Minnesota Nature Centers Announce New Alliance Program
Minnesota is home to a diversity of wildlife and iconic species. Now, a group of the state’s iconic wildlife centers are joining together to promote wildlife education and ecotourism across the state to Minnesota residents and out of state visitors with a program called Minnesota Wildlife Passport to Adventure.
Set to launch on June 1, the Minnesota Wildlife Passport to Adventure is a collaboration of the International Owl Center, International Wolf Center, National Eagle Center, National Loon Center, and North American Bear Center. The purpose is to raise awareness of the other centers at each location and encourage visitors to make plans to visit all of them through a special passport program.
“This is an idea that has been in discussion for several years among our organizations,” said Grant Spickelmier, Executive Director at the International Wolf Center. “We decided that 2026 was the right time to hammer out the details and make it a reality.”
Though Minnesota is home to these iconic wildlife centers, they are spread widely across the state, from Houston, MN in the far southeast corner to nearly 400 miles north to Ely, MN up in the Arrowhead Region. This results in lower levels of shared visitorship and awareness among tourists passing through the state.
“There is a central interest in nature and wildlife that is shared among all of our audiences,” said Ed Hahn, Director of Advancement and Marketing Communications at the National Eagle Center. “We know that our guests often have never visited the other centers or even heard of them and vice versa. The idea behind this passport program is for us to pool some of our efforts and resources and reach those audiences with a single voice to encourage them to plan to enjoy the full Minnesota wildlife experience.”
Central to the Minnesota Wildlife Passport to Adventure program is a passport that guests will be able to purchase and activate at any of the participating centers. Passports will include information on each center, a map showing each location, and journal pages for each center. While visiting each center, individuals will collect a stamp just like a real passport. Upon collecting their final stamp, they will have the option to enter for a grand prize drawing that will include swag from each organization. There will be a drawing annually in November at the end of tourist season. Passports will never expire and visitors will be entered for the drawing in the year they collect their final stamp. The passports will be theirs to keep as a memory of their travels.
“We think people, and especially kids and families, will have a lot of fun with this program,” said Jon Mobeck, Executive Director of the National Loon Center. “It’s a fun keepsake and collectible, and, hopefully, it will encourage people to not only visit all of our centers but really make the effort to explore more of our state.”
About National Loon Center
The National Loon Center in Crosslake, Minnesota, is a national leader in loon conservation, research, and education. With a commitment to protecting loon habitats, the Center fosters innovative scientific studies and community outreach programs that inspire public engagement in conservation. Its world-class, interactive educational facility and research center will open to the public in 2027. Through immersive exhibits and educational initiatives, the National Loon Center connects visitors with the natural world, promoting stewardship and sustainable practices to ensure a thriving future for loons across North America. Visit www.nationallooncenter.org
About the National Eagle Center
The National Eagle Center is a nature center and museum located in Wabasha, MN. It is open daily and offers up-close eagle experiences, daily programs, wild eagle viewing, and the Preston Cook American Eagle Collection. For more information about the National Eagle Center, visit nationaleaglecenter.org or call 651.565.4989. The National Eagle Center is an equal opportunity provider. Visit www.nationaleaglecenter.org
About the International Wolf Center
The International Wolf Center (IWC) is an internationally respected nonprofit whose mission is to use science-based education to teach and inspire the world about wolves, their ecology, and the wolf-human relationship. With a Visitor Center in Ely, Minnesota and a membership spread across every U.S state and 38 countries, the International Wolf Center supports informed dialogue about the vital role that wolves play in ecosystems around the world. For more information visit www.wolf.org.
About the International Owl Center
The International Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota is the only all-owl education center in the United States. By bringing the latest research to the public, engaging programs with live owl ambassadors and highly trained staff, children’s owl art from around the world, and involving community scientists in research, the Owl Center works to engage and empower people to make the world a better place for owls. Visit www.InternationalOwlCenter.org for more information.
About the North American Bear Center
The North American Bear Center (NABC) is a one-of-a-kind, non-profit, education center where myths are replaced by facts. Step into the heart of the Northwoods for an experience like no other. We move beyond fear by sharing the true story of bear behavior and their complex relationship with humanity. Here, you learn directly from the bears themselves about their behavior, ecology, and the vital role they play in our world. As wild habitats shrink, your understanding becomes the key to a future where bears and humans thrive together. Visit www.bear.org for more info!