List of nature centers in New Jersey

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

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.

See also: List of nature centers in the United States
Name Location County Region Summary
Allaire State Park Nature Center Farmingdale Monmouth Shore Region 3,199 acres, center operated seasonally by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey
Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center Chester Township Morris Gateway Region website, operated by the County, 100 acres including fields, woodlands and a formal garden
Belleplain State Forest Woodbine Cape May South Jersey 21,320 acres
Black River County Park Chester Township Morris Gateway Region Operated by the County, 223 acres, features the Kay Environmental Center
Cape May Bird Observatory - Center for Research and Education Cape May Court House Cape May South Jersey Operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society, bird watching, open Jan-May
Cape May Bird Observatory - Northwood Center Cape May Point Cape May South Jersey Operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society, bird watching
Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary Short Hills Essex Gateway Region 16.5 acres, trails, live animals, programs
Closter Nature Center Closter Bergen Gateway Region website, 136 acres of ponds, brooks, meadows and forests
Cooper Environmental Center - Cattus Island Park Toms River Ocean Shore Region 530 acres, center features local wildlife including snakes, reptiles and aquatic animals
Demarest Nature Center Demarest Bergen Gateway Region website, 55 acres
Duke Farms Hillsborough Somerset Skylands Region 2,740 acres, nature programs, 18 miles of trails, greenhouse with orchids, outdoor sculpture gallery
Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center Chester Township Morris Gateway Region website, operated by the County, 223 acres
Essex County Environmental Center Roseland Essex Gateway Region website, located in West Essex Park, 1,360 acres of wetlands preserve along the Passaic River
Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center Chesterfield Township Burlington Delaware River Region website located in Chesterfield Township, New Jersey on 230 acres of historic preserved farmland and education center, field trips, homeschool programs and after school programs
Flat Rock Brook Nature Center Englewood Bergen Gateway Region 150-acre preserve and education center
Forest Resource Education Center Jackson Township Ocean Shore Region website, over 900 acres, programs about the forest, 8 miles of trails
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center Chatham Morris Gateway Region website, 44 acres, operated by the County, natural history of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Greater Newark Conservancy's Urban Environmental and Ecological Center Newark Essex Gateway Region Themed gardens, pond, greenhouse, environmental programs and outreach
Huber Woods Environmental Center Locust Monmouth Shore Region website
Island Beach State Park Nature Center Berkeley Township Ocean Shore Region Operated seasonally by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey
Jakes Branch County Park Beachwood Ocean Shore Region website, 400 acres, nature center exhibits about the history and natural surroundings of the Pine Barrens through informational exhibits, live animals and environmental programs
James A. McFaul Environmental Center Wyckoff Bergen Gateway Region website, 81 acres, waterfowl pond, bird shelters, boardwalk, nature trail, memorial gazebo, and natural science exhibits, operated by the County
Lawrence Nature Center Lawrence Mercer Delaware River Region website, 45-acre township-owned property features a stream, forest, meadow, network of trails and a community nature center
Liberty State Park Nature Center Jersey City Hudson Gateway Region Natural history and ecology of the Hudson River estuary
Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education Ocean Township Ocean Shore Region website, 194 acres, habitat includes maritime forest, salt marsh, two tidal streams and a freshwater impoundment
Lorrimer Sanctuary Franklin Lakes Bergen Gateway Region 14 acres, operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society
Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center Howell Monmouth Shore Region 1,204 acre park, 5 mile perimeter trail around the reservoir, center focus is wetlands ecology and wildlife and habitat protection
Meadowlands Environment Center Lyndhurst Bergen Gateway Region Operated by Ramapo College of New Jersey, wetlands trails and education programs
Merrill Creek Reservoir Harmony Township Warren Skylands Region 650-acre artificial lake surrounded by 290 acres of protected woodland and fields, visitor center exhibits, environmental education programs
Nature Center of Cape May Cape May Cape May South Jersey Operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society, features a gallery with exhibits from local artists, aquariums, a second story viewing deck and a third story viewing tower
New Weis Center for Education, Arts & Recreation Ringwood Passaic Gateway Region website, 152-acre environmental, nature and education center; located in the former Weis Ecology Center
Palmyra Cove Nature Park Palmyra Burlington Delaware River Region website, 250 acres on the Delaware River just south of the Tacony Palmyra Bridge
Paws Farm Nature Center Mount Laurel Burlington Delaware River Region website, owned by the Town, 9 acres, farm and other animals, children's themed play areas, trails
Plainsboro Preserve Plainsboro Middlesex Gateway Region Environmental education center operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society, almost 1000 acres, 5 miles of trails, 50-acre McCormack Lake
Poricy Park Nature Center Middletown Monmouth Shore Region 250-acre (100 ha) nature preserve and park, known for its Cretaceous era fossil shell beds
Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Montville Morris Gateway Region website, operated by the County, over 1,500 acres, visitor center features interactive exhibits about the history and wildlife of the area
Rancocas Nature Center Mount Holly Burlington Delaware River Region website, situated on a 210-acre piece of Rancocas State Park, features 3 miles of hiking trails
Reeves-Reed Arboretum Summit Union Gateway Region 13.5 acres, arboretum and gardens, nature education programs
Ridgefield Nature Center Ridgefield Bergen Gateway Region website, information, 5 acres
Rifle Camp Park Woodland Park Passaic Gateway Region 225 acres, operated by the County, adjacent to Garret Mountain Reservation, features the John Crowley Nature Center and Astronomical Observatory
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary Bernardsville Somerset Skylands Region 276 acres, Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society
Schiff Nature Preserve Chatham Morris Gateway Region 423 acres, 14 miles of trails, nature center, education programs
Scotland Run Park Nature Center Clayton Gloucester Delaware River Region website, operated by the County, over 1000 acres, 80 acre Wilson Lake
Somerset County Environmental Education Center Basking Ridge Somerset Skylands Region 425-acre Lord Stirling Park, ecosystem of the area around the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association Hopewell Township Mercer Delaware River Region Watershed Center for environmental education on the 930-acre preserve
Tenafly Nature Center Tenafly Bergen Gateway Region Over 7 miles of trails throughout nearly 400 wooded acres and education center
Trailside Nature & Science Center Mountainside Union Gateway Region Located in the 2,065-acre Watchung Reservation
Warren E. Fox Nature Center Mays Landing Atlantic South Jersey website, located in Estell Manor Park, operated by the County, exhibits of natural history, Native Americans, local industry
Washington Crossing State Park Nature Center Titusville Mercer Delaware River Region 3,100-acre park, includes the site of Washington's crossing of the Delaware at Johnsons Ferry,
Wells Mills Nature Center Waretown Ocean Shore Region website, located in Wells Mills County Park, over 900 acres of pine and oak forest in the Pine Barrens
The Wetlands Institute Stone Harbor Cape May South Jersey 6,000 acres (24 km²) of protected wetlands, aquarium, wildlife art and carvings, bird observation tower
Whittemore Wildlife Sanctuary Oldwick Hunterdon Skylands Region website, 180 acres, features the Roving Nature Center and 11 miles of trails for hiking, dog walking and horseback riding
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge Medford Burlington Delaware River Region website, 171 acres, includes Elizabeth Woodford Nature Center with hands-on exhibits, outdoor animal area with over 60 native animals, wildlife rehabilitation hospital