Sugarloaf Cove Grand Re-Opening held on Saturday: Photo Gallery
Jul 13, 2026 06:49AM ● By Editor
By Alex Dobbins - Boreal Community Media - July 13, 2026
This past Saturday, the Sugarloaf Cove Nature and Science Center held its Summer Celebration to mark the center’s grand reopening, featuring new interactive exhibits inside the center and three new immersive, artist-led story walks.
The newly re-opened Nature Center at Sugarloaf Cove, where visitors can explore the new interactive exhibits and the Artist led story walks.
Throughout the celebration, visitors could explore a few activity stations, including a paper craft section, a personalized poetry station, and an information booth with giveaways and cake. The day also included Chickadee Storytime and then ended with a concert with Christian Bardin, Theo Langason and Peter Marrow performing songs featured in artist led story walks.
Sugarloaf Cove's Nature Center sign.
The exhibits inside the Nature Center were designed with the whole family in mind. These interactive exhibits aim to teach everyone about the geology, ecology, and history of the Sugarload Cove. The exhibits were made with support of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and in collaboration with Split Rock Studios.
Inside the Nature Center and the new interactive exhibits.
It really was the perfect sunny Saturday for Diver Van Avery’s new artist-led story walks to open.There was surprisingly not many mosquitos either, which is usually a sign of a good day. On the Nature Center’s porch there were headphones to use for the story walks. Each story is unique and follows a different different walk. Visitors can choose from The Beholder, The Successor, and The Seeker.
Artist-led Story Walks headphone stand.
"What's Blooming" board to help identify the native plants.
I chose The Seeker, which led me on a completely new journey through the woods. It was my first experience with an artist led story walk.
Signs of the chosen story are placed along the path.
Thumbleberry plants on the forest floor.
In following the story, I encountered Sugarloaf Cove Creek, the Scientific and Nature Area, the cobblestone beach, and the cove through a powerful lens that was somehow my own and the artist’s. You can feel the care and acknowledgment of the land in the story walk. At the same time, it allowed me to experience another person's relationship and gratitude for that same place.
The Sugarloaf Cove area spans 34 acres, with 7 acres designated as the Scientific and Nature Area. This protected area preserves the unique geology and ecology that are found along the Lake Superior shoreline, including native plant life and lichen communities. Also found here and protected are the white pine, white cedar, and white spruce.
The tombolo on Sugarloaf Cove
On Sugarloaf’s shore, some of the world's oldest geology is exposed. Evidence of lava flow and volcanic rock shape the shoreline. The Basalitic found here is 1100 million years old. Then, on the cobblestone beach, visitors can find large, smooth, rounded stones that have been tumbled by Lake Superior’s waves.
Sign for the Nature Center and East Loop.
Together, the new exhibits and the story walks help create spaces for a wider range of involvement with visitors, as well as help foster the curiosity for the outdoors. A large part of Sugarloaf Cove’s work focuses on informing the public to identify and protect native species along the North Shore.
Concert for the Grand Re-Opening at Sugarloaf Cove's Nature Center.
Peter Marrow performing at the Grand Re-Opening of Sugarloaf Cove's Nature Center.
