# List of nature centers in Minnesota

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) 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

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

## Resources

* ↑ ELC, Press Release Osprey Wilds. "Osprey Wilds ELC receives ownership of Blacklock Nature Sanctuary". pinecitymn.com. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
* ↑ "Agassiz Audubon : Visit the NW Minnesota Pollinator Garden".
* ↑ "Profile: Jeff Maltby, Maltby Nature Preserve's executive director". Norrthfield News. June 23, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
* Minnesota Association for Environmental Education