Turning Your House Into a Home
Eastman Nature Center
Eastman Nature Center is located at 13351 Elm Creek Road and is approximately five miles away from Uneek Design Build & Remodel in the Maple Grove, MN area. The Eastman Nature Center was named after Whitney H. Eastman, a birdwatcher enthusiast and environmental advocate. The center is nestled in the sugar maple floodplain forest of Rush Creek. Here you can enjoy the view from the floating boardwalk or get a bit of exercise by exploring the miles of hiking and snowshoeing trails. You can also hop on the bike trails at Elm Creek Park Reserve or spend some quiet time gazing at the creek flowing by. Be prepared for possible sightings of trumpeter swans, wild turkey, bluebirds, dragonflies, and various types of native wildflowers.
There is something for everyone to enjoy at the nature center. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow visitors to do some indoor birdwatching and there are hands-on activities for the kids. Children can dress up in costumes and put on a puppet show in the puppet tree. There are also live reptiles and amphibians that are part of rotating interpretive displays all through the building as well as a quiet reading room, a screened in, open-air deck, sizable classrooms, and an after-hours restroom. Other highlights include the sand-bottom swimming pond and the huge playground at the Elm Creek Park Reserve that is considered by many to be one of the best parks in the Twin Cities.
The center provides opportunities to enrich your experience along the trails with trail guide sheets, interpretive signs, and exploration kits. Down the trail there is a nature exploration area where kids can have fun digging, climbing, or making a fort, allowing them to use their imaginations. Adults can play along with the kids or just watch from nearby. Wild birthday parties are offered year-round and are recommended for kids ages four and older. Nature-based topics vary from pond insects to birds and snowshoeing to live animals.