Eagle Bluff is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) residential environmental learning center located in Lanesboro, Minnesota.
We believe that together we can make a lasting difference by connecting individuals to nature through education.
- Eagle Bluff’s Vision: Eagle Bluff envisions healthy sustainable communities that value the natural world.
- Eagle Bluff’s Mission: Eagle Bluff is dedicated to fostering environmental awareness, and promoting respect and personal responsibility.
Our educational program is accredited by The Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation. Classes are taught by a team of professional educators, certified teachers, and highly skilled naturalists. Our curriculum was developed to meet academic standards and is guided by the principles of:
- Awakening the wonder of discovery by providing hands-on learning experiences.
- Encouraging the wise use and stewardship of our natural resources.
- Demonstrating the balance between humans and nature.
- Reinforcing the values of personal responsibility and respect for oneself and others.
- Imparting critical life skills such as teamwork, problem solving, and community involvement.
The History of Eagle Bluff
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center is located in rural southeastern Minnesota, where it was established as the Forest Resource Center, a private, non-profit, member supported educational institution in 1978. The area represents a unique ecosystem where hardwood forests coexist with productive farmland. The karst geology of the region features clear-running trout streams, soaring limestone bluffs, underground caves and rivers, and an abundance of flora and fauna. Eagle Bluff consists of 80 acres surrounded by 1,000 acres of state managed forest. The region is also notably unique as the site of pre-historic Oneota Indian settlements dating from 600-1200 AD. One of these settlements in the Mississippi Valley adjoins Eagle Bluff’s land.
During the 1980’s we offered adult education programs co-sponsored with the University of Minnesota’s College of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. We also began research and education focused on the cultivation of the shiitake mushroom as a cash crop. It remains the most extensive research to date on growing this Japanese specialty using U.S. hardwood logs. In 1988, we become a regional day-use facility for the environmental education of K-12 students. Since 1992, we gradually have expanded into a year-round residential center re-named Eagle Bluff. It is one of several members of the residential environmental learning center (RELC) network and is an element in Minnesota’s approach to outdoor education. Eagle Bluff, as an established residential school, now welcomes over 22,000 participants of all ages per year. |
