List of nature centers in New York

See also: List of nature centers in the United States

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

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.

List

Name Location County Region Summary
Adirondack Interpretive Center Newcomb Essex Adirondack Region Managed by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 236 acres
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center Albany Albany Capital District Exhibits and activities about the 3,200-acre inland pine barrens preserve
Alley Pond Environmental Center Douglaston Queens New York City 655 acre park with live animals, museum exhibits, library
Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center Williamstown Oswego Central New York 150 acres, operated by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County
Ashokan Center Olivebridge Ulster Mid-Hudson 374 acres, features cluster of 18th and 19th century craft shops, farm, focus on outdoor and environmental education, art, science and living history
Audubon Center at Knox Farm State Park East Aurora Erie Western New York 633-acre park, center operated by the National Audubon Society in partnership with the Buffalo Audubon Society
Audubon Community Nature Center Jamestown Chautauqua Western New York 600 acres
Baltimore Woods Nature Center Marcellus Onondaga Central New York 180 acres
Beaver Island State Park Nature Center Grand Island Erie Western New York 950 acres, center open Friday-Sunday
Beaver Lake Nature Center Baldwinsville Onondaga Central New York 661 acres, operated by the County
Beaver Meadow Audubon Center North Java Wyoming Western New York 324 acres, operated by Buffalo Audubon Society
Belleayre Mountain Interactive Nature Center Highmount Ulster Mid-Hudson Part of the Belleayre Mountain resort, operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the summer
Belvedere Castle Visitor Center Manhattan Manhattan New York City Interpretive center for the 843-acre Central Park
Brookville Outdoor and Environmental Education Center Brookville Nassau Long Island operated by Nassau BOCES
Blue Heron Park Nature Center Staten Island Staten Island New York City 236-acre city park with nature center
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve Smithtown Suffolk Long Island 543 acres, features a nature museum
Caumsett Outdoor and Environmental Education Center Lloyd Harbor Suffolk Long Island operated by Nassau BOCES in Caumsett State Historic Park
Cayuga Nature Center Ithaca Tompkins Central New York Part of the Ithaca Discovery Trail, 120 acres, features a six-story tree house and a seasonal butterfly garden
Center for Science Teaching and Learning Rockville Centre Nassau Long Island 17 acre Tanglewood Preserve with butterfly garden, mini-zoo and museum
Center for the Urban River at Beczak Yonkers Westchester Lower Hudson Hudson River interpretive center, tidal marsh and 2-acre park, operated by Sarah Lawrence College and the Hudson River Valley Environmental Education Institute at the former Beczak Environmental Education Center
Chip Holt Nature Center Lakeville Livingston Western New York located on Conesus Lake in Vitale Park, co-sponsored by the Town
Clark Reservation State Park Jamesville Onondaga Central New York 377 acres, nature center is operated by the Council of Park Friends
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve Staten Island Staten Island New York City 260 acre nature preserve and interpretive center
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium Cold Spring Harbor Nassau Long Island Trout hatchery and education center about the freshwater ecosystems of New York
Connetquot River State Park Preserve Oakdale Suffolk Long Island 3,473 acres, features the Long Island Environmental Interpretive Center
Constitution Marsh Audubon Center Cold Spring Putnam Lower Hudson 270-acre tidal marsh
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca Tompkins Central New York 226-acre Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, part of the Ithaca Discovery Trail, natural history, observation and conservation of birds
Cranberry Lake Preserve White Plains Westchester Lower Hudson 190 acres, operated by the County
Croton Point Nature Center Croton-on-Hudson Westchester Lower Hudson 508 acres, operated by the County
Crotona Park Nature Center Bronx Bronx New York City 127-acre park, center open for programs and by appointment
Cumming Nature Center Naples Ontario Western New York 900 acre preserve, operated by the Rochester Museum and Science Center
Dana Discovery Center Manhattan Manhattan New York City operated by the City in the Harlem region of Central Park
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center Grafton Rensselaer Capital District 594 acre park with environmental education programs
Dyson College Nature Center Pleasantville Westchester Lower Hudson center for environmental education, operated by Pace University
Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary Rye Westchester Lower Hudson 179 acres, operated by the County
Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center Voorheesville Albany Capital District Operated by the State in Thompson's Lake State Park
