Eastman Nature Center
Nestled in the sugar maple floodplain forest of Rush Creek, this is a great place to begin an outdoor journey. Walk across the floating boardwalk, explore the miles of hiking and snowshoeing trails for a bit of exercise or visit the nature center. Hop on the bike trails of Elm Creek Park Reserve or sit quietly and watch the creek flow by. Visitors may see trumpeter swans, wild turkey, bluebirds, dragonflies and abundant native wildflowers.
Elm Creek PDF Maps
Eastman Nature Center Summer | Eastman Nature Center Winter
Find all printable maps of the park on the Elm Creek Park Reserve page.
Upcoming Events
Free Family Fun Days
Ongoing | Multiple Locations
Explore nature through hands-on activities!
All Programs & Events
See all upcoming programs and events at Eastman.
Nearly all of our program offerings can be adapted or modified. Please call 763-559-9000 (for relay services dial 711) or email access@ThreeRiversParks.org to request free modifications and learn about available options.
Discover the world of birding in the Young Birders Club! Learn all about native birds, and attend programs and events at nature centers in Three Rivers. Open to ages 9-12.
More About Eastman
Eastman Nature Center is named after Whitney H. Eastman, an avid birdwatcher and advocate of environmental education. The nature center has something for everyone. Floor-to-ceiling windows entice visitors to do some indoor birdwatching. (Use this checklist and guide to record your observations!) Children enjoy hands-on activities, dressing up in costumes and putting on a puppet show in our puppet tree. Live reptiles and amphibians add to the rotating interpretive displays throughout the building. The building also has a quiet reading room, a screened in and open air deck, large classrooms and an after-hours restroom.
Opportunities to enhance your experience along the trails are available through 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.
Groups
The professional naturalists at Eastman Nature Center offer outdoor education programs for schools, scout troops, senior centers, homeschools and other organized groups.
Virtual Tour
Rooms in the Eastman Nature Center can be rented to host meetings, retreats, family gatherings, birthdays, small weddings and receptions, and other events.
Wild Birthday Parties are offered year-round and are appropriate for children age four and older. Nature-based topics range from pond insects to birds, and snowshoeing to live animals.
Join other teens in the Naturalist Youth Leader Program or help care for the animals that live at Eastman. Three Rivers offers several volunteer and internship opportunities in the parks.
Volunteering
We rely on the support of volunteers to maintain the high quality programs and operations at our nature centers.
Give to Eastman
Love Eastman Nature Center? Consider supporting its outdoor education programs, displays and animal care with a donation.
#threeriversparks
The Wandering Naturalist
Episodes 165–167: Highways
This month, Brandon and Angela explore highways: what you can see on your drive to the parks; how roads can have an impact on humans, wildlife and habitat; and what MnDOT is doing to make highways and other roads safer for drivers and animals.
Related Blog Posts
Creating a Healing Space in Nature: A Q&A with Innovative SOULutions’ Farji Shaheer
By: Amanda Fong & Farji Shaheer
Learn how outdoor recreation has helped nurture healing in victims of gun violence in this Q&A with Farji Shaheer, founder and director of Three Rivers’ partner organization Innovative SOULutions.
2022: Three Rivers Parks’ Big Year of Birds
By: John Moriarty
We’re all about birds in 2022! Learn why Three Rivers is celebrating these important creatures throughout the year and how you can join in.
Pathways Into the Parks
By: Harshita Somani
The Pathways Internship program introduces teenagers to various roles throughout Three Rivers Park District, giving them an opportunity to explore different career paths. Follow along with Harshita Somani, the 2021 marketing intern, as she relays her experience in the program this summer.
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