Osprey Wilds

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Experience your environment.

Join Osprey Wilds for our 8th Annual Fundraiser!

Benefit Week

October 25 – November 3, 2024


Afternoon Social

Sunday, November 3rd, 2024

at Urban Growler Brewing Company, St. Paul MN

2:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Drop by for a drink and bite with us as we celebrate the culmination our 8th annual Benefit Week fundraiser!

Meet with members of our organization by visiting the Education Table, Information Table, and Gift Shop Table that will be set up around the venue.

Enter to win free drinks, Osprey Wilds merch, and other prizes in a raffle going on all afternoon! 

Conclude the afternoon with drinks, OW trivia, and information on how to further support Osprey Wilds. 

Teachers get a FREE pint on us!


Online Auction

Our online auction will be live on Friday, October 25th. Use the link below to browse and bid on auction items. Bidding will close on Friday, November 1st at 3 pm CT. There are over 50 items to bid on and more will be added throughout the week!

Virtual Content

Stay tuned for a week of videos and livestreams from October 28th through November 1st. Online content will highlight various aspects of Osprey Wilds, so tune in to hear from guest speakers and learn more about our our new solar project, wildlife ambassadors, and more!

Follow us on our social media channels to get the latest updates.


Help Name our New Red-tailed Hawk!

Please join us in welcoming Osprey Wilds newest animal ambassador!

In early August we acquired a non-releasable red-tailed hawk. This bird was found on the side of the road in South Dakota after being hit by a vehicle. The rehabilitation hospital that took him in was unable to fix the injury to his right shoulder well enough to allow him to be able to fly. Thankfully, he’s adjusted well to being in managed care with people. Our Wildlife Coordinator is developing a relationship with this new ambassador and is making progress on getting him ready to program with our visitors. 

The votes are in… and we have the final four names for our new red-tailed hawk! Start donating towards your favorite name now as a part of our Benefit Week Fundraiser: every donation will be counted as 1 point per $1. The name with the highest amount of points by November 1st at 3pm will be the new name of our hawk! 


Past Webinars

Solar at Osprey Wilds: 10/28
Keynote with Sheila Williams Ridge: 10/29
Wildlife Livestream: 10/30

Keynote Speaker:
Sheila Williams Ridge

Starting Small: The benefits of early childhood environmental education
Tuesday, October 29th
7:00 – 8:00 pm

Hear from Sheila Williams Ridge, co-author of the book Nature-Based Learning for Young Children, as she discusses the environment’s impacts children’s development and how an early meaningful relationship with the natural world can impact children, families, and communities.

Sheila is a facilitator for the NAEYC Young Children and Nature Interest Forum, on the Voices and Choices coalition, a board member for the Minneapolis Nature Preschool, a board member for Monarch Joint Venture, a board member for Dodge Nature Center, a school board member for Saint Paul City Schools, and a member of the Natural Start Alliance Leadership Team. She is co-author of the book, Nature-Based Learning for Young Children: Anytime, Anywhere, on Any Budget, published by Redleaf Press and is passionate about encouraging nature-based play and the lasting developmental benefits of a relationship between children and nature.

Wildlife Ambassador Livestream

Wednesday, October 30th
5:00 – 6:00pm

Join us on Instagram and Facebook for a livestream with our Animal Ambassador staff! Osprey Wilds currently cares for severely or permanently injured, non-releasable education animals that serve as ambassadors for their species. These Educational Ambassador Animals help our naturalists teach thousands of people a year about wildlife and the important roles animals play in our environment.

During this livestream you can meet our animals, ask questions, and learn the importance of these ambassadors. 

Read the bios of our Wild Staff here.


During Benefit Week we focus especially on our programs that serve children and young people.  The average US child spends only 7-10 minutes outside daily, while spending 7-10 hours on a screen each day. You can help correct that imbalance with your gift to Osprey Wilds. Thousands of kids will connect with nature at Osprey Wilds this year through our K-12 outdoor school program and day and overnight summer youth camps. Your contribution will help us keep our costs low and provide financial assistance to those who need it.


Thank you to our sponsors 

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Osprey Wilds is an accredited nonprofit outdoor school and conference and retreat center. Our pristine 780 acre campus is situated on picturesque Grindstone Lake in east-Central Minnesota.

We offer:

  • Year-round Outdoor School programming

  • Youth and family camps

  • Community events for all ages

  • College courses

  • Adult learning experiences

  • Wildlife programs: on-site and off-site

  • Comfortable lodging for 162+ people plus rustic cabin and camping options

  • Wonderful, scratch-based meal service

  • Conference & retreat center rentals

Our Mission & Vision

Mission

To instill a connection and commitment to the environment in people of all communities through experiential learning

Vision

A healthy planet where all people live in balance with the Earth

Awards and Certifications

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History of Osprey Wilds

Learn about our rich history - from the days when the Ojibwe occupied this land through the farming of the property by Schwyzer family, the establishment of the Audubon Center of the North Woods and how Osprey Wilds came to be.

Osprey Wilds treads lightly on the earth

Stewardship

We've made it a top priority to ‘walk the walk’ and have implemented a wide variety of renewable energy sources and energy conservation measures. Learn about the earth-friendly green initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint.

Beautiful 780 lakeside acres at Osprey Wilds

Our Property

At Osprey Wilds, you will be surrounded only by the soothing sounds and sights of nature. Our property includes old growth pine forest, deciduous forest, managed woodlands, wetlands, and restored prairie. Learn more about our facilities and land.

Charter School Authorizer

Our Charter School Division (CSD) in Minneapolis authorizes charter schools that have recognized the importance of experiential and environmental education as a means to advance our mission.

Support Osprey Wilds

You can help us achieve our mission of instilling a connection and commitment to the environment in people of all communities through experiential learning. Contributions support our wide array of programs, keeping costs affordable for the scores of schools that take advantage of our environmental learning offerings, as well as for participants in camps, family and adult programs, and community activities. Learn more here.

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