Eric Humphrey Nature Center Castile Wyoming Finger Lakes 14,427 acres (58.4 km), open daily, year-round nature programming, operated by the State in Letchworth State Park
Finch Hollow Nature Center Johnson City Broome Southern Tier operated by the County, natural history museum and education center, 1 mile trail
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center Delmar Albany Capital District 450 acres, operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Forest Park Visitor Center Queens Queens New York City 538-acre city park, center open by appointment
Forsyth Nature Center Kingston Ulster Mid-Hudson supported by the Friends of Forsyth Nature Center and the City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Department
Fort Greene Park Brooklyn Brooklyn New York City 30-acre park, visitor center exhibits and nature programs
Fort Niagara State Park Nature Center Porter Niagara Western New York Open in the summer
Fort Totten Park Queens Queens New York City 60-acre park, visitor center with weekend environmental education programs
Garvies Point Museum and Preserve Glen Cove Nassau Long Island exhibits on Long Island and state geology, Native American archaeology, 62 acre preserve
Genesee Country Village and Museum Mumford Monroe Western New York 19th-century living history museum covering more than 600 acres, includes an art gallery and nature center that is open only on weekends in January and February
Genesee County Park Interpretive Nature Center East Bethany Genesee Western New York 430 acres, operated by the County
Greenbelt Nature Center Staten Island Staten Island New York City located in the 844-acre LaTourette Park
Greenburgh Nature Center Scarsdale Westchester Lower Hudson 33-acre nature preserve with trails, a pond and gardens
Hansen Nature Center Henrietta Monroe Western New York located in the 68-acre Tinker Nature Park
Helmer Nature Center Rochester Monroe Western New York 45 acres, operated by the West Irondequoit Central School District
High Rock Nature Center Staten Island Staten Island New York City operated by the City in 94-acre High Rock Park, open by appointment
Higley Flow State Park Colton St. Lawrence Adirondack Region Open in the summer
Hoyt Farm Nature Center Commack Suffolk Long Island operated by the Town as part of Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve
Hudson Highlands Nature Museum Cornwall Orange Mid-Hudson two locations, the Wildlife Education Center with exhibits and live animals and the Outdoor Discovery Center with trails
Indian Creek Nature Center Canton St. Lawrence Adirondack Region about 350 acres, trails and education in the Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area, operated by North Country Conservation-Education Associates
Inwood Hill Park Nature Center Manhattan Manhattan New York City 196 acres, open to the public on weekends from April through October
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Basom Genesee Western New York 10,828 acres, exhibits and nature programs offered at the Visitor Contact Station in partnership with the Buffalo Audubon Society, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
Kaler's Pond Nature Center Center Moriches Suffolk Long Island open seasonally
Kathryn W. Davis Riverwalk Center Sleepy Hollow Westchester Lower Hudson Hudson River environment and art programs, adjacent to Kingsland Point Park, operated by the Hudson River Valley Environmental Education Institute
Lenoir Preserve Yonkers Westchester Lower Hudson 40 acres, operated by the County
Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture Cortland Cortland Central New York 400 acres
Lloyd and Carol Bull Nature Center Herkimer Herkimer Central New York part of Herkimer County Community College
Madden Outdoor Education Center Carmel Putnam Lower Hudson 120 acres, operated by Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES
Marine Nature Study Area Hempstead Nassau Long Island 52 acre preserve devoted to environmental education and natural history
Marshlands Conservancy Rye Westchester Lower Hudson operated by the County, 147 acres
Mendon Ponds Park Honeoye Falls Monroe Western New York 2,500 acres, operated by the County
Minna Anthony Common Nature Center Wellesley Island Jefferson Thousand Islands Locate in Wellesley Island State Park
Minnewaska State Park Preserve Kerhonkson Ulster Mid-Hudson 21,106 acres, nature center is open on weekends seasonally
Mohonk Preserve New Paltz Ulster Mid-Hudson over 7,000 acres, exhibits and programs at the Visitor Center
Montezuma Audubon Center Savannah Wayne Western New York 198 acres, operated by Audubon New York and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area
Mud Creek Environmental Learning Center Ghent Columbia Capital District operated by the Columbia County Soil & Water Conservation District
Orchard Beach Nature Center Bronx Bronx New York City Located in Pelham Bay Park, open seasonally
Paul Smith's College Visitor Interpretive Center Paul Smiths Franklin Adirondack Region Operated by Paul Smith's College, about 2,700 acres
Pember Museum Granville Washington Adirondack Region natural history museum and 125 preserve
Pfeiffer Nature Center Portville Cattaraugus Western New York 648 acres in 2 properties
