List of nature centers in Minnesota

This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of Minnesota.

See also: List of nature centers in the United States

Current nature centers
Name Location County Region Summary
Agassiz Environmental Learning CenterFertilePolkNorthwestwebsite, 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)SandstonePineEast Centralwebsite, 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 CenterDuluthSt. LouisArrowheadwebsite, education and research about the Boulder Lake Management Area, over 18,000 acres
Camp FoleyPine RiverCassCentralwebsite, includes Foley Environmental Education Center for school groups
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature CenterHastingsWashingtonMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, 425-acre main property in MN, additional 300-acre Wisconsin nature preserve
Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science CenterRochesterOlmstedSoutheastwebsite, 90 acres, regional resource for environmental education with a focus on energy, water, and wetlands
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature CenterGrand MaraisCookArrowheadwebsite, 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 CenterCoon RapidsAnokaMinneapolis–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 CenterHackensackCassCentralwebsite, residential environmental learning center
Dodge Nature CenterWest Saint PaulDakotaMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, 462 acres across four pieces of land, founded by Olivia Irvine Dodge
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning CenterLanesboroFillmoreSoutheastwebsite, 80 acres, private residential environmental learning center
Eastman Nature Center at Elm Creek Park ReserveDaytonHennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paul5,315 acres, operated by the Three Rivers Park District
Eden Prairie Outdoor CenterEden PrairieHennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, operated by the City for outdoor recreation and environmental education
Elk's Nature CenterMankatoBlue EarthSouth Centralwebsite, operated by the City in 150-acre Rasmussen Woods
Harriet Alexander Nature CenterRosevilleRamseyMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, operated by the City in 52-acre Roseville Park
Hartley Nature CenterDuluthSaint LouisArrowheadwebsite, independent organization adjacent to 660-acre municipal Hartley Park
Hawk Ridge Bird ObservatoryDuluthSaint LouisArrowheadwebsite, 315-acre municipal nature reserve, major site for observation of raptor migration, fall education programs
Houston Nature CenterHoustonHoustonSoutheastwebsite, located in Trailhead Park for the Root River Trail, operated by the City
International Owl CenterHoustonHoustonSoutheastwebsite, Home to biological and cultural programs and displays, the World Owl Hall of Fame, the International Festival of Owls
International Wolf CenterElySaint LouisArrowheadWolf conservation and education center, museum, resident wolves
Jay C. Hormel Nature CenterAustinMowerSoutheast500 acres, operated by the City
Laurentian Environmental CenterBrittSaint LouisArrowheadLocated in Superior National Forest, public residential environmental educational facility, operated by Mounds View Public Schools
Lee and Rose Warner Nature CenterMarine on St. CroixWashingtonMinneapolis–Saint Paul700 acres
Long Lake Conservation CenterPalisadeAitkinEast Centralwebsite, 760 acres, operated by the County as a residential environmental education center, grounds open to the public
Lowry Nature Center at Carver Park ReserveVictoriaCarverMinneapolis–Saint Paul3,719 acres, operated by the Three Rivers Park District
Maplewood Nature CenterMaplewoodRamseyMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, 40 acres, operated by the City
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeBloomingtonHennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paul2,400-acre Long Meadow Lake Unit, Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeCarverCarverMinneapolis–Saint Paul1,480-acre Rapids Lakes Unit, Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center
MSU Regional Science CenterGlyndonClaywebsite, 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 CenterWabashaWabashaSoutheastConservation, research and educational efforts relating to eagles
Ney Nature CenterHendersonLe SueurSouth CentralFacebook site, information, 446-acre environmental learning center and county park
North American Bear CenterElySaint LouisArrowheadwebsite, museum with exhibits about bears, three bear ambassadors living in a 2.5 acre naturally forested enclosure with a pond and waterfalls
Oakdale Discovery CenterOakdaleWashingtonMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, operated by the City in the 220-acre Oakdale Nature Preserve
Oxbow Park and Zollman ZooByronOlmstedSoutheast620-acre county park with zoo featuring rehabilitated native wildlife, a nature center and campsites
Prairie Wetlands Learning Center at Fergus Falls Wetland Management DistrictFergus FallsOtter TailCentralOperated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4 miles of trails
Prairie Woods Environmental Learning CenterSpicerKandiyohiCentralwebsite, 500 acres, includes a Native American history village and a shooting sports range
Quarry Hill Nature CenterRochesterOlmstedSoutheastwebsite, located in 320-acre Quarry Hill Park
The Raptor CenterSt. PaulRamseyMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, 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 ReserveBloomingtonHennepinMinneapolis–Saint PaulOperated by the Three Rivers Park District
River Bend Nature CenterFaribaultRiceSouth central734 acres with 10 miles of trails
Saint John's Outdoor UniversityCollegevilleStearnsCentralwebsite, 2,830 acres, environmental education programs and events
Springbrook Nature CenterFridleyAnokaMinneapolis–Saint Paul127 acres, operated by the City
Sugarloaf Cove Interpretive CenterSchroederCookArrowheadwebsite, operated by the North Shore Stewardship Association, education, preservation and restoration of North Shore of Lake Superior
Tamarack Nature CenterWhite BearRamseyMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, operated by the County, 320-acre preserve within Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park
Voyageur Environmental CenterMoundHennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, 110 acres, year-round environmental education center, operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities
Wargo Nature CenterLino LakesAnokaMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, outdoor learning center operated by the County, part of the 5,000-acre Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve
Westwood Hills Nature CenterSt. Louis ParkHennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, 160 acres, operated by the City
Wildlife Science CenterStacyChisagoMinneapolis–Saint Paulwebsite, wolf research and education center, weekend public tours
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning CenterFinlandLakeArrowhead2000-acre K-12 school and residential learning center
Wood Lake Nature CenterRichfieldHennepinMinneapolis–Saint Paul150 acres, operated by the City

Former nature centers
  • 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
  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.
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