Baker Outdoor Learning Center

It’s like getting out of town without actually leaving. Just 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis is the Baker Outdoor Learning Center. Situated within beautiful Baker Park Reserve, this rustic learning center offers an outdoor experience for groups with a nature education component.

Baker PDF Maps

Outdoor Learning Center

Find all printable maps of Baker on the Baker Park Reserve page.

About Baker Outdoor Learning Center

About the Space

The Outdoor Learning Center is available for scheduled programs or group reservations only; no walk-ins allowed.

The Outdoor Learning Center features eight cabins, an expansive lodge, a bath house with showers, miles of trails, many natural habitats, a rock climbing wall, nature and outdoor recreation classes, and hands-on activities for all ages. Each cabin has eight bunk beds, a wood stove and a nearby cooking pad with a grill and seating area.

The log lodge features a meeting and activity room that seats up to 120 people lecture-style and up to 80 for meals, a large stone fireplace, wrap-around porch, modern restrooms and an institutional kitchen.

Due to the nature of the programming at the Outdoor Learning Center, dogs are not allowed. View Three Rivers dog policy and FAQs.

Take a Virtual Tour

See a 360º-view of the lodge at Baker Outdoor Learning Center in this short video with audio descriptions, or take a virtual walk through the Outdoor Learning Center to experience its amenities inside and out and learn how it fosters joy in outdoors through hands-on educational experiences.

Upcoming Events

Throughout March | Multiple Locations
Attend a maple syrup festival, learn to make your own syrup, discover maple sugaring and more!

Ongoing | Multiple Locations
Learn the basics of archery and try shooting a bow!

All Programs & Events

View upcoming programs and events, including opportunities for camping in our rustic log cabins, at Baker Outdoor Learning Center!

Nearly all of our program offerings can be adapted or modified. Please call 763-559-9000 (for relay services dial 711) or email access@ThreeRiversParks.org to request specific services or to discuss options.

Reservations & Availability

The Outdoor Learning Center is available for reservation only. Whether you have a school, scout, homeschool, senior center or other group, the Outdoor Learning Center offers a variety of programs that can be tailored for your needs. These include exploring natural or cultural history, improving your team or outdoor life skills, and recreational programs such as canoeing or archery.

If you decide on an overnight stay, your booking reserves the entire site — including the cabins, lodge and outdoor amenities — for your group so you can reconnect with nature and explore the outdoors while having full attention of staff.

Reservation Details

Ready to reserve? Call us at 763-694-7724 or email us.

Groups can reserve the Outdoor Learning Center up to one year in advance.

Rates & Fees

Day-education Rates

Baker Outdoor Learning Center provides educational programming for a wide variety of audiences, whether you're looking for a single program for your group or a full-day field trip for your students. All programming reservations require a minimum of 15 participants, with a maximum of 125 participants.

Programs for Youth or Adult Education Groups

  • 1.5–2 hours: $7.50/participant  
  • 3-4 hours: $11.50/participant  

School Field Trips

For third-graders and older

  • 3-4 hours: $11.50/participant  
  • 4-5 hours: $13.50/participant  
  • 5.5+ hours: $15.50/participant 

Each field trip learning group must have a minimum of one chaperone, but no more than three chaperones; there is no charge for leaders or other adult chaperones.

Overnight Rates

Spend the night in the cabins at Baker Outdoor Learning Center for a unique outdoor experience! Overnight bookings are available for educational groups, including scouts, homeschool or youth development groups that want to include multiple programs during their stay, as well as for family or friend groups that want to experience at least one scheduled education program.

Maximum capacity: 72 people

Lodging Fees 

  • Sundays–Thursdays: $15 plus tax/participant/night (Nightly minimum: $300)
  • Fridays, Saturdays and holidays:
    • One night: $25 plus tax/person (Nightly minimum: $500)
    • Two nights: $19 plus tax/person/night (Nightly minimum: $380)

All overnight groups must pay the 7.525% Minnesota Lodging Tax, regardless of tax-exempt status.

Additionally, all overnight groups are required to schedule at least one of our staff-led programs as part of their reservation.

Program Fees

  • $5.50/participant/program (Program minimum: $82.50)

Food Options for Overnight Stays

Prepare your own

  • Campfire cooking: Use our cooking equipment and campfire supplies to make meals with food that you supply.
  • Kitchen cooking: Use our kitchen and kitchen supplies to make meals with food that you supply.

Prepared meals

  • On-site meals (only available for weekday school reservations): $5/person/meal. We provide and serve prepared food.
  • Catered meals: Choose one of Three Rivers' approved caterers for your meals.

Lodge-Only Rates & Fees

Our lodge can be rented for events like birthday parties, business meetings and family gatherings. Because the Outdoor Learning Center focuses on educational programs, weekend rentals are limited to the weekends between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Weekday rentals are available anytime during the year. Please call 763-694-7724 or email for more information and availability.

Financial Assistance and Accessibility

Scholarships are available for program fees. Recreation Pass Plus program discounts apply, and financial assistance is also available for qualified groups. Call 763-559-6700 or review our fee assistance information online.

Three Rivers is committed to providing inclusive and accessible opportunities for people of all abilities. We will do our best to adapt programs to fit your needs by offering qualified assistants, sign language interpretations and more. Please indicate any special needs when making reservations, or call 763-559-6700 (voice) or 711 (Relay Service) with questions. Learn more about accessibility at Three Rivers.

The Outdoor Learning Center offers a variety of nature-oriented party themes such as: archery, canoeing, rock climbing, and more. 

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The Wandering Naturalist

Episodes 195–197: Women and Wilderness

Join Brandon and Angela this month as we discuss women and wilderness. Discover how rewarding pursuing a career in the outdoors can be, the role educators play in creating a more inclusive space for everyone to explore their relationship with the outdoors and how our connection with the land guides our own healing.

The Three Rivers Blog

May 02, 2023

Learn how outdoor recreation has helped nurture healing in victims of gun violence in this Q&A with Farji Shaheer, founder and director of Three Rivers’ partner organization Innovative SOULutions.

June 30, 2020

Fourth of July weekend is almost here! Whether you are going camping, staying in a cabin or planning an adventure at home in your own backyard, try one of these basic campfire cooking techniques and recipes for a tasty meal.

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By: Monica Rauchwarter

October 07, 2019

Spiders are one of the most feared animals around, but they are important parts of their ecosystems. Learn all about these special creatures and find out the facts behind some of those myths that make them so scary.

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