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Looking for a fun place to celebrate your birthday?

Wood Lake Nature Center offers a variety of birthday parties that are fun, educational, and the mess stays with us!  Wood Lake provides a naturalist-led activity, treat bags, and use of the party room with tables, chairs, and tablecloths.  Payment is due when the party is booked.

Time: 1˝ hours total
(first 45 minutes with naturalist, last 45 minutes
room rental without naturalist)

Resident Fee: $75 for up to ten children,
$3.50 per additional child, 15 children maximum

Non-Resident Fee: $85 for up to ten children, $3.50 per additional child, 
15 children maximum

To schedule a birthday party, choose one of the party themes listed below and
call 612-861-9365.

NEW!!  Have an environmentally-friendly party with reusable dishes, utensils, and recycled paper napkins.  Bring your own or let Wood Lake provide for only $10.

Click here for more information on how to have an
environmentally - friendly "green" birthday

Birthday party themes:

Critter Hunt Birthday: (ages 4-5)
Become nature detectives and go outside to look for clues from hidden animals that live at Wood Lake. Available year-round.

Treasure Hunt Birthday: (ages 5-9)
Lead the group in a hunt for hidden treasure. Solve riddles along the trail to receive puzzle-piece clues.  Once the puzzle is put together, the treasure can be found! Available year-round.

Scaly Tales Birthday: (ages 5-12)
Meet a live snake, turtle, and salamander and learn all about these amazing creatures! Then, time permitting, hike outside with a naturalist to look for reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitat. Available year-round.

Creatures from the Marsh Birthday: (ages 5-12)
With nets and buckets at hand, go out to the floating boardwalk to discover what kind of creatures lurk in the Wood Lake marsh. Available May-September.

Tracks and Trails Birthday (ages 5-12)
Make a plaster track to take home, then hike the trails to look for real animal tracks outside. Available year-round.

Games Birthday: (ages 7-12)
Hawk vs. crows, squirrel tag, everybody’s it! Play an assortment of fun, nature-oriented games chosen by the birthday child. Available year-round.

Big Foot Birthday: (ages 7-12)
Snow conditions permitting, hike over hill and dale to explore the winter wonderland with big snowshoe feet. Snowshoe rental is an additional $.50 per person.

Survival Birthday: (ages 8-12)
Learn basic survival tips and build an outdoor shelter. Treat bags are earned at the end... but only for those who survive! Available year-round.

Please note that helium balloons and alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the building. 
Treat bags include several small, nature-related toys and several pieces of "penny" candy. 

Wood Lake recommends:

  • Invite the party guests 5-10 minutes before the party start time so the naturalist can start the program on schedule
  • Try having a green birthday party
  • Book your party about two months in advance- weekends fill up quickly!
  • If you'd like to come more than 15 minutes before or stay more than 15 minutes after your party, rent the room for an extra half hour before and/or after your scheduled party time.  Please remember, the scheduled party time includes setup and cleanup time.
  • Smaller birthday parties typically allow the birthday child, as well as the other attendees, to receive more personal attention.  Groups of about 10 children typically work best.
  • Come back for more!  We offer many party themes and can adapt them to older age groups (including adults!) if requested.