Ron Bolduan, a 2026 ISD Hall of Fame inductee, proudly displays his award alongside his daughter, Lori Wengert at the Riverside Center. Wengert continues her father's legacy by managing the educational center, a testament to his lifelong dedication to nature and wildlife.  (Photo by Amy Zents)

NEW ULM — Less than 24 hours after receiving one of the district’s highest recognitions, ISD 88 Foundation Hall of Fame inductee Ron Bolduan was back at work doing what earned him the honor in the first place: educating the community about the natural world.

Bolduan, 82, visited the Riverside Environmental Learning Center in Riverside Park on Saturday, where his decades of environmental education and artifact collection continue to serve local residents.

Bolduan was the only living member of the 2026 Hall of Fame class able to attend Friday’s ceremony. He said he was “really impressed to be in that group,” which included three posthumous inductees. His selection recognized a lifetime of contributions to natural history education, community outreach and the preservation of regional wildlife artifacts.

The Riverside Environmental Learning Center, operated as a nonprofit, houses the extensive collection Bolduan built over many years. His daughter, Lori Wengert, now manages the center and its programming. She said the collection began with her father’s early explorations along the Cottonwood River, where he located bison bones and skulls between Flandreau State Park and Schell’s Brewery. The growing assortment eventually outgrew his garage and required a permanent home.

Wengert said many of the items on display were collected by her father, while others were donated by community members.

“A lot of the things in the front room come from families who bring in items after someone passes away and they don’t want to keep them,” she said.

Additional specimens, including snakes, were acquired online. Taxidermy work for several displays, including an opossum, was completed by her husband, Chad Wengert.

The center’s exhibits provide visitors with direct interaction with regional wildlife.

“Kids come in and it’s hands‒on, and they get to play with all the animals,” Wengert said. “Adults, I kind of give them a tour on the history of the bison and the beaver.” The center is open every other weekend, with additional hours on Thursdays after school.

Bolduan said the Hall of Fame recognition reflects the work he has invested over many years.

“It was a major focus of my life for quite a while,” he said. “It’s very nice to have her involved and to know that it’s going to be carried on after I’m gone.”

He noted that the center’s development would not have been possible without the efforts of his daughter and son‒in‒law.

Bolduan’s interest in natural history began with walking the Cottonwood River and collecting bones and artifacts. His first bison horn was found along the river; 10 months later, his late wife Linda located the matching half. Wengert said her mother rarely joined the searches, making the discovery notable.

The center includes fishing equipment and other items related to outdoor activities. Wengert said her father and family members have long been involved in fishing and nature exploration.

The Riverside Environmental Learning Center remains an active educational resource, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about local wildlife, examine artifacts found along the Cottonwood River and engage with the natural history of the region. Bolduan’s Hall of Fame recognition underscores the significance of this work and the impact it has had on generations of students and community members.

Wengert said, the center’s value lies in its accessibility.

“The kids like it because they are allowed to actually touch most of the stuff,” she said. “That’s something they don’t get to do in a museum.”