Iowa Nature Center Destinations
Iowa Nature Center Destinations
Edited by Jessica Graham
I remember one of my first school field trips, a trip to Sharon Bluffs State Park and Nature Center. As kids, we were so excited to get out of the class room and explore and learn. Nature centers play several important roles in Iowa. They serve learning centers, providing opportunities for people of all ages to learn about our local ecology and environment. Additionally, nature centers often participate in conservation efforts. They may engage in habitat restoration projects, native plant propagation, and wildlife studies.
Sioux County Conservation
The Prairie Woods Nature Center offers an opportunity to understand Sioux County’s environment and history. Interactive exhibits provide information on different habitats including wetland, prairie, forest, as well as covering Sioux County’s geology and settlement history. There is also a constellation room to explore!
Ida County Conservation
The Ida County Conservation Center is located in Moorehead Park. It features a children’s activity corner, an outdoor classroom, the Lipton Bird Room, a wildlife viewing area overlooking a small valley and 12-acre lake, numerous bird, fish, and mammal educational mounts.
Ringgold County Conservation
The Dragoon Trace Nature Center is located in the rolling hills of Ringgold County. Nestled into the corner of Poe Hollow Park this education facility features live animal exhibits as well as native Iowa habitat displays.
Osceola County Conservation Board
Willow Creek Nature Center in Central Osceola County, Iowa. A short drive west of the Iowa Great Lakes, the building is filled with educational displays and a fully mounted bison!
O’Brien County Conservation/Prairie Heritage Center
The Prairie Heritage Center welcomes visitors to explore a distinctive prairie setting. Enjoy hiking trails, admire wildflowers, and observe bird and wildlife. The Prairie Heritage Center is free with year-round activities. You’ll discover exhibits and interactive displays focusing on environmental education, preservation, protection, and our heritage.
Harrison County Conservation
Learn about the importance of water at the new Willow Lake Nature Center. Water affects our daily lives, shapes our landscapes, and is our most important resource.
Page County Conservation
Page County Nature Center has exhibits on pelts, animal skulls, and we are opening an invertebrate/bug exhibit in mid 2024 along with a pollinator garden on the premises.
Dickinson County Nature Center
At Dickinson County Nature Center, enjoy indoor interactive exhibits, live animals, an observation beehive, pollinator paradise, and free year-round programs. Explore trails, pond-viewing tower, osprey nest, nature playscape, 18-hole disc golf course, and Westport Schoolhouse.
Webster County Conservation
The River’s Edge Discovery Center is a water-themed learning center located on the Des Moines River in Fort Dodge. It offers hands-on, interactive exhibits, recreational trails, accessible fishing, a natural playscape, stormwater wetland, native vegetation and a self-guided interpretive trail.
Kossuth County Conservation
The Water’s Edge Nature Center is located on Smith Lake Park, north of Algona. It has a variety of wildlife displays, mounts, live animal displays, a reference library, observation beehive, a rain garden, a large fishing dock and playground area.
Story County Conservation
McFarland Park Conservation Center has woodlands, prairie, hiking trails, a newly renovated lake with zero-entry kayak launch, open shelter, a hammock hangout and more!
Butler County Conservation
Allan and Fayette Meyer Nature Center. A recent addition adds more display and classroom area. They’re currently fundraising to install all new, engaging and interactive displays. Displays will provide information on the main ecosystems in our area: woodlands, waterways and prairie.
Clinton Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center boasts an 8000-gallon aquarium, indoor play area with live animals and free Thursday night pontoon boat rides. Eden Valley’s Nature Center showcases the surrounding limestone bluffs with various artifacts and live animal displays.
Fayette County Conservation
Near Elgin, Iowa, Gilbertson’s Nature Center features a certified outdoor playscape. Here you can see animals, including a live bee colony! You can experience agriculture through the Dummermuth Historical building. The park also offers a 4-acre pond, domestic petting zoo, modern campground, equestrian trails, and a paved bike trail.
Washington County Conservation
The Marr Park Nature and Education Center was opened in 2003 with environmental education in mind. Interactive displays for all ages and live turtles bring fun for the whole family.
Howard County Business & Tourism
Prairie’s Edge Nature Center at Vernon Springs is located less than 2 miles southwest of Cresco along the Turkey River. The Nature Center showcases a wide selection of insect, animal & wildflower displays and adjacent campground, trail and golf course!
Dubuque Convention & Visitors Bureau
The EB Lyons Interpretive Center at the Mines of Spain and the Swiss Valley Nature Center. Both provide up close and personal explorations of the local landscape and a variety of ways to explore the lands where Iowa started!
Henry County Conservation Board
Come to Oakland Mills Nature Center to discover and explore using their hands-on displays. See the world from the top of a tree, crawl through the forest floor, or test your sense of smell against an animal’s! Then, head outside to see live raptors and hike.
Cerro Gordo County/Visit Mason City
The Lime Creek Nature Center, near Mason City, Iowa is the premier destination in North Iowa to explore and learn about our diverse natural resources. Mounted animals, live critters, interactive displays, nature themed artwork, and wildlife.
Wapello County Conservation
In southern Wapello County, the Pioneer Ridge Nature Center is a hub for visitors, families, and naturalists. It’s home to educational displays and ambassador animals and has 13 miles of trails camping and fishing on site.
Marshall County Conservation
Grimes Farm and Conservation Center is located near Marshalltown. It hosts various displays, educational programming, a three story observation tower and live music events for all ages.
Linn County Conservation
The Wickiup Hill Learning Center features hands-on exhibits for kids, educational programming, field trips, history, and more. The outdoor area includes interpretive trails, wetland and woodlands, and a children’s nature playscape.
Floyd County Conservation
The Fossil & Prairie Park is located in Floyd County. Historical Rockford Brick & Tile Co. site now a destination park. Hike through native Iowa prairie. Collect and keep Devonian fossils. Discover how drainage tiles impacted Iowa’s agricultural history.
Driftless Area Education & Visitors Center
At Allamakee County, come face-to-face with native wildlife of the region. Step back into the past and learn about the rich tradition of Native Americans of the area and explore the more recent history of European and American settlement of Northeast Iowa.
