This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of Michigan.
To use the sortable tables: click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.
Name Location County Region Summary Bay City Recreation Area Bay City Bay Flint/Tri-Cities 2,100-acre state park, Saginaw Bay Visitor Center features an exhibit hall with interactive natural history displays, a 100-seat auditorium, environmental education programs are offered year round for the public, school groups and other groupsBlandford Nature CenterGrand Rapids Kent West Michigan website, 264 acres Boardman River Nature Center Traverse City Grand Traverse Northern Michigan 505 acres, operated by the Grand Traverse Conservation DistrictBurgess-Shadbush Nature CenterShelby Township Macomb Southeastern Michigan website, operated by the town in River Bends Park Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens Grand Rapids Kent West Michigan website, 104 acres, Bunker Interpretive Center, native demonstration gardens, education programsCarl T. Johnson Hunting And Fishing CenterCadillacWexfordNorthern Michiganwebsite, interpretive center for Mitchell State Park Chippewa Nature Center Midland Midland Flint/Tri-Cities Over 1,348 acres with 15 miles of trails, hands-on exhibits of the different types of ecosystems found at the centerDahlem Environmental Education CenterJackson JacksonCentral Michigan website, operated by the Dahlem Conservancy, almost 300 acresDegraaf Nature CenterHolland Allegan West Michigan website, operated by the city, 18 acresDeVries Nature ConservancyOwosso ShiawasseeCentral Michigan website, 136 acres, over 4 miles of trails, farm, historic carriage and sleigh museum, nature playscape, nature programs, gardensDinosaur Hill Nature PreserveRochester Oakland Southeastern Michigan website, 16 acres including Paint Creek, trails connect to Paint Creek Trail, owned by City of Rochester, operated by non-profit Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve. Open Friday, Saturday, & Sunday afternoons, trails open dawn-dusk 7 days. nature programs for all ages, birthday parties, Children's GardenDousman's MillMackinaw CityCheboyganNorthern Michiganwebsite, 625 acre state park with history and natural history exhibitsDrayton Plains Nature CenterWaterford Oakland Southeastern Michigan website, 137 acres, operated by the town Eddy Discovery Center Chelsea Jackson Central Michigan Located in Waterloo State Recreation Area, features exhibits on the geology, natural history and cultural history of Waterloo State Recreation Area, 21,000 acresFarmington Hills Nature CenterFarmington Hills Oakland Southeastern Michigan website, located in 211-acre Heritage Park, exhibits, backyard habitat bird viewing area, native fish aquariums, a nature library, hands-on tables, Discovery Cove, operated by the cityFenner Nature CenterLansing Ingham Central Michigan website, 130 acres with 4 miles of trails Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve Niles Berrien West Michigan 105 acre (42 ha) arboretum, botanical garden and nature preserve with a nature centerFlynn Township Nature CenterFlynn Township Sanilac The Thumb Flynn Township Nature Center and Conservation/Game Area is open to the public and allows hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities.For-Mar Nature Preserve and ArboretumBurton Genesee Flint/Tri-Cities website, operated by the county, 383 acres, 7 miles of hiking trails, gardens, education programs Grass River Natural Area Bellaire Antrim Northern Michigan website, 1,443 acres, Grass River Center, managed by Grass River Natural Area, Inc.Harris Nature CenterOkemos Ingham Central Michigan website, operated by the town Hartley Outdoor Education Center St. Charles Saginaw Flint/Tri-Cities 300 acres, owned and operated by the Saginaw Intermediate School District Hawk Woods Nature CenterAuburn Hills Oakland Southeastern Michigan website, 80 acres, operated by the City Hoffmaster State Park Muskegon Muskegon West Michigan Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center features exhibits and programs about the dunes ecosystemHoward Christensen Nature CenterKent City Kent West Michigan website, 130 acres, Red Pine Interpretive Center Howell Nature Center Howell Livingston Southeastern Michigan website, about 300 acres, education, recreation and wildlife facility, residential and day programs Hudson Mills Metropark Ann Arbor WashtenawSoutheastern Michigan 1,549 acres, Activity Center features exhibits on butterflies, Hudson Mills history and tree identification, nature trails, programsHuron County Nature CenterPort Austin Huron Flint/Tri-Cities website, 280 acres Indian Springs Metropark White Lake Oakland Southeastern Michigan 2,215 acres park including the Environmental Discovery Center with an underwater pond viewing roomE. L. Johnson Nature CenterBloomfield Hills Oakland Southeastern Michigan website, 40 acres, over 