This page provides an
alphabetical listing of nature center facilities by region.
Links are provided as a
convenience to those
seeking information regarding Wisconsin's nature centers.
No evaluation of the quality of the programs or resources provided by these
institutions, nor any endorsements, have been made by the WEEB. To
add a facility to this list, please contact the WEEB office.
Last updated 11/08/2006
A state-wide on-line networking mechanism (Nature Net)
was created, through a WEEB grant, to facilitate communication between
nature center
facilities and the general public.
Users seeking information about Wisconsin nature centers may
also wish to view the Nature Net website at:
http://www.naturenet.com/directory.asp
SOUTH
WEST
CRAWFORD COUNTY
GRANT COUNTY
IOWA COUNTY
LAFAYETTE COUNTY
RICHLAND COUNTY
VERNON COUNTY
SOUTH
CENTRAL
COLUMBIA
COUNTY
Durward's
Glen Retreat and Conference Center - Based
in Baraboo, offers occasional nature walks and programs.
MacKenzie
Environmental Center- Located
in Poynette, the center features an exhibit of live Wisconsin
wildlife, self-guided hikes and trails, museums, a fire tower, a
picnic area and much more.
DANE COUNTY
Aldo
Leopold Nature Center -ALNC's
mission is to teach love, respect, and admiration for the land
in the spirit of Wisconsin's premier conservationist, Aldo
Leopold.
Bethel
Horizons Nature Center -Bethel
Horizons consists of 460 acres of diverse plant and animal
communities ideally situated adjacent to Governor Dodge State
Park.
Heritage
Center- A
Multi-use educational and interpretive facility providing
opportunities for youth and adult learning, volunteerism,
outdoor recreation, and special events.
Madison
City Conservation Parks- Links
to park-related web pages.
MMSD
- Cherokee Marsh -Cherokee
Marsh is the most diverse of all nature study areas with a
mosaic of wetlands, southern Wisconsin woodlots, old fields,
restored prairie and oak savanna, two glacial drumlins and the
Yahara River.
MMSD
- School Forest- The
287 acre Madison School Forest includes the Olson Oak Woods
State Natural Area, a prime example of a Wisconsin southern
dry forest with remnants of presettlement days.
Nature's Classroom
Institute: This Madison facility is a non-profit, residential
teaching service offering an individualized approach to environmental and science-based
education.
Olbrich
Botanical Gardens - A
spectacular tropical conservatory is open for year-round
enjoyment, 14 acres of outdoor specialty gardens, and a
botanical center complete with gift shop, library and meeting
rooms -- it's all here at the Gardens.
U.
W. Arboretum- Explore
the opportunities for nature appreciation, environmental
education, and ecological research at this web site and at the
Arboretum.
U.
W. Geology Museum- The
museum displays minerals, rocks, fossils, a 6-foot globe, and
a walk-through model of a Wisconsin limestone cave.
GREEN
COUNTY
ROCK COUNTY
Welty
Environmental Center The Center is
located 6 miles west of
Beloit in the Beckman Mill County Park. The Center's mission is
to
provide
leadership in environmental and ecological education to
individuals of every age so that all residents of this region
can make informed decisions leading to respect for, and the
enjoyment, preservation, and responsible use of our natural
systems. The Center
provides environmental education programs for schools, special
groups, the public, and children.
SAUK COUNTY
Aldo
Leopold Foundation - Based
in Baraboo, this group continues the work and teachings of Aldo
Leopold.
International
Crane Foundation
(ICF) Based in Baraboo, they work worldwide to conserve cranes
and the wetland and grasslands communities on which they depend.
Upham
Woods - A
living labortory for young scientist to experience one to five
day excursions near the famous Wisconsin Dells (Dalles) along
the Wisconsin River.
