

|

Monuments|

* Grand Portage
* Pipestone

Rivers|

* Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
* Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway

Scenic Trails|

* North Country Trail

Wildlife
Refuges|

* Agassiz
* Big Stone
* Crane Meadows
* Glacial Ridge
* Hamden Slough
* Mille Lacs
* Minnesota Valley
* Northern Tallgrass Prairie
* Rice Lake
* Rydell
* Sherburne
* Tamarac
* Upper Mississippi River

Wetland
Management
Districts|

* Big Stone
* Detroit Lakes
* Fergus Falls
* Litchfield
* Minnesota Valley
* Morris
* Windom

Forests|

* Chippewa
* Superior

Natural
Landmarks|

* Ancient River Warren Channel
* Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
* Itasca Natural Area
* Keeley Creek Natural Area
* Lac la Croix Research Natural Area
* Lake Agassiz Peatlands Natural Area
* Pine Point Research Natural Area
* Upper Red Lake Peatland

Wilderness|

* Agassiz
* Boundary Waters Canoe Area
* Tamarac

State|

| Parks|

* Afton
* Banning
* Bear Head Lake
* Beaver Creek Valley
* Big Stone Lake
* Blue Mounds
* Buffalo River
* Camden
* Carley
* Cascade River
* Charles A. Lindbergh
* Crow Wing
* Father Hennepin
* Flandrau
* Forestville Mystery Cave
* Fort Ridgely
* Fort Snelling
* Franz Jevne
* Frontenac
* George H. Crosby Manitou
* Glacial Lakes
* Glendalough
* Gooseberry Falls
* Grand Portage
* Great River Bluffs
* Hayes Lake
* Hill-Annex Mine
* Interstate
* Itasca
* Jay Cooke
* John A. Latsch
* Judge C. R. Magney
* Kilen Woods
* Lac qui Parle
* Lake Bemidji
* Lake Bronson
* Lake Carlos
* Lake Louise
* Lake Maria
* Lake Shetek
* Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine
* Maplewood
* McCarthy Beach
* Mille Lacs Kathio
* Minneopa
* Monson Lake
* Moose Lake
* Myre-Big Island
* Nerstrand-Big Woods
* Old Mill
* Rice Lake
* Saint Croix
* Sakatah Lake
* Savanna Portage
* Scenic
* Schoolcraft
* Sibley
* Split Rock Creek
* Split Rock Lighthouse
* Temperance River
* Tettegouche
* Upper Sioux Agency
* Whitewater
* Wild River
* William O'Brien
* Zippel Bay

|

Recreation
Areas|

* Big Bog
* Cuyuna Country
* Garden Island
* Greenleaf Lake
* Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle
* La Salle Lake
* Minnesota Valley
* Red River
* Saint Croix Islands

Waysides|

* Caribou Falls
* Devils Track Falls
* Flood Bay
* Inspiration Peak
* Joseph R. Brown
* Kodonce River
* Ray Berglund
* St. Croix Boom Site
* Sam Brown Memorial

Forests|

* Badoura
* Battleground
* Bear Island
* Beltrami Island
* Big Fork
* Birch Lakes
* Blackduck
* Bowstring
* Buena Vista
* Burntside
* Centennial
* Chengwatana
* Cloquet Valley
* Crow Wing
* D.A.R.
* Emily
* Finland
* Fond du Lac
* Foot Hills
* General C. C. Andrews
* George Washington
* Golden Anniversary
* Grand Portage
* Hill River
* Huntersville
* Insula Lake
* Jeanette
* Kabetogama
* Koochiching
* Lake Isabella
* Lake of the Woods
* Land o'Lakes
* Lost River
* Lyons
* Mississippi Headwaters
* Nemadji
* Northwest Angle
* Pat Bayle
* Paul Bunyan
* Pillsbury
* Pine Island
* Red Lake
* Remer
* Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood
* Rum River
* Saint Croix
* Sand Dunes
* Savanna
* Smokey Bear
* Smoky Hills
* Snake River
* Solana
* Sturgeon River
* Two Inlets
* Waukenabo
* Wealthwood
* Welsh Lake
* White Earth
* Whiteface River

Scientific and
Natural Areas|

* List of scientific and natural areas

Local|

| Parks|

* County and regional parks
* Three Rivers Park District

|

Other|

| Minnesota
Historical
Society|

* Alexander Ramsey House
* Birch Coulee Battlefield
* Charles A. Lindbergh House
* Comstock House
* Folsom House
* Forest History Center
* Forestville
* Fort Renville
* Fort Ridgely
* Fort Snelling
* Grand Mound
* Harkin's General Store
* James J. Hill House
* Jeffers Petroglyphs
* Lac qui Parle Mission
* Lower Sioux Agency
* Marine Mill
* Mill City Museum
* Mille Lacs Indian Museum
* Minnehaha Depot
* Minnesota History Center
* Minnesota State Capitol
* Morrison Mounds
* Oliver Kelley Farm
* Sibley Historic Site
* Snake River Trading Post
* Split Rock Lighthouse
* Stumne Mounds
* Traverse des Sioux
* Upper Sioux Agency
* W. W. Mayo House

|

Nature
centers|

* List of nature centers

Hiking|

* List of hiking trails

* Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

* v
* t
* e

Nature centers in the United States

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* District of Columbia
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template