Let's Build a Forest Ice Skating Trail

This Give to the Max Day, we’re inviting our community to help us create something magical, Central Minnesota’s first Forest Ice Skating Trail.

Imagine gliding beneath snow-covered pines with families laughing as they circle through the forest. It’s the kind of experience that makes winter come alive, and it’s closer than you think. 

We already purchased a Zamboni, the heart of any great ice surface. Now we need your help to finish the dream. We are raising funds for a water truck or trailer to help us create and maintain the ice.

Your gift could also help us upgrade our electricity for enhanced lighting and maybe even music. We also have hopes to purchase skates for a small rental program, so everyone can join in, whether they own skates or not.

And there’s another reason this project matters deeply. Our local figure skating team (especially the beginners) often struggle to find “ice time.” Hockey programs dominate most schedules, leaving these dedicated skaters with limited practice space and hours. A forest skating trail could give them an alternative place to train, in a setting unlike anywhere else.

With your support, the Arboretum can transform winter into something extraordinary, where nature, recreation, and community come together on ice.

Donate this Give to the Max Day and help us give our community another great reason to get outside and embrace nature, no matter the weather!