flowers in front of the learning landscape

Learning Landscape

Welcome to our living "classroom"

From native plantings to a green roof, the science lessons continue outside of the new Bell Museum. This living outdoor “classroom” provides even more opportunities to learn about Minnesota’s biodiversity. Check out the links below to learn about recent additions and interactive activities!

You are always welcome to visit the our Learning Landscape during daylight hours. You can also revisit past Learning Landscape activities here. 

There is so much to explore on our Learning Landscape! Some of the outdoor features include:

queen anne's lace with an insect in the bell learning landscape

Landscaping for pollinators
Enjoy pollinator gardens and native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees while learning about the importance of pollinators in nature and society.

kids play at the boulders

Geology exploration area
Large boulders representing Minnesota’s major rock types (basalt, limestone, sandstone, gneiss, etc.) encourage visitors to get to know the state’s geologic history.

a kid watches birds at feeders through the window

Bird feeding stations
Observe birds at our bird feeding stations, generously donated by our friends at the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union—how many different species can you spot? Do you see any of these same birds in your neighborhood?

 

person looks through telescope

Green roof and observation deck
Experience sustainable design when you visit our green roof. Check out our event listings to find opportunities to use a high-powered telescope to explore the universe.

weather station outside the bell

Weather stations
You may notice two weather stations on our landscape. One can be seen in the pond, monitoring the weather and disturbance at the surface of the pond, supporting aquatic ecology research conducted by the Finlay Lab. The other is solar-powered and located near the south sidewalk, and monitors weather components including: windspeed, temperature, humidity, UV, solar radiation, and more! The Finlay Lab is using data from both stations to study the variation of weather around ponds.

two kids look pond

Pond
Rainwater collected from the museum’s roof—supplemented with well water—supports a community of plants, insects, amphibians, and other aquatic life.

kids play at the sundial

Solar station
A sundial surrounded by a circle of engraved paving lets visitors observe the time of day, the time of year, and the four cardinal directions.

bee boxes

Honey bee home
As a leader in pollinator education, the Bell Museum has kept honey bee colonies for over 20 years. Our hard working honey bees can be seen nestled in the pollinator gardens and are also visible from our Education Wing.