Stan tekiela biography

While preparing his income taxes earlier this year, workaholic Stan Tekiela realized he had nine different revenue streams that combined to give him a living wage with benefits.

He’s decided to retire from one of those jobs, and it’s a big one.

Jan. 2 will be his final day running the Eden Prairie Outdoor Center, also known as the Staring Lake Outdoor Center.

Thousands of Eden Prairie residents, from preschoolers to retirees, have learned about nature and the environment during his 24 years running the city-owned nature center, a historic log cabin and adjacent buildings located on the north side of Staring Lake, along with trails, an “edible playground,” and demonstration prairie.

Among Tekiela’s memorable accomplishments:

• He shifted the nature center from a recreation emphasis to environmental education.
• The nature center consistently hosts about 400 children in summer camps and more than 2,000 during the school year. 
• Tekiela created an astronomy pr