2 miles of trails, visitor center with exhibits, 1800s homestead, operated by the school system Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo Kalamazoo West Michigan website, 1,487 acres, over 14 miles of trails Kensington Park Nature Center Milford Oakland Southeastern Michigan 4,481 acres Lake St. Clair Metropark Harrison Township Macomb Southeastern Michigan 770 acres, nature center features live reptiles and amphibians, exhibits on Lake St. Clair, the wetlands, wildlife, and use of the area by French Voyageurs Leslie Science & Nature Center Ann Arbor WashtenawSoutheastern Michigan website, animal house open on weekends, grounds, trails, and raptor enclosures open every dayLove Creek Nature Center Berrien Berrien West Michigan website, located in Love Creek County Park Marshlands Museum and Nature Center Brownstown WayneSoutheastern Michigan Located in Lake Erie Metropark, natural and cultural history of Southeastern MichiganMooseWood Nature CenterMarquette Marquette Upper Peninsula of Michigan website, located in Presque Isle Park Nankin Mills Nature Center Westland Wayne Southeastern Michigan Operated by the county in a historic grist mill Nature DiscoveryWilliamston Ingham Central Michigan website, features Michigan reptiles and amphibiansNature Education Center at Hemlock Crossing ParkWest Olive Ottawa West Michigan website, 239 acres, exhibits, wildlife viewing area and a gift shop, operated by the County Nichols Arboretum Ann Arbor WashtenawSoutheastern Michigan 123 acres, operated by the University of Michigan, features the James D. Reader Jr. Urban Environmental Education Center in Washington Heights Oakwoods Park Nature Center Belleville Wayne Southeastern Michigan 1,756 acres, nature center features 700 gallon turtle tan, live snakes, frogs, toads, salamanders and fish on displayOutdoor Discovery Center Macatawa GreenwayHolland Ottawa West Michigan website, 136 acre nature preserve, protects 1200 acres along the Macatawa RiverPierce Cedar Creek InstituteHastings Barry West Michigan website, 742 acres, mix between a nature center and biological field stationPine River Nature CenterGoodells St. Clair Metro Detroit website, Approximately 80 acres, focus is programs for area schools, owned and operated by the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency. Universally Accessible Treehouse. Free. Raven Hill Discovery Center East Jordan Charlevoix Northern Michigan Indoor and outdoor exhibits on science, nature, art and history, 157 acresRed Oaks Nature CenterMadison Heights Oakland Southeastern Michigan website, operated by the Fox Valley Parks District, located in the George W. Suarez Friendship Woods, formerly the Madison Heights Nature CenterSarett Nature CenterBenton Harbor Berrien West Michigan website, eight miles of trails through its 1000 acres Seven Ponds Nature Center Dryden Lapeer Flint/Tri-Cities website, 468 acres on two sitesStage Nature CenterTroy Oakland Southeastern Michigan website, programs operated by the Troy Nature Society, 100 acres owned by the citySterling Heights Nature CenterSterling Heights Macomb Southeastern Michigan website, operated by the city Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center Shelby Macomb Southeastern Michigan 4,461-acre park with over 8 miles of trails, nature center features live displays, snakes, turtles and fishStubnitz Environmental Education CenterAdrian Lenawee Southeastern Michigan website, operated by the Lenawee Intermediate School District, located in Heritage Park Thorne Swift Nature PreserveHarbor Springs Emmet Northern Michigan website, 30 acres, includes the Elizabeth Kennedy Nature Center, operated by the Little Traverse ConservancyThurston Nature CenterAnn Arbor Washtenaw Southeastern Michigan website, 20 acres including 7 acre pond, managed by a volunteer committee of Thurston Elementary SchoolUniversity of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive CenterDearborn Wayne Southeastern Michigan website, 300 acres, operated by the University of Michigan-Dearborn Whitefish Point Bird Observatory Paradise Chippewa Upper Peninsula of Michigan Seasonal public programsWhitehouse Nature CenterAlbion Calhoun West Michigan website, operated by Albion College, 135 acre outdoor education facilityWint Nature CenterClarkston Oakland Southeastern Michigan website, operated by the County in 1,276-acre Independence Oaks ParkWittenbach/Wege Environmental CenterLowell Kent West Michigan website, 140 acres, owned by Lowell School District, outdoor learning center, community gardenWoldumar Nature CenterLansing Eaton Central Michigan website, 178 acres, over 5 miles of trails, outreach and on-site Environmental Education programs for children as well as adults
Resources Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education
References
External links Map of nature centers and environmental education centers in Michigan