This is a list of nature centers in the U.S. state of Illinois.
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ONE OF THE BEST PLACE FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE PLANT LIFE, AT SAND RIDGE, PLACE FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE PLANT LIFE, AT SAND RIDGE, ILLINOIS' LARGEST FOREST NEAR PLANT LIFE, AT SAND RIDGE, ILLINOIS' LARGEST FOREST NEAR FOREST CITY. ILLINOIS' LARGEST FOREST NEAR FOREST CITY. THE SAND WAS DEPOSITED HERE FOREST CITY. THE SAND WAS DEPOSITED HERE APPROXIMATELY 15,000 YEARS AGO. THE SAND WAS DEPOSITED HERE APPROXIMATELY 15,000 YEARS AGO. THIS IS VERY UNIQUE HERE IN THIS APPROXIMATELY 15,000 YEARS AGO. THIS IS VERY UNIQUE HERE IN THIS SAND HAS WATER UNDERNEATH IT. THIS IS VERY UNIQUE HERE IN THIS SAND HAS WATER UNDERNEATH IT. THE SURROUNDING AREA HAS SAND HAS WATER UNDERNEATH IT. THE SURROUNDING AREA HAS POTPOURRI. THE SURROUNDING AREA HAS POTPOURRI. IT MAKES FOR PLANTS YOU WOULD POTPOURRI. IT MAKES FOR PLANTS YOU WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH A MARSH AREA AND IT MAKES FOR PLANTS YOU WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH A MARSH AREA AND DESERT AREA, AND THEN THE NATIVE ASSOCIATE WITH A MARSH AREA AND DESERT AREA, AND THEN THE NATIVE SPECIES TO ILLINOIS ARE ALL IN DESERT AREA, AND THEN THE NATIVE SPECIES TO ILLINOIS ARE ALL IN THIS AREA. SPECIES TO ILLINOIS ARE ALL IN THIS AREA. IT IS VERY PROLIFIC THROUGHOUT THIS AREA. IT IS VERY PROLIFIC THROUGHOUT THE FOREST. IT IS VERY PROLIFIC THROUGHOUT THE FOREST. IT BLOOM INS JUNE. THE FOREST. IT BLOOM INS JUNE. USUALLY IT IS A BEAUTIFUL YELLOW IT BLOOM INS JUNE. USUALLY IT IS A BEAUTIFUL YELLOW FLOWER. USUALLY IT IS A BEAUTIFUL YELLOW FLOWER. IT IS FOUND ALL OVER OUT WEST IT FLOWER. IT IS FOUND ALL OVER OUT WEST IT IS ALL OVER THE SAND REGIONS OF IT IS FOUND ALL OVER OUT WEST IT IS ALL OVER THE SAND REGIONS OF ILLINOIS, THROUGH HERE AND THE IS ALL OVER THE SAND REGIONS OF ILLINOIS, THROUGH HERE AND THE AREA I JUST DESCRIBED. ILLINOIS, THROUGH HERE AND THE AREA I JUST DESCRIBED. PORCUPINE GRASS IS ALSO FOUND AREA I JUST DESCRIBED. PORCUPINE GRASS IS ALSO FOUND HERE IN VARIOUS PLACES. PORCUPINE GRASS IS ALSO FOUND HERE IN VARIOUS PLACES. IT GROWS ON VERY POOR SOIL. HERE IN VARIOUS PLACES. IT GROWS ON VERY POOR SOIL. WE ALSO HAVE THE PLANTS YOU IT GROWS ON VERY POOR SOIL. WE ALSO HAVE THE PLANTS YOU WOULD AIS SOCIETY LIKE LITTLE WE ALSO HAVE THE PLANTS YOU WOULD AIS SOCIETY LIKE LITTLE BLUE STEM, BIG BLUE STEM, SWITCH WOULD AIS SOCIETY LIKE LITTLE BLUE STEM, BIG BLUE STEM, SWITCH GRASS, ALSO HERE. BLUE STEM, BIG BLUE STEM, SWITCH GRASS, ALSO HERE. BACK IN THE 30'S WHEN THE GRASS, ALSO HERE. BACK IN THE 30'S WHEN THE DEPRESSION HIT, PEOPLE WERE OUT BACK IN THE 30'S WHEN THE DEPRESSION HIT, PEOPLE WERE OUT OF WORK THROUGH THE CONSERVATION DEPRESSION HIT, PEOPLE WERE OUT OF WORK THROUGH THE CONSERVATION CORPS, THEY HAD CAMPS TO REPLANT OF WORK THROUGH THE CONSERVATION CORPS, THEY HAD CAMPS TO REPLANT TREES OUT HERE SHOWING THAT THIS CORPS, THEY HAD CAMPS TO REPLANT TREES OUT HERE SHOWING THAT THIS AREA COULD BE -- HAVE A VIABLE TREES OUT HERE SHOWING THAT THIS AREA COULD BE -- HAVE A VIABLE CROP IN SAND. AREA COULD BE -- HAVE A VIABLE CROP IN SAND. THEY PLANTED GOOD PORTION OF THE CROP IN SAND. THEY PLANTED GOOD PORTION OF THE TREES HERE ALONG WITH VOLUNTEERS THEY PLANTED GOOD PORTION OF THE TREES HERE ALONG WITH VOLUNTEERS AND THIS PLACE USED -- WHEREVER TREES HERE ALONG WITH VOLUNTEERS AND THIS PLACE USED -- WHEREVER YOU SEE THE PINES USED TO BE AN AND THIS PLACE USED -- WHEREVER YOU SEE THE PINES USED TO BE AN OPEN BLOW SAND AREA. YOU SEE THE PINES USED TO BE AN OPEN BLOW SAND AREA. THAT WAS THE FIRST PLANTATION OPEN BLOW SAND AREA. THAT WAS THE FIRST PLANTATION THEY CAME IN AND PLANTED TO SEE THAT WAS THE FIRST PLANTATION THEY CAME IN AND PLANTED TO SEE WHICH PINE TREES WOULD DO THE THEY CAME IN AND PLANTED TO SEE WHICH PINE TREES WOULD DO THE BEST. WHICH PINE TREES WOULD DO THE BEST. THEN FROM THAT KNOWLEDGE, THEY BEST. THEN FROM THAT KNOWLEDGE, THEY TOOK THOSE TREES AND PLANTED THEN FROM THAT KNOWLEDGE, THEY TOOK THOSE TREES AND PLANTED THEM OUT IN THE FOREST. TOOK THOSE TREES AND PLANTED THEM OUT IN THE FOREST. 