“On May 20th, 2023, exactly 50 years from the 1973 dedication of the Nature Center to the children of Rochester, we invite the community to join us for a celebratory program and participate in a large restorative planting.” – Quarry Hill Nature Center
For 50 years, Quarry Hill Nature Center has been a centerpiece in the Rochester community for environmental education and connection with nature. This 312-acre park and Nature Center started as a dream of one public school teacher, Harry Buck, and blossomed into a community-led initiative to meet the needs of the Rochester area.
“We are the Nature Center that the community built,” said Pamela Meyer, Executive Director. “From service organizations and students raising funds to our foundational partners Rochester Public Schools and Rochester Parks and Recreation providing support and infrastructure, Quarry Hill thrives because of the people and their dedication to making this the place where nature takes root.”
Today, field trips to Quarry Hill Nature Center are a standard fixture for elementary students throughout Rochester and the surrounding areas. Summer Camps, Creature Spotlights, Cave Tours, guided fossil hunting, bird banding, and year-round events and programming expand Quarry Hill’s educational reach to visitors of all ages.
Join in the Community Celebration to plant the seeds for the future of Quarry Hill and its educational endeavors for years to come! Event itinerary below:
Saturday, May 20 | 9:00-11:30am
9:00 am | Planting for the Future Program & Remarks
Friends of Quarry Hill Board Chair Peggy Edwards
Mayor & former Quarry Hill Board Member Kim Norton
Rochester Public School Board Chair Cathy Nathan
Former Quarry Hill Director, Greg Munson
Present Quarry Hill Director, Pamela Meyer
9:30 – 11:00am | Planting
Working with community partners, community members are invited to help plant more than 700 native plants, trees and shrubs in the park in an effort to preserve the natural landscape and our outdoor classroom for generations to come.
10:00 – 11:30 am | Refreshments and Social
Partners for this event include City of Rochester Forestry Department, Minnesota Conservation Corps, Zumbro Valley Audubon Society, Minnesota Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, Weed Warriors, Prairie Moon Nursery
To support Quarry Hill’s ongoing mission, consider becoming a member!
