Grand Opening Alert: Celebrating Earth Day at Jay C. Hormel Nature Center

March 31, 2017

Last year on Earth Day, the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin, Minnesota broke ground on a 15,000-square-foot interpretive center. This Earth Day we helped them celebrate the grand opening of this new center with an exciting, interactive nature exhibit.

The new exhibit includes a “creatures of the night” display featuring nocturnal animals and the constellations of the sky, a miniature prairie where visitors can poke their heads underneath domes by crawling through a tunnel and a new children’s area with interactive activities.

Throughout the spaces, colorful, hand-painted murals depicting wildlife adorned the walls. These are a favorite of Nature Center Director Luke Reese. ”I think the exhibits are all wonderfully done,” he said.

Split Rock Studios is honored to collaborate with many who contributed much to the nature center’s transformation. Ben Sherman and Maria Anderson, both employees of the nature center, walked through the interpretive center, closely reviewed the completed project to ensure all the exhibits were functional and installed properly before opening day.