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

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
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 webpage, 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

Resources

  1. ^ ELC, Press Release Osprey Wilds. "Osprey Wilds ELC receives ownership of Blacklock Nature Sanctuary". pinecitymn.com. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  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 May 31, 2015.
  4. ^ "Beloved St. Croix Valley nature center to close after more than 50 years". St. Croix 360. September 6, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
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