Hands-on fun at Eastman Nature Center

You can't go wrong when you check out a Three Rivers Park.

The buildings are open and airy. There are a ton of fascinating educational things inside. And outside has great trails.

Yep, we're fans of the Three Rivers Parks in the Twin Cities area.

At the start of April, as we were just starting to get out after our long, and freezing Minnesota winter, we explored Eastman Nature Center in Dayton, Minn. It was a bit of a drive from south Minneapolis, about 45 minutes, but worth it.

As we walked in, we went past a group of homeschoolers learning how to make maple syrup. A pot of syrup gleaned from the trees was simmering on an outdoor burner. The kids ran around a bit after lunch on the snow-covered trails.

Mostly, we stayed inside, where there was so much for the kids to do. It wasn't just stuff to look at, either, but there was so much to touch and check out. Bones. Branches. Stuffed animals. Books. Turtles and salamanders and snakes in aquariums. Plus there was a great big tree in one corner to play in and around.

The room with binoculars and bird books, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows was the perfect space for the older kids to set up their paints and create masterpieces inspired by the natural scenes outside.

FROM THE WEB SITE:
http://www.threeriversparks.org/parks/elm-creek-park/eastman-nature-center.aspx

Eastman Nature Center is nestled in the sugar maple floodplain forest of Rush Creek. It was named after Whitney H. Eastman, an avid birdwatcher and nature center fundraiser. Newly reconstructed, the 14,000-square-foot building features quiet reading and observation rooms, large classrooms, a professional exhibit area with wildlife watching, an open-air deck, a coffee service, and an after-hours restroom.

Explore the nearby display gardens, floating boardwalk, pond observation blind, amphitheater, orienteering courses, and demonstrative plantings for wildlife. Eastman is connected to the paved bike and the cross-country ski trails, as well as five miles of hiking/snowshoeing trails – great for photography or bird watching.

Opportunities to enhance your experience are available through cell phone audio stops, trail guide sheets, exploration kits, and interpretive signs. Just down the trail, let your children play ‘wild’ in the Nature Exploration Area. Kids can dig, climb, make a fort or dam, and engage their imaginations, while adults play along or observe nearby.

Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Mon-Sat; Noon-5:00 PM Sunday
Phone: 763.694.7700
Address: 13351 Elm Creek Road
Dayton, MN 55369