Springtime Fun at Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center

By Mari Klebe

Spring is here to stay!
There are so many sayings about spring…
April showers bring May flowers…
Spring comes in like a lion and out like a lamb (or vice versa)
Spring is in the air…

This is Minnesota, winter is always right around the corner but I’m going to assume the corner is down a really long block at this point. So, bring on Spring! Kandiyohi County is one of the great places to enjoy this time of year. The ice is out on the lakes, rivers are running, flowers are just starting to come up and the bugs aren’t bad. This is the perfect time to come out to Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center (PWELC).

Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center is a regional center for outdoor recreation and environmental education just outside of Spicer, MN. The center encompasses over 500 acres of beautiful rolling glacial terrain featuring prairie, ponds, woodlands and wetlands. Visitors are welcome to hike, bike, and ski the trails during daylight hours at no charge. Besides the trails that are open to the public, we also work with organized groups on a reservation basis. We offer over 20 outdoor programs including team building, climbing wall, survival programs, mammals, insects, birds, trees, prairies and pond studies, living history 1880 pioneer cabin program, archery, and a sporting clay range. Everything we do has education, safety and COVID 19 precautions in mind. We also have facility rentals available for meetings, graduation parties, anniversaries, weddings, and other special days.

We are excited to have our first on-site public event for 2021. Join us for our Earth Day Celebration on April 24th from 1-4:30pm. A fun and educational experience for the whole family! This is an outdoor event held at the Farmsite of PWELC. There will be exhibits offering information about water quality, energy efficiency, land management, and much more. The Annual Earth Day event at PWELC is a collaborative effort of PWELC, Middle Fork Crow River Watershed, North Fork Crow River Watershed, MPCA, and Kandiyohi County SWCD. This year try a fat-tire bike or kayak. Take a self-led hike on an interpretive trail or do a scavenger hunt.

As you’re doing your spring cleaning, think of PWELC. On April 24th we will also be hosting our Recycled Outdoor Gear Sale from 1-4:30pm. Do you have gently used canoes, kayaks, fishing gear, camping gear, bikes, archery, hunting gear, bird feeders, bird houses, binoculars, xc skis, snowshoes, or anything else outdoors related? Give us a call, donate and then check the sale out. Now that you’ve made room, find a new treasure for your outdoor pursuits. All proceeds from the sale go towards youth programming.

For more information about PWELC, Earth Day Celebration, Recycled Outdoor Gear Sale, or set up a program for your school or youth group visit www.prairiwoodselc.org, call 320-354-5894 or email prairiewoods@prairiewoodselc.org. See you this spring!

Fish our lakes

The possibilities are endless on our 30 recreational lakes…boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boating, hydro biking, paddle boarding and so much more!

Fishing Report

Explore our Trails

Surrounded by beautiful lakes and scenery…who wouldn’t take a hike or a leisurely bike ride to enjoy the view? With miles of trials to choose from, you can always find new places to explore.

Trail Report