Blaine Wetland Sanctuary is a 500-acre wetland with a boardwalk and paved walking/biking trails as well as open green space. There is a parking area off Lexington Avenue and the sanctuary connects to several Blaine Parks. The city plans to add additional trails and a nature center in the future. Find Blaine Open Space Passport Here. Families are encouraged to explore all the open spaces in Blaine. Other parks included on the passport are: Hidden Ponds, Kane Meadows, Laddie Lake, Lochness Park, Oak Savannah, and Pioneer Park. Another park in Blaine that has a wetland area is London Park. The sanctuary currently has three mapped trails. They are nice and short, with the longest, just under one mile, ending Lexington Athletic Complex. The two shorter trails begin at East Lake park and are best for strollers because they are short and paved or boardwalk-style. The longer path has mixed surfaces, so may be best with bigger kids. Visitors are asked to stay on the trails as the wetlands are in active restoration. Off-trail exploration damages the wetland and makes it more difficult for the city to get future trails permitted. Make your visit to the sanctuary into a fun learning experience with this environmental STEM Curriculum from the City of Blaine and Growing Green Hearts. Dress to get down on your belly. Belly Biology means laying down on your belly and observing the environment up close. Download the materials here. Learn about the seasons of spring at the wetland sanctuary, how the fen holds water reducing spring flooding, and cleans and filters the water while it sits there. Learn how a fen differs from ponds, marshes and bogs. Try engineering and building your own filter as part of this program. Learn why the fen is a water superhero. The get hands on with connecting maps with core sampling, use-your-senses bingo, and an engineering design challenge, Get to know the mammals, sedges, birds and seeds of the sanctuary and study of how plants and animals change with the seasons. Visit the fen in winter to find out its frozen secrets. Experiment with shadows, crystals, insulation, and climate
Blaine Open Space Passport
Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Trails
Environmental STEM Fun at the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
Video 1: Belly Biology & Welcome Hike
Video 2: Springs Alive!
Video 3: Superheroes and Systems
Video 4: Fall FUNology with Phenology
Video 5: Frozen Secrets of the Fen
The Family Fun Twin Cities Directory is the most extensive collection of companies, organizations, activities and places to find things to do with kids in the Twin Cities.