Ney Nature Center

For many years now we have put on two large community events that are open to the public and free to attend - and it is always a hit. The Candlelight Event and the Fall Festival usually bring hundreds of people to Ney Nature Center to connect with our mission and trails. In an effort to provide more of these free community engagement events in 2023, we added two brand new ones, our Tree Jamboree, and our Cosmos Celebration. These programs give people an opportunity to come to Ney and engage with environmental education with no barrier to entry. Our $1000 goal this year is in an effort to sustain and expand these annual free community programs for everyone. Thank you for considering a donation and for your support of our cause.

Tree Planting at the Tree JamboreeTrail at the Candlelight EventMN Astronomical Society Speaker at the Cosmos CelebrationCrafting Table at the Fall Festival

What is our mission? The Ney Nature Center manages and protects the Ney Wildlife Preserve through education and interaction with the natural world.  Our plan-of-action is to continue meeting our mission through the important conservation and citizen science projects our staff have in the works, as well as using social media and our website to educate and facilitate interactions with nature.

The Ney Nature Center (NNC) is home to 446 acres of all the natural world has to offer – forests, prairie, meadows, bluffs, creeks, and a variety of wildlife. Conveniently located halfway between the Twin Cities and Mankato with access from Hwy 169, the Ney Nature Center has something for everyone!

Some of the things you can find at the Ney Nature Center:

• Woodlands (including big woods remnants)
• Native Prairie
• River Bottoms
• Bird Watching
• The Famous Ney Frog Pond
• Scenic Streams and Ravines
• Native Wildlife
• Historic Farmsteads
• Hiking, snowshoeing, and x-country skiing
• Outdoor Recreational Programs such as kayaking, archery, and geocaching