60 YEARS LATER, YOU GOT THE THEM OUT IN THE FOREST. 60 YEARS LATER, YOU GOT THE RESULT OF ALL THAT THAT WAS 60 YEARS LATER, YOU GOT THE RESULT OF ALL THAT THAT WAS REPLANTED HERE. RESULT OF ALL THAT THAT WAS REPLANTED HERE. PINE TREES WEREN'T THE ONLY REPLANTED HERE. PINE TREES WEREN'T THE ONLY THING THAT WAS REPLANTED HERE. PINE TREES WEREN'T THE ONLY THING THAT WAS REPLANTED HERE. YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS SUCH AS THING THAT WAS REPLANTED HERE. YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS SUCH AS AUTUMN OLIVE, BLACK LOCUST. YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS SUCH AS AUTUMN OLIVE, BLACK LOCUST. THERE CERTAINLY WERE OTHER OAK AUTUMN OLIVE, BLACK LOCUST. THERE CERTAINLY WERE OTHER OAK TREES, YOU WALNUT TREES THAT THERE CERTAINLY WERE OTHER OAK TREES, YOU WALNUT TREES THAT WERE PLANTED HERE. TREES, YOU WALNUT TREES THAT WERE PLANTED HERE. IT CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY WERE PLANTED HERE. IT CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 7200 ACRES OF OF WHICH IT CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 7200 ACRES OF OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY 3500 ACRES IS 7200 ACRES OF OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY 3500 ACRES IS NATIVE OAK HICKORY FOREST. APPROXIMATELY 3500 ACRES IS NATIVE OAK HICKORY FOREST. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2500 A NATIVE OAK HICKORY FOREST. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2500 A ACRES OF PINE PLANTATIONS THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2500 A ACRES OF PINE PLANTATIONS PLANTED, AND THEN THE REST WOULD ACRES OF PINE PLANTATIONS PLANTED, AND THEN THE REST WOULD BE OPEN FIELDS, PRAIRIES OR PLANTED, AND THEN THE REST WOULD BE OPEN FIELDS, PRAIRIES OR FIELD. BE OPEN FIELDS, PRAIRIES OR FIELD. WITH WE HAVE THREE CAMPING FIELD. WITH WE HAVE THREE CAMPING AREAS. WITH WE HAVE THREE CAMPING AREAS. THE PINE CAMP IS FOR THE FAMILY AREAS. THE PINE CAMP IS FOR THE FAMILY ORIENTED SETTING. THE PINE CAMP IS FOR THE FAMILY ORIENTED SETTING. UNDERNEATH THE PINE PLANTATIONS, ORIENTED SETTING. UNDERNEATH THE PINE PLANTATIONS, THE ORIGINAL PINE PLANTATION. UNDERNEATH THE PINE PLANTATIONS, THE ORIGINAL PINE PLANTATION. WE HAVE A GROUP AREA CALLED THE THE ORIGINAL PINE PLANTATION. WE HAVE A GROUP AREA CALLED THE OAK CAMP GROUND FOR GROUPS TEN WE HAVE A GROUP AREA CALLED THE OAK CAMP GROUND FOR GROUPS TEN OR LARGER, TEN PEOPLE OR LARGER. OAK CAMP GROUND FOR GROUPS TEN OR LARGER, TEN PEOPLE OR LARGER. WE ALSO HAVE EQUESTRIAN CAMP OR LARGER, TEN PEOPLE OR LARGER. WE ALSO HAVE EQUESTRIAN CAMP GROUND THAT ALSO SERVES AS A WE ALSO HAVE EQUESTRIAN CAMP GROUND THAT ALSO SERVES AS A TRAIL HEAD FOR THE EQUESTRIAN GROUND THAT ALSO SERVES AS A TRAIL HEAD FOR THE EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY. TRAIL HEAD FOR THE EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY. THEN WE DO HAVE 12 BACK COUNTRY COMMUNITY. THEN WE DO HAVE 12 BACK COUNTRY CAMP SITES THAT YOU CAN HIKE ON THEN WE DO HAVE 12 BACK COUNTRY CAMP SITES THAT YOU CAN HIKE ON OUR TRAIL SYSTEM AND CAMP IN A CAMP SITES THAT YOU CAN HIKE ON OUR TRAIL SYSTEM AND CAMP IN A REMOTE AREA OF THE FOREST. OUR TRAIL SYSTEM AND CAMP IN A REMOTE AREA OF THE FOREST. WE HAVE LITTLE OVER 55 MILES OF REMOTE AREA OF THE FOREST. WE HAVE LITTLE OVER 55 MILES OF TRAILS IN THE FOREST THAT COVERS WE HAVE LITTLE OVER 55 MILES OF TRAILS IN THE FOREST THAT COVERS JUST ABOUT EVERY CORNER OF THE TRAILS IN THE FOREST THAT COVERS JUST ABOUT EVERY CORNER OF THE FOREST. JUST ABOUT EVERY CORNER OF THE FOREST. WE HAVE ALSO ARCHERY RANGE AND FOREST. WE HAVE ALSO ARCHERY RANGE AND TRAP RANGE. WE HAVE ALSO ARCHERY RANGE AND TRAP RANGE. WE ARE KIND OF A WELL KEPT TRAP RANGE. WE ARE KIND OF A WELL KEPT SECRET HERE. WE ARE KIND OF A WELL KEPT SECRET HERE. