nature center visits
Open to the public thurs-sun, 10am-4pm
nature center & Ambassador village
The Center for Wildlife is a place for people of all ages to learn and explore the concepts of empathy, biology, ecology, and the human/wildlife connection through interpretation, direct experiences with nature, and experiential exhibits.
Our Nature Center and Outdoor Ambassador Enclosures are open for self-guided visits as well as private tours! Our public visits are the perfect opportunity to explore our Nature Center and visit with our ambassador animals at their outdoor enclosures.
Nature Center Visits are $10 per person. Please keep in mind, our Outdoor Ambassador Enclosures are outside and open to the elements. Please dress accordingly. Drop-ins are welcome, or you can reserve tickets ahead of time.
Plan your visit!
*Due to zoonotic disease risks for both our wildlife onsite and pet or assistance animals, visitor's dogs or other domestic animals are prohibited onsite*
Programs
Weekend Programs
Included with your Nature Center admission
Owl Pellet Dissection
Fridays from 12-12:45pm | Located in the Nature Center
Discover what owls eat and how they hunt by dissecting real owl pellets! Learn about local food webs, prey species, and the important role owls play in our shared ecosystems.
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Let's Talk about Turtles!
Fridays from 2-2:30pm | Located in the Nature Center
Meet our turtle ambassadors up close! Watch as we feed both our aquatic and terrestrial turtles while learning about their care, diets, and the challenges turtles face in the wild.
Predators of the Sky
Saturdays & Sundays from 12-12:45pm | Located in the Ambassador Village
Learn how humans are connected to birds of prey and what we can do to be better caretakers of the habitats we share. Program includes a behind-the-scenes look at the care and feeding.
Keeper in Training
Saturdays & Sundays from 2-2:45pm | Located in the Nature Center & Ambassador Village
Join our animal care team as they prepare diets and enrichment for our mammal ambassadors, then watch a live feeding! The more we learn about other species, the better we're able to understand them and better share the world with them.
Where the wild kids are
Bring your aspiring naturalist aged 2-5yrs on the first and third Wednesdays of the month for story time, nature-based play and an animal meet and greet!
Break Weeks
Be sure to check out our Upcoming Events calendar for information on special school break week programs in our Nature Center!
Campus map & key
1. Main Building: Nature Center exhibits, gift shop, restrooms
2. Pollinator Garden: Native plant species that support pollinators and wildlife
3. Ambassador Village: Non-releasable wild bird and mammal habitats and seating pavilion
4. Children’s Natural Play Area: Pretend play, climbing and hiding
5. Food & Sensory Gardens: See and Smell edible and medicinal plants
6. Amphitheater: Stone steps for gathering, rest or forest observation
7. Wetland Trail: Leads from Accessible Trail to the Wetland Boardwalk Loop or Children’s Natural Play Area
8. Wetland Boardwalk Loop: Trail loop over boardwalks through wetlands, blueberry shrub, and mixed forest
9. Bird Blind: Offers “invisibility cloak” to observe birds at all forest canopy levels, along with binoculars, books and tools for nature journaling
10. Reflection Pool: Quiet bench seating and small pool for contemplation and observing amphibians
11. Meditation Labyrinth: Slow down and walk the spiral in the forest flanked by native plantings
12. Forest Trail: Trail walk that leads to the Woodland Path trail and forest stream
13. Woodland Path: 0.5 mile meandering path that winds through mixed forest, sphagnum moss and blueberry wetland
14. Forest Trail Stream: Ephemeral stream that marks the turnaround point for the current forest trail
Note: the ferns and other wetland plant species that delineate the streambed despite dry seasons
Frequently asked questions
is cfw handicap accessible?
Center for Wildlife Nature Center, outdoor Ambassador Village as well as a short trail are all ADA accessible!
Are nature center visits guided?
Our Nature Center visits are self-guided but our staff and volunteers are consistently on-hand to talk about our resident animals and answer questions! If you are interested in a guided tour, check out our Private Tours page!
Can we see animals in care in the medical clinic?
Due to the duress that injured and orphaned patients are under while in care, it is against permitting for members of the public to view animals are in care, we only allow public interface with our resident ambassador animals.
can we touch or handle the animals?
As part of our mission to educate about proper interactions with wildlife, we do not allow touching or handling of our resident ambassador animals. We can easily forget that wildlife typically view humans as predators, and we want our ambassadors to feel safe in our presence.
are my tickets restricted to a specific time slot?
Your Nature Center ticket is good for the entirety of the day in which you reserved! Come by to visit us for as long as you would like between the hours of 10AM-4PM.
what types of animals will we get to see?
We have a wide variety of ambassador animals at Center for Wildlife including reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds of prey and scavengers! You can find a full list of our resident ambassador animals here.