This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the U.S. State of Colorado.
![A map showing the location of the U.S. State of Colorado.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Colorado_in_United_States.svg/220px-Colorado_in_United_States.svg.png)
Nature centers
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Name | Location | County | Region | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
AWQUA Lounge | Aurora | Arapahoe | Denver area | website, open seasonally, operated by the City, watershed and quality of the Aurora Reservoir |
Audubon Center at Chatfield State Park | Littleton | Jefferson | Denver area | Operated by the Audubon Society of Greater Denver in the 3,895-acre park |
Barr Lake Nature Center | Brighton | Adams | Denver area | Located in 2,715-acre Barr Lake State Park, this is the only true Nature Center in the Colorado state parks system. |
Bear Creek Regional Park and Nature Center | Colorado Springs | El Paso | South-Central Colorado | Operated by the County in Bear Creek Regional Park, 2 miles of trails |
Bluff Lake Nature Center | Denver | Denver | Denver area | 123 acres, urban wildlife refuge |
Durango Nature Center | Durango | La Plata | Southwest Colorado | website, 142 acres, operated by Durango Nature Studies |
Evergreen Nature Center | Evergreen | Jefferson | Denver area | website, operated seasonally by Evergreen Audubon, a local chapter of the National Audubon Society |
Flagstaff Nature Center | Boulder | Boulder | Central | website, operated by the City on Flagstaff Mountain |
Fountain Creek Nature Center | Colorado Springs | El Paso | South-Central Colorado | Operated by the County in Fountain Creek Regional Park, exhibits include wetlands, plants, wildlife, weather and climate, and the mountain backdrop |
Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center | Colorado Springs | El Paso | South-Central Colorado | 3,300-acre park, exhibits include minerals, geology, plants, local wildlife, Native American culture |
Indigo Mountain Nature Center | Lake George | Park | South-Central Colorado | website, sanctuary for captive born wildlife, exotic and alternative pets, not open to the public |
Lookout Mountain Nature Center | Golden | Jefferson | Denver area | website, 110 acres, operated by the County, interactive exhibits about the flora and fauna of the foothills ecosystem, hands-on play room and observation room |
MacGregor Ranch | Estes Park | Larimer | High Rockies | website, working cattle ranch, 1896 ranch house museum and historic outbuildings, rock and mineral collections, animal displays, trails |
Majestic View Nature Center | Arvada | Jefferson | Denver area | website, 80 acres, operated by the City, hands-on nature and environmental displays, wildlife exhibits, kid's area, classrooms and meeting space |
Morrison Nature Center at the Star K Ranch | Aurora | Arapahoe | Denver area | website, 208 acres, operated by the City, seasonally changing exhibits on local plants and animal life, children's play area, live animal exhibits |
Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center | Pueblo | Pueblo | Central | Located in Rock Canyon on the banks of the Arkansas River, features wildlife rehabilitation facility that specializes in birds of prey |
Plains Conservation Center | Aurora | Arapahoe | Denver area | 1,100-acre main site with museum and nature center, exhibits on the wildlife, plant life and people of the prairie |
Poudre Learning Center | Greeley | Weld | Northern Colorado area | website, 200 acres located on the banks of the Cache la Poudre River and the Poudre River Trail., operated by the Greeley-Evans School District, Eaton School District and Windsor-Severance School District, building connections and understandings of nature, with Welcome Center including displays, environmental programs, live animals, classrooms and meeting, event space miles of trails and more. This is the only nature center for K-12 environmental education in Weld County. |
South Platte Park Carson Nature Center | Littleton | Jefferson | Denver area | website, operated by the South Suburban Park and Recreation District, over 880 acres of open space and 5 lakes |
Standley Lake Nature Center | Westminster | Jefferson | Denver area | website, operated by the City of Westminster, Features 1,000 acres surface area of lake, 2,000 acres of open space, weekly nature programs, nature center includes children's area, live animal exhibits, natural history and more. |
The Nature Place | Florissant | Teller | South-Central Colorado | website, over 6,000 acres, non-profit conference and retreat center dedicated to leadership and team development, providing experiences in natural history and studies of natural systems |
Vail Nature Center | Vail | Eagle | High Rockies | website, 7 acres, operated by the Town, open seasonally, hosts bird, wildflower and beaver pond hikes |
Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center | Nederland | Boulder | Central | website, natural science education programs, separate 5 acre preserve |