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN FULL TO MY SECRET HERE. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN FULL TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN THE CAMP GROUNDS IN WE HAVE NEVER BEEN FULL TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN THE CAMP GROUNDS IN THE 18 YEARS THAT I HAVE WORKED KNOWLEDGE IN THE CAMP GROUNDS IN THE 18 YEARS THAT I HAVE WORKED HERE. THE 18 YEARS THAT I HAVE WORKED HERE. WE HAD TWO TORNADOES PASS HERE. WE HAD TWO TORNADOES PASS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN PORTION OF WE HAD TWO TORNADOES PASS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE FOREST, ONE MAY 10, AND THEN THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE FOREST, ONE MAY 10, AND THEN AGAIN ONE MAY 30. THE FOREST, ONE MAY 10, AND THEN AGAIN ONE MAY 30. THEY WERE VERY, VERY AGAIN ONE MAY 30. THEY WERE VERY, VERY DESTRUCTIVE. THEY STRUCK THEIR THEY WERE VERY, VERY DESTRUCTIVE. THEY STRUCK THEIR TAIL DOWN IN THE FOREST AND DESTRUCTIVE. THEY STRUCK THEIR TAIL DOWN IN THE FOREST AND DIDN'T LIFT UP UNTIL IT GOT TO TAIL DOWN IN THE FOREST AND DIDN'T LIFT UP UNTIL IT GOT TO THE OTHER SIDE. DIDN'T LIFT UP UNTIL IT GOT TO THE OTHER SIDE. THE PATH OF THE FIRST ONE WAS THE OTHER SIDE. THE PATH OF THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT 300 YARDS WIDE, AND THE THE PATH OF THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT 300 YARDS WIDE, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ROUGHLY 250 YARDS ABOUT 300 YARDS WIDE, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ROUGHLY 250 YARDS WIDE. OTHER ONE WAS ROUGHLY 250 YARDS WIDE. THEY CRISSCROSSED IN THE WIDE. THEY CRISSCROSSED IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE THEY CRISSCROSSED IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE FOREST. GIVEN THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS FOREST AND THE DIVERSITY OF THE PLANTS AND THE FORESTRY PRODUCTS FOREST AND THE DIVERSITY OF THE PLANTS AND THE FORESTRY PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE PRODUCED HERE, THIS PLANTS AND THE FORESTRY PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE PRODUCED HERE, THIS IS VERY CRUCIAL IN MAINTAINING THAT CAN BE PRODUCED HERE, THIS IS VERY CRUCIAL IN MAINTAINING THIS AREA. IS VERY CRUCIAL IN MAINTAINING THIS AREA. IF YOU GO OUTSIDE OF THIS AREA, THIS AREA. IF YOU GO OUTSIDE OF THIS AREA, ALL YOU SEE IS AGRICULTURAL IF YOU GO OUTSIDE OF THIS AREA, ALL YOU SEE IS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION FIELD WHICH WHICH IS ALL YOU SEE IS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION FIELD WHICH WHICH IS VERY UNIQUE TO THIS AREA. PRODUCTION FIELD WHICH WHICH IS VERY UNIQUE TO THIS AREA. SAND RIDGE STATE FOREST NOT ONLY VERY UNIQUE TO THIS AREA. SAND RIDGE STATE FOREST NOT ONLY OFFERS CAMPING AND PICNIC AREAS, SAND RIDGE STATE FOREST NOT ONLY OFFERS CAMPING AND PICNIC AREAS, BUT FOR THE HIKERS, THERE ARE OFFERS CAMPING AND PICNIC AREAS, BUT FOR THE HIKERS, THERE ARE 44 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS ALONG BUT FOR THE HIKERS, THERE ARE 44 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS ALONG WOULD ANOTHER 120 MILES OF FIRE 44 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS ALONG WOULD ANOTHER 120 MILES OF FIRE LANES. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SAND RIDGE STATE FOREST CALL (309)597-2212.
Nature centers
Name | Location | County | Region | Summary |
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Adams Wildlife Sanctuary | Springfield | Sangamon | Central | 40 acres, operated by the Illinois Audubon Society |
Andresen Nature Center | Fulton | Whiteside | Northwest | information, operated by volunteers, open for city events and education programs, features displays of local wildlife, insects, and flora found along the local watershed of the upper Mississippi River |
