About Us

In the fall of 1989, Rudy Hillig, began to plan a nature area on 25 acres of the land donated by Don McFarland. Throughout the years donations were solicited and additional land lease agreements were added from our surrounding neighbors. With the aid and matching funds from the Executive Chief of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwa, and grants received from local businesses, the Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center was created. In 1992 construction of the interpretive center began. With the help of interns from the Natural Resources Program, from the Brainerd Technical College, implementation of a trail system and an outdoor recreation classroom began.

On May 1st, 1993 the Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center began its voyage to educate and teach the importance of nature and conservation. Our continued focus will be to keep track of the helpers, volunteers and supporters, who over the last 14 years have conveyed an interest in how a community can build. The Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center will continue to grow with the added energy of new projects and events. Our Board, staff and volunteers, through their commitment of time, energy, and loyalty has been instrumental in making the Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center a vital aspect of our community. Without the efforts and supporters from our community, the Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center would have only been a dream rather than a reality.

Today

We serve schools, education co-ops, church camps, scouts, 4-H, assisted living centers, resorts and other public and private organizations and individuals in the Brainerd lakes area. We offer informal environmental education and outdoor experiences for all ages. 2006, we had a record number of visitors to the center, some 6400 visitors and 1700 children from area schools had been signed in on the guest registry.

This 2007 fall season we will be taking a new direction. For years we have offered many nature and environmental education programs with poor or often no results. Because of the lack of grants, donations and memberships there will be a few set programs available to chose from.

Our Highlights
The Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center is a 65 acre preserve offering visitors about 3 miles of trails through a variety of native habitats such as prairie grasses, wetlands, and forests.  Our trails provide the experienced naturalist and the beginning nature explorer a wide range of educational, scientific, and recreational opportunities.  New in 2006, the three acres around the interpretive center is an Arboretum in progress. We are open year-round, allowing an exploration of all our native habitats throughout Minnesota's varied seasons. Some of our main areas of interest include:

· 1.4 miles of prairie trails through grasses, Aspen, Birch, Jack Pine, and cattail marshes

· 1.8 miles of wetland and forest trails through sedge grass meadows, mixed hardwoods, Jack Pine, and wetlands

· .7 miles of trail from the Holiday Inn to the center through the business park.

· Live animals including Rex and Gracie, a mated pair of Trumpeter swans that have nested on our pond; a family of beavers with a lodge on the pond and some turtles in the center.

· Animal displays, library and the media center in the interpretive center.