SOUTH
EAST
DODGE COUNTY
Horicon Marsh International Education Center The
primary purpose of the Center is to enlighten visitors about
the importance of wetland and wildlife conservation and
management. Naturalist program subjects include the following:
JEFFERSON
COUNTY
KENOSHA COUNTY
Hawthorne Hollow Nature Sanctuary and
Arboretum The 40 acre nature
sanctuary includes a 12 acre arboretum containing a variety of
shrubs, conifers and deciduous trees. Two miles of nature trails
wind through the woods of the Pike River Valley, perennial
gardens and prairies.
Pringle Nature Center
located
in a 197 acre park with over 4 miles of hiking trails through
deciduous forests and wetlands. School and scouting groups can
schedule a program any time
Seno Woodland
Education Center
is 131 acres of forest, fields, prairie and wetlands. The goals
of The Center are to provide educational opportunities for
educators, students, landowners and the general public; and to
demonstrate sustainable management of forest and related
resources
MILWAUKEE COUNTY
Havenwoods Environmental Awareness Center is located
within Havenwoods State Forest a 237-acre open, green space in
the City of Milwaukee. The facility provides environmental
education and recreation opportunities and maintains natural
habitat in the urban environment.
Hawthorne Glen Outdoor Education Center located on 25
acres, offers hiking trails through woods, prairie, wetland.
Naturalists lead school groups, adult and youth group programs
Schlitz
Audubon Nature Center A
unique urban area of green just 15 minutes north of downtown
Milwaukee, the Center (SANC) is a 185-acre stretch of land
along the shore of Lake Michigan. Escape from the world of
concrete to hike six miles of trails, walk along the beach,
and enjoy the spectacular view from the 60-foot observation
tower. Attend programs and workshops, view nature exhibits
and resident raptors (eagles, owls, and more!), or go
hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. Remember to
bring your binoculars because you never know when you�ll
come across wildlife. SANC serves over 35,000 Milwaukee-area
children per year and has one of the only nature preschools
in the country. Call 414-352-2880 or visit
www.sanc.org for more information.
The
Urban Ecology Center located in Riverside Park is a
neighbor based not-for-profit community center. Its mission is
to preserve and improve the natural resources of Riverside
Park, the Milwaukee River, and adjacent green spaces.
Wehr
Nature Center is within Milwaukee County's Whitnall Park.
Wehr functions as a "living laboratory" and an
educational and public information center to promote the care
of the earth. Since 1974, The Nature Center, in cooperation
with University of Wisconsin Extension, has operated as the
Milwaukee County Park System's source of environmental
education. It serves over 90,000 people annually, from pre-schoolers
to senior citizens. In addition, the Center's outreach
program, Nature In the Parks, creates an environmental
awareness in future generations through interpretive field
trips, throughout the county parks.
OZAUKEE
COUNTY
Riveredge
Nature Center This facility located in Newburg covers 350 acres, with approximately 12 miles of
trails. Their
mission is to provide leadership in environmental education,
to preserve its natural sanctuary and to serve as a regional
resource for scientific research.
RACINE
COUNTY
River Bend Nature Center The YWCA of Racine is the only
YWCA in the world that operates a nature center. Over 20,000
schoolchildren, day campers, families, and others visit River
Bend each year to learn about and experience the natural
world. River Bend's mission is to help people of all ages
learn to live more harmoniously and joyously with the natural
world.
WALWORTH COUNTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY
WAUKESHA COUNTY
Retzer Nature Center
The
Waukesha County Park System�s Nature Program, housed at the
Retzer Nature Center, is recognized statewide for its
ecological orientation and experience in applied research on
prairie plantings and restoration.
WEST
CENTRAL
BUFFALO
COUNTY
CHIPPEWA COUNTY
DUNN COUNTY
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
Beaver
Creek Reserve: Ten miles east of Eau Claire, the Reserve
encompasses 360 acres of diverse habitats and includes 3 different facilities: The Eau
Claire County Youth Camp, the Wise Nature Center, and the Hobbs Observatory. The Reserve's
mission is to provide education and resources to help citizens develop and nurture their
appreciation and understanding of our natural heritage and foster a lifetime committment
to the protection of our fragile planet Earth.