Anita Purves Nature Center | Urbana | Champaign | Central | website, operated by Urbana Park District, exhibits on the natural history of Illinois, interactive and hands-on displays, live animals, located in Crystal Lake Park, adjacent to Busey Woods, a 59-acre forest preserve |
Army Trail Nature Center | Addison | DuPage | Chicago area | website, 17 acres, outdoor classroom, partnership of the Addison Park District, Addison Elementary School District 4 & DuPage High School District 88 |
Ballard Nature Center | Altamont | Effingham | Central | website, 210 acre nature preserve and educational center. It includes 107 acres of woodland, 15 acres of restored prairie, 10 acres of shallow water wetlands and 85 acres of agricultural land. |
Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center | Cypress | Johnson | Southern | Exhibits about natural history of the Cache River Wetlands and Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Bartlett Nature Center | Bartlett | DuPage | Chicago area | Located in the James "Pate" Philip State Park, operated by the Bartlett Park District[1] |
Black Hawk State Historic Site | Rock Island | Rock Island | Northern | 208-acre park includes Singing Bird Nature Center for outdoor education programs and native bird section, and a museum of Native American life |
Cabin Nature Center | Wood Dale | DuPage | Chicago area | website, operated by the Wood Dale Park District |
Creek Bend Nature Center | St. Charles | Kane | Chicago area | website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County in 439-acre LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, interpretive displays including prairie ecology and Fox River |
Crabtree Nature Center | Barrington | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, over 1,000 acres, features outdoor nature play area |
Crystal Lake Nature Center | Crystal Lake | McHenry | Northern | website, operated by the Crystal Lake Park District in 130-acre Veterans Acres Park, seasonal butterfly house |
Douglas-Hart Nature Center | Mattoon | Coles | Central | 70 acre preserve with prairie, woodlands and wetlands habitat, 2 miles of trails, interactive displays of local wild life, live reptiles and amphibians, a bird observation area, children's discovery den, library |
Eden Place Nature Center | Chicago | Cook | Chicago area | website, 3-acre urban nature preserve with a focus on food production and environmental education |
Emily Oaks Nature Center | Skokie | Cook | Chicago area | website, 13 acres, operated by the Skokie Park District |
Forest Park Nature Center | Peoria | Peoria | Central | website, operated by the Peoria Park District, 540 acre preserve, 7 miles of trails, natural history museum and bird observation room, musical and educational programs |
Four Rivers Environmental Education Center | Channahon | Will | Chicago area | website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County in 525-acre McKinley Woods - Kerry Sheridan Grove |
Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center | Oak Brook | DuPage | Chicago area | Operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, 226 acres, exhibits on area natural history |
The Grove | Glenview | Cook | Chicago area | Operated by the Glenview Park District, 123 acres, natural and cultural history displays, 1856 period house, log cabin, Native American longhouse, replica one-room schoolhouse, wetland greenhouse |
Hawthorne Hill Nature Center | Elgin | Kane | Chicago area | website, 67 acres, operated by the City |
Heller Nature Center | Highland Park | Lake | Chicago area | website, operated by the City, 97 acre preserve with 3 miles of trails |
Hidden Oaks Nature Center | Bolingbrook | Will | Chicago area | website, operated by the Bolingbrook Park District, almost 80 acres, hands-on discovery center, nature playground, outdoor amphitheater, Seedlings Nature Preschool |
Kent Fuller Air Station Prairie/Tyner Center | Glenview | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by the Glenview Park District, 32-acre remnant of a tall-grass prairie, seasonal educational programs about the prairie, the environment and "green" programs |
