List of nature centers in Iowa

This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of Iowa.

See also: List of nature centers in the United States

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
Anderson Conservation AreaRed OakMontgomerySouthwestwebsite, operated by the City of Red Oak, 244 acres, 2 miles of trails, 15 acre pond, includes Wolfe Nature Center with environmental education displays and a meeting room
Annett Nature CenterIndianolaWarrenSouth Centralwebsite, 160 acres, operated by the Warren County Conservation Board
Appanoose County Conservation Board Nature CenterCentervilleAppanooseSouth CentralOperated by the County in 144-acre Sharon Bluffs State Park[1]
Bailey's Ford ParkManchesterDelawareNortheastwebsite, 105 acres, includes a nature center, operated by the Delaware County Conservation Board
Benton County Nature CenterVintonBentonSoutheastwebsite, operated by the Benton County Conservation Board in 187-acre Rogers Park
Calkins Nature AreaIowa FallsHardinNorth Centralwebsite, 76 acres, operated by Hardin County Conservation, includes the Calkins Interpretive Center with Native American and natural history artifacts
Conard Environmental Research AreaKelloggJasperSouth CentralOperated by Grinnell College, 365-acre facility for class use in the study of ecology and student and faculty research, summer camp
DeSoto National Wildlife RefugeMissouri ValleyHarrisonWestern8,362-acre refuge (46% in Iowa, 54% in Nebraska), visitor center exhibits, education programs
Dickinson County Nature CenterOkobojiDickinsonNorthwestwebsite, operated by the Dickinson County Conservation Board, located in 60-acre Kenue Park
Dorothy Pecaut Nature CenterSioux CityWoodburyNorthwestLocated in Stone State Park, managed by the Woodbury County Conservation Board, features interactive prairie, wetland & woodland exhibits, live native animals, bird viewing area, butterfly and wildflower gardens
E.B. Lyons Nature CenterDubuqueDubuqueNortheastLocated in the 1380-acre Mines of Spain Recreation Area, exhibits on the history and features of the park, bird and butterfly garden, native prairies, woodland flower gardens, hiking trails, historic Junkerman farm site
Eden Valley Nature CenterBaldwinJacksonNorthwestwebsite, located in 201-acre Eden Valley Refuge, includes live snakes, a wildlife diorama, rock collection and taxidermy displays
Fontana Interpretive Nature CenterHazletonBuchananNorthwestwebsite, operated by the Buchanan County Conservation Board in 134-acre Fontana Park, includes nature exhibits, outdoor live native wildlife on display
Fossil & Prairie CenterRockfordFloydNorth Centralwebsite, operated by the Fossil & Prairie Conservation Foundation, center open seasonally, park open year-round, fossils can be found in the former quarry site
Gilbertson Conservation Education AreaElginFayetteNortheastwebsite, includes the Gilbertson Nature Center, 345 acre park, petting zoo, late 19th century period farm house, farm tool and antiques displays
Grimes FarmMarshalltownMarshallSouth Centralwebsite, over 160 acres, operated by the Friends of Grimes Farm
Hartman Reserve Nature CenterCedar FallsBlack HawkNortheast300 acre reserve, over 6 miles of trails, an entity of the Black Hawk County Conservation Board
Heery Woods Nature CenterClarksvilleButlerNorth Centralwebsite, operated by the Butler County Conservation Board, exhibits on area natural and cultural history
Hitchcock Nature CenterHoney CreekPottawattamieSouthwestwebsite, operated by the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, located on 1,268 acres
Hurstville Interpretive CenterMaquoketaJacksonNortheastwebsite, operated by Jackson County Conservation, features restored prairie and 18 acre wetland, wetland and prairie dioramas, exhibits about Iowa's mussels, rocks, endangered species, birds of prey and migrating songbirds
Indian Creek Nature CenterCedar RapidsLinnSoutheastwebsite, Iowa's only private nature center with over 290 acres, 4 miles of trails, year round public and private educational programs, and sustainable living exhibits. Home of a Nature Explore certified outdoor classroom, titled "Sense of Wonder Trail"
Jefferson County ParkFairfieldJeffersonSoutheastwebsite, operated by the Jefferson County Conservation Board, 190 acres, nature center displays include Indian artifacts, Iowa mammals fur collection, a 150-gallon fish aquarium and a turtle tank
Johnson County Conservation Education CenterTiffinJohnsonSoutheastwebsite, operated by the Johnson County Conservation Department in 1,082-acre F.W. Kent Park, 27-acre lake
Jones County Nature CenterCenter JunctionJonesNorthwestwebsite, located in 217-acre Central Park
Kennedy Park Reception & Nature CenterFort DodgeWebsterNorth Centralwebsite, located in 400-acre John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, operated by the Webster County Conservation Board
