EDEN PRAIRIE
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2026
Immersive Nature Adventures for Every Season
The refurbished cabin situated on the north shore of Staring Lake is home to Eden Prairie’ s Outdoor Center. The space offers residents a chance to visit the interpretive nature center and take part in a wide range of classes, workshops, trips and activities in outdoor recreation and environmental education year-round. The center serves as a peaceful local destination for residents to explore and connect with nature.
Inside, visitors can view resident animals, tap trees during maple syrup season or glide across Staring Lake in a canoe. During the winter months, visitors can snowshoe through the woodlands surrounding the center or learn how to ice fish. These center activities demonstrate that adventure awaits at any point during the year.
Group programming is offered for birthday parties, daycares, schools and scouts. These programs are available and can be customized for any group size or educational need. The center also hosts weekly open houses entitled“ Nature Rocks!” on Saturdays to welcome new and returning participants.
The center includes an observatory housing one of the largest telescopes in the state. The powerful 16-inch, computer-operated Meade LX200 telescope is guided by GPS satellites for pinpoint accuracy. It is mounted to an equatorial mount that provides stability for clear views of celestial objects. The Star Watch Astronomy program is a monthly event where the observatory roof opens for a stargazing journey guided by an astronomer.
The Outdoor Center also acts as a special setting for preschoolers ages 3.75-6 to explore, play and learn within an immersive Nature Preschool Program. Children go on hikes, feed and care for the resident animals and expand their natural curiosity through hands-on activities. In addition to early literacy, math and science concepts, children build important pre-kindergarten skills such as sharing, taking turns and following directions. The curriculum also focuses on creative expression through art, music and movement to help children build coordination and motor skills.
Eden Prairie Outdoor Center 13765 Staring Lake Parkway 952-949-8479 edenprairie. org / outdoorcenter
2026 | EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY GUIDE | 19