New Exhibit at HSC: Alien Invasive Species

A new interactive exhibit is now available at Headwaters Science Center about alien invasive species (AIS) in Minnesota. The expansion of harmful invasive species and their control in Minnesota is a major environmental concern.

In this exhibit pressing a button will help you determine whether a plant or animal is considered “invasive” from a total of fifty different species shown with photographs; included are invertebrates, aquatic and terrestrial plants and fish. Fifteen of them are considered invasive. Can you make the correct choices?

This game-like exhibit was largely funded by a matching grant from the Mn Department of Natural Resources Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The match by HSC was fulfilled by volunteers who built the exhibit, prepared specimens, photos and signage. Thanks to Keenan’s Cabinets of Distinction in Bemidji for constructing the platform.

May the Balloon Rise Again!

Help! Our Hot Air Balloon is damaged beyond repair and we need a new one which will cost $800. We are asking for donations to get this great exhibit going again.

So far we have raised about one-half of the required amount from generous members and friends.

Please donate now so the balloon can rise again!

With about 25,000 visitors each year (half are children) using the hands-on exhibits at HSC, maintenance, repair and replacement is a huge, often unanticipated, cost. Much of this cost must come from generous contributors that want HSC to continue as a unique and important part of science education in northern Minnesota.
You can mail a check to:

Headwaters Science Center - Balloon Project
413 Beltrami Ave
Bemidji, MN 56601 

 or Donate online right now!

The Terese Elhard Story

Terese Elhard has a story to tell about her inspiration.   She agreed to share it with you:

"As a life-long science enthusiast and learner, my childhood experiences at the Headwaters Science Center have been invaluable. There is no greater reward than being encouraged to explore and play.
What I have learned there continues to enrich my life, as I now create science exhibits for the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.

My memories of HSC expand wall to wall; playing with the exhibits and mastering the Magic Eye activity, eating packages of freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, petting Monty the snake—oh the sensation of reptile skin!, making my first painting—of the buffalo head in the classroom upstairs, and being horrified on Halloween in the basement spook-house.

Thank you to Jim and Laddie Elwell for their remarkable devotion to bringing science learning to Bemidji! The Elwell's are ever inspiring for me as I, in turn, make a commitment to bringing excitement and wonder to a curious audience. The world truly is a better place when we build a community of sharing knowledge!"

Terese Elhard

About Our Logo

Did you ever wonder what the Headwaters Science Center's logo represents?

The main image is the North Star. Seen only in the northern hemisphere, it depicts a sense of direction and importance. All other stars revolve around it; only the North Star appears to stay put – forever.

A water drop is in the center. Water is a requirement for life and a basic theme of Headwaters Science Center. The water drop is divided into three parts depicting the major watersheds within the HSC service area: Upper Mississippi, Rainy River and Red River. The term headwaters is part of the HSC name, showing its important location in the Upper Mississippi Watershed.

The logo was designed by Triad Marketing and Advertising of Nisswa, MN in 1993 under the direction of Jim and Laddie Elwell.