FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Crocheted mushrooms take over Eagle Bluff trails in interactive fungi hunt
LANESBORO, MN — May 4, 2026 — A new outdoor art experience is turning trails into a scavenger hunt at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center—with hand-crocheted mushrooms hidden in plain sight.
The Eagle Bluff Fungi Hunt, created by Rochester-based artist Lydia Hansen, features dozens of fiber-crafted replicas of native fungi species placed along a 0.75-mile trail loop. Visitors are invited to explore, search, and learn as they encounter each piece, paired with interpretive signage about Minnesota’s ecosystems.
Blending art, science, and outdoor exploration, the experience is designed for all ages and encourages visitors to slow down and observe the natural world more closely.
“Lydia’s installations create shared moments of curiosity and discovery out on the trail, inviting people to slow down and experience the outdoors in a new way,” said Colleen Foehrenbacher, Executive Director at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. “Her work is closely aligned with our mission, connecting people to the earth and each other, and we’re excited to offer the surrounding community this unique opportunity to connect outdoors.”
The Fungi Hunt is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk from May 3, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Maps are available at the Schroeder Visitor Center. Additional summer programming includes guided hikes led by Tanner Barnharst, Minnesota Master Naturalist and author of two lichen field guides.
A public reception to meet the artist will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 1:00–2:30 p.m. The event will include a presentation by the artist about the project, remarks from Eagle Bluff’s Executive Director on the partnership, and time to mix and mingle. Guests will also have the opportunity to hike to view the exhibit.
The reception will begin at the campfire ring on Eagle Bluff’s campus, with signage to guide guests. In case of rain, the event will be held at the Schroeder Visitor Center.
This project is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
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About Lydia Hansen
Lydia Hansen is a fiber and installation artist who creates immersive, site-responsive works that invite audiences to reconnect with the natural world. Working across sculpture and large-scale installations, Hansen blends visual and experiential art to spark observation and curiosity. Since launching her practice in 2020, her work has been exhibited at Threshold Arts, Pump House Arts, Austin ArtWorks Center, and Chatfield Center for the Arts, with upcoming installations at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center and Bloomington Center for the Arts.
Learn more at www.lydiahansen.art.
About Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
Founded in 1978, Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in the scenic Root River Valley of southeastern Minnesota. Eagle Bluff provides immersive, hands-on outdoor education and adventure experiences for learners of all ages through programs including K–12 Outdoor School, Nature Preschool, summer camps, family adventures, and team-building activities. Through place-based, experiential learning, Eagle Bluff fosters a deeper connection to the outdoors through its mission, “empowering people to care for the earth and each other.”
Media Contact
Laura M. Ahmed
Director of Marketing and Communications, Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
Office: (507) 467-2717
Cell: (507) 884-9577
