Located in Fridley, Minnesota, Springbrook Nature Center is taking home the second-place spot in the “Best Nature Center in Minnesota” category in the Minnesota Parent Family Favorites survey. At Springbrook, their mission is to “cultivate connections between people and animals.” It is easy to see this mission come to life when you visit Springbrook and experience the over 2,000 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, fish, trees, shrubs, insects, wildflowers, and plants that call this nature center home. Before you hit the trails, stop by the interpretive center to relax by the fireplace or explore one of the exhibits (including live animals!)
Trails:
Springbrook has over three miles of trails across 127 acres through prairies, forests, savannahs, and wetlands. Check out one of Springbrook’s activity backpacks for supplies and activities you can use on Springbrook’s trails.
Beaver Pond Trail: .4 miles
Oak Savanna Trail: .3 miles
Creekside Trail: .3 miles
Forest Trail: .3 miles
Outer hiking trail: 1.5 miles
Nature Play Area:
Springbrook’s natural play area includes climbing logs, a fort-building area, a suspension bridge, a rock and rope climber, a water pump, a stream, and more! The play area is open year-round. However, the water pump is turned off seasonally.
Programs:
One of the programs that sets Springbrook apart is its bike program. Through a grant from Anoka County, Springbrook received 13 bicycles available for use in the park. Sign up for their “birding by bike” or “bike with a naturalist” programs to experience nature on two wheels.
Once a month in the summer, visit the Springbrook Nature Center Amphitheater for live music, including a children’s concert and musical!
Sign up for an outdoor adventure to spend a few hours learning about survival, archery, pond exploration, or insect discovery, or participate in one of Springbrook’s nature camps to explore nature all summer long.
Winter:
Visit Springbrook in the winter months to participate in lantern light hikes. Rent snowshoes and listen to the sounds of nature from 6:30-8:30 pm on Friday nights. Springbrook also hosts Winterfest, an afternoon of indoor and outdoor activities that encourage nature exploration no matter the weather!
Birthday Parties:
Children 4-11 can have their birthday party at Springbrook. The party package includes two hours of private rental space, 45 minutes with a naturalist exploring one of 8 topics, and access to all exhibits and nature trails.
To stay up to date on all things Springbrook, sign up for their newsletter at www.springbrooknaturecenter.org
Nicole is the mom to two young children. Together they are embarking on adventures and discovering the wonders of Minnesota. You can follow along on Instagram @mnbucketlistmom