Kildeer Nature Center | Kildeer | Lake | Chicago area | website, 5 acres of open space, operated by the Village |
Ladd Arboretum & Evanston Ecology Center | Evanston | Cook | Chicago area | 23 acre arboretum and nature education facility |
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens | Palos Heights | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by the City, 85-acre park, 20-acre man-made lake with gardens, woodlands, and prairie |
Lake Renwick Preserve | Plainfield | Will | Chicago area | Operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County, 320 acre site and 200 acre lake where great blue herons, great egrets, black-crowned night herons, double-crested cormorants, and cattle egrets nest together, features Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Visitor Center with birding programs |
Lakeview Nature Center | Macomb | McDonough | Central | website, operated by the City, adjacent to Spring Lake Park, 55 acres of prairie, interactive displays and hands on programs that emphasize exploration and investigation of the environment |
Laws of Nature Center | Yorkville | Kendall | Chicago area | operated by the Kendall County Forest Preserve District, exhibits about prairies, insects, Native Americans, live bees, snakes, salamanders and frogs |
Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center | Springfield | Sangamon | Central | 100-acre (0.4 km²) woodland and prairie garden owned by the city of Springfield and managed by the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation |
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center | Willow Springs | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, interactive exhibits, live animals |
Lockhart Family Nature Center | Lake Forest | Lake | Chicago area | website, operated by Lake Forest Open Lands, located on 50-acre Mellody Farm Nature Preserve with the adjacent 514-acre Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve |
Lost Valley Visitor Center | Crystal Lake | McHenry | Northern | website, operated by the McHenry County Conservation District in 3,200-acre Glacial Park |
Lyman Woods Nature Center | Downers Grove | DuPage | Chicago area | website, operated by the village, 150 acres of oak woods, prairie, and marsh habitat, William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center features changing exhibits and activities, native landscaping, butterfly and rain gardens |
Morton Arboretum | Lisle | DuPage | Chicago area | 1,700 acres, offers extensive nature-entered education programs |
Natural Resources Education Center at Russell Preserve | Genoa | DeKalb | Chicago area | website, operated by the DeKalb County Forest Preserve for environmental education programs |
North Park Village Nature Center | Chicago | Cook | Chicago area | website, forty-six acre nature preserve and an educational facility, operated by City |
Peck Farm Park | Geneva | Kane | Chicago area | website, operated by the City, 385 acre park featuring a visitor's center with hands-on nature and history displays, observation silo, trails, sports facilities, outdoor education center |
Pilcher Park Nature Center | Joliet | Will | Chicago area | website, operated by the City, over 640 acres |
Plum Creek Nature Center | Beecher | Will | Chicago area | Operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County in 891-acre Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, natural playscape featuring a pollinator garden, rain garden, and interactive play elements |
Prairie Grass Nature Museum | Round Lake | Lake | Chicago area | website, operated by the village, features realistic habitats, live animals, nature activities and programs |
Red Oak Nature Center | North Aurora | Kane | Chicago area | website, operated by the Fox Valley Park District, 40+ acres, hands-on displays, live animals, nature preschool, cave |
River Trail Nature Center | Northbrook | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, live animals, nature programs |
