Imagine a place where children’s laughter echoes through immersive play spaces, where curiosity meets creativity, and where young minds are inspired to explore.
That place is becoming a reality right here in the Brainerd Lakes Area at WonderTrek Children’s Museum. We’re excited to share that site work is officially underway on our Outdoor Adventure campus.
For David (Superintendent, Copper Creek), a key member of the construction team, this work feels full circle. As a child, he spent hours in the sandbox playing with toy equipment, never imagining it would lead to a career shaping real landscapes. Now, after 11 years at Copper Creek, he’s helping bring WonderTrek to life. “It’s fulfilling to see a project and a space transform,” he shared, something that’s happening more each day on site.
Site work is actively progressing, with crews excavating the main pond, shaping the land, and bringing in gravel. David is overseeing the pond and creek portions of the project, guiding early phases that are critical to everything that follows. These first steps—moving earth and defining the terrain—are laying the groundwork for a space designed to inspire exploration and play.
What makes this project especially unique is its commitment to working with nature, not against it. As Thomas Rients (Lead Engineer, Widseth) explained, the vision is to design “everything into and around nature rather than taking down nature.” This philosophy is already visible in the construction process.
During winter site preparation, David and the WonderTrek planning team carefully ribboned trees to preserve as much of the natural environment as possible. Instead of simply clearing the land, materials are being reused. Tree tops and logs will become part of the play experience, and excavated soil is being repurposed for building pads. This sustainable approach reduces waste, respects donor investments, and ensures the campus remains deeply connected to its surroundings.
The Outdoor Adventure campus will ultimately feature a variety of landscapes, allowing families to move seamlessly from one environment to another, all within a single, thoughtfully designed space. From forested areas to open grasslands and water features, every element is being shaped with intention to create an immersive experience where nature itself becomes part of the play.
For David, being in the middle of that transformation is what makes this project stand out. From early planning conversations to seeing the vision take shape on paper, and now in the ground, he’s watched the idea evolve into something tangible. Today, he’s not just overseeing construction; in his words: “he’s helping bring to life a place where thousands of kids and families will one day explore, play, and learn.”
That sense of purpose extends across the entire construction team. There’s a shared understanding that this isn’t just another job site, it’s a community space in the making. Built with a “Lakes Proud” spirit, and with nearly 100% of contractors coming from the region, the project reflects deep local pride and investment. It’s a place designed to grow with the area, to welcome families of all backgrounds and abilities, and to create lasting memories for years to come.
As work continues, so does our “Ready for WonderTrek” capital campaign (currently in its final stretch). While we’re close to the finish line, continued support will help ensure every detail of this vision is fully realized. Join us in building something extraordinary, where wonder leads the way, nature becomes the classroom, and childhood imagination knows no bounds.
