By Ashley Martel, NCARB, AIA, VP - Architect
November 12, 2019
The call of the loon is a call for change.
Scientists say that loons might not exist in Minnesota 50 years from now if we don’t start making some changes today. Did you know the quality of our lake water has steadily declined over the past 50 years? Loons need clean, fresh water to survive and thrive. We all do! The National Loon Center will help all of us become leaders for loon preservation and freshwater conservation.
The National Loon Center will be a place of discovery through hands-on learning. Interactive exhibits in and around the Center will inspire visitors to help protect loons and our freshwater ecosystems. The University of Minnesota will help create research and educational experiences through citizen science, including a floating classroom.
The Center will house the Scientific Loon Council and the National Freshwater Institute. These initiatives will bring together the brightest minds from across the country to find solutions that tackle threats to loons and freshwater.
Families, nature enthusiasts, and scientists will have access to more than 1,000 feet of protected shoreline on the beautiful Whitefish Chain of Lakes in Crosslake, Minnesota. This popular recreation area is projected to see 200,000 visitors each year once the Center is built. Plus, millions of people will be engaged online.
The National Loon Center Foundation has received $4,000,000 from the State of Minnesota, a $2,000,000 federal in-kind lease, and $1,000,000 from community contributions to help build the Center. However, $6,000,000 from corporate and foundation sponsors is still needed.
You can make a difference.
You can help protect our loons, preserve our lakes, and inspire the next generation of conservationists.
Donate today and help us answer the call of the loon.