Rivershire Park and Nature Center | Lincolnshire | Lake | Chicago area | operated by the village, 15 acres, outdoor education programs |
Robert Allerton Park | Willow Branch | Piatt | Central | 1,517-acre (614 ha) park, nature center and conference center |
Rock Springs Conservation Area & Nature Center | Decatur | Macon | Central | 1,300 acres, operated by the Macon County Conservation District, includes nature center museum, restored farmhouse, about nine miles of hiking trails, and a paved bike trail |
Ruth Edwards Nature Center | Dixon | Lee | Northwestern | Operated by the Dixon Park District, Great horned owl on display, education, nature preserve, trails on 200 acres of woodland and meadows, disc golf course, outdoor shelters available, playgrounds including a zip line, boat launch available on the Rock River |
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center | Lemont | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, exhibits on geology, history, and habitat management |
Sand Ridge Nature Center | South Holland | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, 235 acres, exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Calumet region, native animals, reproduction early 19th century log cabins |
Severson Dells Nature Center | Rockford | Winnebago | Northern | website, operated by the County, 369-acre county forest preserve |
Springbrook Nature Center | Itasca | DuPage | Chicago area | website, operated by the village, 2 miles of trails, aquarium, butterfly garden |
Stillman Nature Center | South Barrington | Cook | Chicago area | website, private, non-profit center for environmental education located on 80 acres of woods, lake and prairie, live birds of prey |
Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center | Oregon | Ogle | Chicago area | website, 360 acres, outdoor classroom, can host up to 180 people. |
Sugar Grove Nature Center | Funk's Grove | McLean | Central | Located within the 18-acre Funk's Grove Nature Preserve, interpretive environmental exhibits, sensory displays, live animals and a wildlife viewing area[2] |
Thorn Creek Nature Center and Preserve | Park Forest | Will | Chicago area | Operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County, 985 acres, over 3 miles of trails |
Trailside Museum of Natural History | River Forest | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, displays of live native animals, wildflower gardens, information about local wildlife and their habitats |
Vera Meineke Nature Center at Spring Valley | Schaumburg | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by City, 135 acres, earth-sheltered, passive-solar visitor center, includes hands-on exhibits, discovery niches and a natural history library, park includes Volkening Heritage Farm, an 1880s living history farm |
Volo Bog State Natural Area | Ingleside | Lake | Chicago area | Over 1100 acres including a 45-acre bog, visitor center with exhibits, bog tours, prairie walks, insect and aqua safari's, summer bat programs and more |
Watershed Nature Center | Edwardsville | Madison | Metro East | website, owned by the City of Edwardsville, managed by the Nature Preserve Foundation, Inc., over 40 acres, 1 mile trail, restored prairie, wetlands and woods |
Wildlife Discovery Center | Lake Forest | Lake | Chicago area | website, operated by the City, located at 670-acre Elawa Farm, includes nature center, live animals, wildlife sanctuary, museum, and biological station |
Wildwood Nature Center | Park Ridge | Cook | Chicago area | website, operated by Park Ridge Park District, 5 acres, live animals, nature exhibits |
Willowbrook Wildlife Center | Glen Ellyn | DuPage | Chicago area | Operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, native wildlife rehabilitation facility with rehabilitated animals on display, education, trails |
See also
References
- ^ "Nature Center". Bartlett Park District. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- ^ "Nature Partners Program". Sugar Grove Nature Center. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
External links