List of nature centers in North Carolina facts for kids

North Carolina is a beautiful state with lots of amazing nature. If you love animals, plants, and learning about the outdoors, then nature centers are perfect places to visit! These special places help people, especially kids and teens, learn about the environment. They often have cool exhibits, live animals, and fun outdoor activities. Think of them as outdoor classrooms where you can explore and discover the natural world around you.

Discover North Carolina's Nature Centers

North Carolina has many nature and environmental education centers. These centers are spread across different regions of the state. Each one offers unique ways to learn about local wildlife, plants, and ecosystems. They are great places for school trips, family outings, or just a day of exploring.

Eastern North Carolina Nature Spots

The eastern part of North Carolina is known for its coastlines, rivers, and wetlands. Nature centers here often focus on water environments and coastal wildlife.

Coastal Adventures

• Airlie Gardens in Wilmington is a large garden with environmental programs. It has 67 acres of beautiful plants and offers learning for all ages.
• Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge near Manteo has a visitor center. You can learn about the refuge's amazing ecosystem and conservation efforts.
• Bald Head Island Conservancy on Bald Head Island offers exciting family programs. They have summer camps, nature tours, and even turtle walks!
• Carolina Beach State Park in Carolina Beach covers 761 acres. Its visitor center teaches you about the park's unique carnivorous plants.
• Goose Creek State Park in Washington has a large environmental education center. It includes exhibits and a wet lab for hands-on learning.
• Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach is a natural history museum. It shows dioramas and exhibits about the coastal region's environment.
• North Carolina Estuarium in Washington focuses on estuaries. These are places where rivers meet the sea. You can learn about the ecology of the Pamlico River and Pamlico Sound.
• Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla teaches about the natural and cultural history of northeastern North Carolina. It has an aquarium and a waterfowl decoy gallery.
• Sturgeon City in Jacksonville is a unique center. It has restored wetlands and offers science programs.
• Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck is an 18-acre park. It has aviaries with birds from all over the world. You can learn about waterfowl and wetland conservation.

Other Eastern Gems

• Clark Park Nature Center in Fayetteville is a 72-acre park. It is operated by the city and offers outdoor programs.
• Clemmons Educational State Forest in Clayton has a Forestry Exhibit Center. It features interactive displays about forests, soil, water, and wildlife.
• Cool Springs Environmental Education Center in New Bern is a vast 1,700-acre forest. It offers programs on forests and forestry, but you need an appointment to visit.
• Howell Woods in Four Oaks is a 2,800-acre environmental learning center. It is run by Johnston Community College.
• Lee Park Nature Center in Sanford is a 177-acre park. It is operated by the county.
• Neuseway Nature Center and Planetarium in Kinston covers 55 acres. It has a touch tank, live native animals, a health and science museum, and a planetarium.
• Onslow County Environmental Education Center in Sneads Ferry has displays about the county's ecology. You can find it inside the branch library.
• A Time for Science in Grifton is a nature and science learning center. It is located at the 200-acre Bray Hollow Conservancy.
• Walter B Jones, Sr. Center for The Sounds in Columbia teaches about the natural history of the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
• Walter L. Stasavich Science and Nature Center in Greenville is part of the 324-acre River Park North.

Triangle Area Nature Centers

The Triangle region, including Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, has many nature centers. They offer diverse programs for urban and suburban communities.

Raleigh and Nearby

• Agapé Center for Environmental Education in Fuquay-Varina is a large 624-acre center. It offers hands-on learning about the environment for groups.
• Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve in Raleigh is a 156-acre preserve. It is operated by the City of Raleigh.
• Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs features a 100-acre lake. Its nature center has exhibits of native animals.
• Blue Jay Point County Park in Raleigh is a 236-acre park. It is operated by Wake County.
• Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education in Raleigh is the headquarters of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. It has wetland exhibits and teaches about wildlife conservation.
• Crowder District Park in Apex is a 33-acre park. It is operated by Wake County.
• Kerr Lake State Recreation Area near Henderson has a visitor's center. It features an exhibit hall and programs about the large man-made lake.
• Museum of Life and Science in Durham is an 84-acre natural history and science museum. It has an insectarium, live animals, a wetland boardwalk, and more.
• Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham is located at the 82-acre Leigh Farm Park.
• Prairie Ridge Ecostation in Raleigh is a 45-acre site. It is operated by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
• Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary is a 140-acre preserve. It is operated by the Town of Cary.
• Walnut Creek Wetland Center in Raleigh is a 59-acre center. It is operated by the City of Raleigh.
• William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh is a huge 5,439-acre park. It has a visitor center with exhibits and education programs.
• White Deer Park and Nature Center in Garner is a 96-acre park. It is operated by the Town of Garner.

Charlotte Area Nature Experiences

The Charlotte metropolitan area offers several nature centers. They provide opportunities to connect with nature in a busy urban setting.

• Blue Planet Water Environmental Center in Huntersville is a hands-on center. It teaches about water and wastewater.
• Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte is a raptor rehabilitation center. It has exhibits where you can see birds of prey up close.
• Dan Nicholas Park in Salisbury is a large park with a nature center. It also has wildlife, a carousel, and other family attractions.
• Discovery Place Nature in Charlotte has interactive nature exhibits. It features live animal displays of the Piedmont region.
• Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve in Huntersville is a large 1,351-acre preserve. It is operated by Mecklenburg County.
• McDowell Nature Center and Preserve in Charlotte is another large preserve at 1,107 acres. It is also operated by Mecklenburg County.
• Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve in Charlotte covers 737 acres. It has over 10 miles of trails, live native animals, and an exhibit hall.

Western North Carolina Wonders

The western part of North Carolina is home to the Appalachian Mountains. Nature centers here often focus on mountain ecosystems and unique biodiversity.

• Balsam Mountain Preserve in Sylva is about 4,400 acres. Its nature center includes live animals. You need a reservation to visit.
• Foothills Equestrian Nature Center in Tryon is a 384-acre center.
• Grandfather Mountain in Linville is a famous spot. It has a nature museum and naturalist programs. It is both a preserve and a state park.
• Highlands Nature Center in Highlands is open seasonally. It has exhibits about the amazing biodiversity of the southern Appalachian region.
• North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville is a beautiful 434-acre arboretum and botanical garden. It has 10 miles of hiking and biking trails and offers nature programs.
• Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Pisgah Forest is located in Pisgah National Forest. It is operated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and features a trout hatchery.
• Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville is a 40-acre zoological park. It features animals and plants native to the Southern Appalachian region.

Piedmont Triad Learning Spots

The Piedmont Triad area also has great places to learn about nature.

• Frank Sharpe Jr. Wildlife Education Center in Greensboro is located in the 250-acre Bur-Mil Park.
• Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury is a large 7,049-acre park. Its visitor center has hands-on exhibits about plants and animals.
• Kaleideum North in Winston-Salem is a science museum. It has a 15-acre environmental park.
• Piedmont Environmental Center in High Point is a 376-acre center. It has 11 miles of trails and is operated by the city.

Sandhills Region

• Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve in Southern Pines is an 898-acre state park and preserve. It has a natural history museum and environmental education programs.