Get Lost in Nature at Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center
Address: 10000 Stillwater Lane N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
About Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center
When Sally Manzara was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she and her husband decided to take all of the money they had saved to travel in their retirement and put it towards establishing a nature center in the park she loved. After her passing, her dream became reality with the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center. Located within beautiful Sunfish Lake Park, the Interpretive Nature Center offers a variety of classes and exhibits designed to bring families together through nature.
Indoor Learning
Step inside the Nature Center and you can learn everything about the Sunfish Lake Park, from the wildlife to the ecosystems and the history of the land. The Nature Center also features rotating displays specifically designed for young learners, often incorporating experiential or interactive elements. A favorite among families is the indoor apiary, full of busy bees – so be sure to ask a volunteer to see them!
Outdoor Experiences
Of course, the point of a nature center is to enjoy nature, and Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center encourages visitors to experience the outdoors after visiting them inside. A visit to Sunfish Lake Park offers a chance to view wildlife, 5 miles of walking trails, 5 miles of bike trails, and a beautifully restored prairie with native wildflowers and grasses.
The Nature Center has scavenger hunt sheets and trail maps at its reception desk for visitors. They also offer kids’ binoculars, magnifying glasses, and snowshoes that can be checked out, all designed to enhance your family hike or walk around the grounds.
The Nature Center also features a variety of outdoor exhibits, including an interactive “Eagle’s Nest” and a Storybook Trail that tells a tale based on the season throughout a short walk.
Related Article: Splash, Hike & Play—Lake Elmo Park Reserve Has It All!
Classes for Kids
A pillar of Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center is educating the next generation about nature and the world we live in, and their wide variety of summer classes does just that! They have something for just about every age group, starting with Little Explorers. Parents and their toddlers can explore a nature theme of the day, like wildflowers or pollinators. Wonder Wednesdays are designed for children aged 5 – 11, with themes such as Water Play and Prairie Day.
There are also 2 and 4-day summer camp classes available, with age ranges varying depending on the theme of the camp session.
Nature Center Highlights
- Nature center dedicated to bringing the community together through outdoor education and stewardship
- Located within Lake Elmo’s Sunfish Lake Park
- Indoor and outdoor experiences for visitors
- Toddler Tuesdays (10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for ages 1-5)
- Wonder Wednesdays (9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for ages 5-10)
- 2-day and 4-day camp offerings also available
- Homeschool Programming
Know Before You Go
- Website
- Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Open Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Summer Camp registration
Mary McGuire is a mother of two young girls and freelance journalist based in the Twin Cities. Her current interests include searching for lost pacifiers, cleaning up crushed Cheerios, and sharing everything our great state has to offer with other families. Born and raised in Edina, Mary has worked in broadcast television for more than a decade at TV stations across the country.