Kuehn Conservation AreaEarlhamDallasSouth CentralOperated by the Dallas County Conservation Board, 600 acre preserve, includes Bear Creek Nature Center, open by appointment
Lake Meyer Nature CenterFort AtkinsonWinneshiekNortheastwebsite, operated by the Winneshiek County Conservation Board, adjacent to 160-acre Lake Meyer Park
Lime Creek Nature CenterMason CityCerro GordoNorth Centralwebsite, partnered with the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board, includes live animals
Lost Island Nature CenterRuthvenPalo AltoNorthwestwebsite, operated by the Palo Alto County Conservation Board on 1,200-acre Lost Island Lake
Macbride Nature Recreation AreaSolonJohnsonSoutheastwebsite, 485 acres, operated by the University of Iowa, includes the School of the Wild, Wildlife Camps, and Macbride Raptor Project
Mahaska County Conservation CenterNew SharonMahaskaSouth Centralwebsite, operated by the Mahaska County Conservation Board, located at the 220-acre Russell Wildlife Area, features live animal displays, hands-on activities, interactive dioramas of Iowa's forest, prairie, and wetland ecosystems, fossils
Mitchell County Conservation Nature CenterOsageMitchellNorth Centralwebsite, operated by the Mitchell County Conservation Board in the L.R. Falk Wildlife Area, over 250 acres
Muscatine County Environmental Learning CenterMuscatineMuscatineSoutheastwebsite, operated by the Muscatine County Conservation Board in the 85-acre Discovery Park, includes live animals, interactive natural history exhibits, outdoor live raptor enclosure
Nature Encounter Center at Willow Lake Recreation AreaWoodbineHarrisonSouthwestwebsite, operated by the Harrison County Conservation Board, 220 acres
Neal Moeller Environmental Education CenterDenisonCrawfordSouthwestwebsite, operated by the Crawford County Conservation Board at 359-acre Yellow Smoke Park
Oakland Mills Nature CenterMt. PleasantHenrySoutheastwebsite, operated by the Henry County Conservation Board in Oakland Mills County Park, includes outdoor displays of live native wildlife
Osborne Visitor, Welcome and Nature CenterElkaderClaytonNortheastwebsite, operated by the Clayton County Conservation Board in Osborne Park, features over 200 acres, historic 2 ½ story hotel, blacksmith shop, general store, grain elevator and railroad depot
Pioneer Ridge Nature AreaOttumwaWapelloSoutheastwebsite, 995 acres, operated by the Wapello County Conservation Board
Pocahontas County Conservation Board Nature CenterPocahontasPocahontasNorthwestwebsite, operated by the Pocahontas County Conservation Board
Prairie Learning CenterPrairie CityJasperSouth CentralMuseum and education center for the 8,654-acre Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Prairie's Edge Nature CenterCrescoHowardNortheastinformation, operated by Howard County Conservation, includes live animals
Soaring Eagles Nature CenterClintonClintonSoutheastwebsite, over 2 miles of trails, restored prairie area, one room schoolhouse, located in a 1938 barn, exhibits about the land’s homesteading history and natural history
South Bluff Nature Center - Bellevue State ParkBellevueJacksonNortheastDisplays on the plants, animals and geology of 770-acre Bellevue State Park
Starr's Cave Nature CenterBurlingtonDes MoinesSoutheastwebsite, operated by Des Moines County Conservation in 184-acre Starr's Cave Park and Preserve
Story County Conservation CenterAmesStorySouth Centralwebsite, located in 200-acre McFarland Park
Swiss Valley Preserve CenterPeostaDubuqueNortheastwebsite, 476 acres, operated by the Dubuque County Conservation Board
Tama County Nature CenterToledoTamaSouth Centralwebsite, operated by Tama County Conservation in 277-acre Otter Creek Lake and Park
Voas Nature Area & MuseumMinburnDallasSouth Centralwebsite, operated by the Dallas County Conservation Board, 372 acre park, exhibits of rocks, fossils, and minerals across the United States and around the world
Wapsi River Environmental Education CenterDixonScottSoutheastwebsite, 225 acres, managed and operated by Scott County Conservation with programming assistance from Clinton County Conservation
Washington County Conservation Education CenterAinsworthWashingtonSoutheastwebsite, operated by the Washington County Conservation Board in 125-acre Marr Park
Water’s Edge Nature CenterAlgonaKossuthNorth Centralwebsite, 124 acres, operated by the Kossuth County Conservation Board on 54-acre Smith's Lake, includes aquariums
Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning CenterToddvilleLinnNortheastwebsite, operated by the Linn County Conservation Board in the 790-acre Wickiup Hill Natural Area
Wildwood Nature CenterFayetteFayetteNortheastwebsite, operated by the Fayette County Conservation Board, 7 acres, features live Iowa mammals and birds of prey, nature displays and mounted native animals and birds

References
  1. "Facebook site". Sharon Bluffs State Park. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
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