JACKSON
COUNTY
LACROSSE COUNTY
Hixon
Forest Nature Center in La Crosse, just off the east
side of Highway 16,
nestled
between the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River and the
scenic 500-foot bluffs. Serves as the visitor center
and steward to the 800 acre Hixon Forest and 1100 acre La
Crosse River Marsh. The Nature Center is a non-profit
organization dedicated to increasing public awareness,
understanding, enjoyment, and protection of local natural
areas. Open Monday - Friday, 9:00-4:00 p.m. and Saturday &
Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
Norskedalen Nature and Heritage
Center
400 acre
nonprofit nature and heritage center with hiking trails,
arboretum, 1890's restored pioneer homestead, museums, gift
shop, outdoor facilities, and 1/2 mile
handicapped-accessible trail
Upper
Midwest Environmental Sciences Center: This United States
Geological Survey facility's mission is to provide the information needed to support the
sound management of the Mississippi River. The site contains information on invasive
species, migratory birds, aquatic ecology, environmental contaminants, fishery drug
research and development, endangered and declining species, and many links to other sites.
MONROE
COUNTY
PEPIN COUNTY
PIERCE COUNTY
ST. CROIX
Carpenter St. Croix Nature Center is a private, non-profit
nature preserve and environmental education facility
established in 1981 under an endowment from the Thomas E. and
Edna D. Carpenter Foundation. We currently have 425 acres at
our main campus which is located just one mile northwest of
Prescott, WI. Located on the St. Croix River, CNC offers 3
1/2 miles of paved trails and over 10 miles of grass or
wood-chipped trails as well as an Interpretive Center which
offers hands-on exhibits and live animals on display.
TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
CENTRAL
ADAMS
COUNTY
GREEN LAKE
JUNEAU COUNTY
MARATHON COUNTY
MARQUETTE COUNTY
PORTAGE COUNTY
Central
Wisconsin Environmental Station: CWES
is a year-round conference and environmental education center
located 17 miles east of Stevens Point, WI. Facility
offers school programs, summer camps and expeditions, and a
variety of workshops.
The
Schmeeckle Reserve: named after Fred
J. Schmeeckle, is a 275 acre natural area set aside to
preserve the natural plant and animal communities typical of
central Wisconsin. Supported by the University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point as a research and teaching resource,
the Reserve also offers inspiration and recreational enjoyment
for the general public.
SHAWNO
COUNTY
Navarino
Nature Center
was established in April of 1986 by a
group of residents concerned about ecology and environmental
education. In January of 1987 in cooperation with the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) a site was
selected on the 15,000-acre Navarino Wildlife Area. A parking
lot, well, amphitheater and cabin were added in 1990. In 1999
the new Education building was built. The Nature Center
continues to grow with increased educational, service, and
recreational programs.
WAUPACA COUNTY
Nature's
Edge As a environmental, educational and recreational
center we are happy to be able to offer individuals an
opportunity to explore the forest and lakes that create
Nature's Edge. Nature's Edge offers ADA year around
accommodations on beautiful McLean and Gooseneck Lakes in
Waupaca County.
WAUSHARA COUNTY
WOOD COUNTY
EAST
CENTRAL
BROWN COUNTY
CALUMET COUNTY
Ledge
View Nature Center Is
a 105-acre preserve with nature center
in Chilton. Exhibits focus on
Lake Sturgeon, Wisconsin Bats, Birds, and Niagara Escarpment.
Facilities include honeybee observation hive; library; hiking/xc
ski trails; fun trail; 60-foot observation tower; labeled
arboretum, butterfly garden, and rain garden; three natural
solution caves, and quarry. The building is open
8-4:30 weekdays, 10-4:30 weekends, and closed on major holidays.
The park is open dawn till dusk, every day. There is no entrance
fee. School programs
on caving and geology, maple syruping, and winter ecology also
available.