Point Au Roche State Park Beekmantown Clinton Adirondack Region
Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse Brooklyn Brooklyn New York City 585-acre park, center is a partnership between the Prospect Park Alliance and Audubon New York
Quogue Wildlife Refuge Quogue Suffolk Long Island 305 acres, managed by the Southampton Township Wildfowl Association, includes Charles Banks Belt Nature Center
Red House Nature Center at Inlet Pond County Park Greenport Suffolk Long Island operated by the North Fork Audubon Society in the 55-acre county park
Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve Depew Erie Western New York Operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 292 acres
Robert Moses State Park Massena St. Lawrence Adirondack Region Nature center being rebuilt
Rockland Lake State Park Congers Rockland Lower Hudson Nature center open in the summer
Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History Jamestown Chautauqua Western New York includes the Roger Tory Peterson Art Gallery and his personal library
Rogers Environmental Education Center Sherburne Chenango Central New York Region 600 acres owned by the state, center operated by the Friends of Rogers
Rye Nature Center Rye Westchester Lower Hudson 47 acres, city-owned facility supported by the Friends of Rye Nature Center
Salt Marsh Nature Center Brooklyn Brooklyn New York City Located in 798-acre Marine Park, operated by the Salt Marsh Alliance
Sam's Point Preserve Cragsmoor Ulster Mid-Hudson 4,600 acres, features the Sam’s Point Conservation Center, managed by the Nature Conservancy
Shaver Pond Nature Center Grafton Rensselaer Capital District Operated by the state in 2,357-acre Grafton Lakes State Park, open occasionally
Sheldrake Environmental Center Larchmont Westchester Lower Hudson 60 acres, located on Sheldrake Lake
South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center Bridgehampton Suffolk Long Island 70 acres, natural history museum, live animals
South Shore Nature Center East Islip Suffolk Long Island 200 acres, operated by the Seatuck Environmental Center, Orr Wildlife Learning Center open on weekends
Spencer Crest Nature Center Corning Steuben Southern Tier 250 acres, operated by Corning Community College
Sterling Nature Center Sterling Cayuga Central New York 1,428 acres on 2 county-owned sites, operated by the Friends of Sterling Nature Center
Stony Kill Farm Fishkill Dutchess Mid-Hudson 1000+ acre working farm and environmental education center, operated by the Stony Kill Foundation
Suffolk County Environmental Center Islip Suffolk Long Island 70 acres, operated by the Seatuck Environmental Center at the Scully Estate
Sweetbriar Nature Center Smithtown Suffolk Long Island 54 acres
Taconic Outdoor Education Center Cold Spring Putnam Lower Hudson Operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 14,086-acre Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum Elmira Chemung Southern Tier
Teatown Lake Reservation Ossining Westchester Lower Hudson 834-acre preserve located in the towns of Yorktown, Cortland and New Castle
Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center at Jones Beach State Park Wantagh Nassau Long Island 10,034-acre park, displays about marine habitats including the South Shore Estuary Reserve, the seashore and the dune environment
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center Oyster Bay Nassau Long Island website, 12 acres, operated by Audubon New York
Tifft Nature Preserve Buffalo Erie Western New York website, 264 acres, operated by the Buffalo Museum of Science
Trailside Nature Museum Cross River Westchester Lower Hudson operated by the County, collection of mounted animals, American Indian artifacts, educational exhibits, interactive displays, and nature-oriented artwork, situated on the 4,400-acre Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Twin Cedars Environmental Area East Avon Livingston Western New York 59 acres, operated by the State, outdoor facilities only[1]
Up Yonda Farm Bolton Landing Warren Adirondack Region 73 acres, operated by Warren County Parks and Recreation
Van Cortlandt Park Nature Center Bronx Bronx New York City 1,146-acre park, center open seasonally
WaterFront Center Oyster Bay Nassau Long Island Sailing and marine environmental education center
Waterman Conservation Education Center Apalachin Tioga Southern Tier 96 acre main site, manages four sites in the Tioga County area and one site in the Broome County area
Weinberg Nature Center Scarsdale Westchester Lower Hudson 10 acres, part of Scarsdale Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Brookhaven Suffolk Long Island 2,550 acres, visitor center exhibits and programs
Westmoreland Sanctuary Bedford Corners Westchester Lower Hudson 640 acre wildlife preserve and museum
Wild Center Tupper Lake Franklin Adirondack Region Formerly the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, 81 acres, natural history museum and education center
Woodlawn Beach State Park Nature Center Blasdell Erie Western New York

Defunct nature centers

  • Marty McGuire Environmental Museum at Dyson College Nature Center, Pleasantville, converted into the Marty McGuire Environmental Lab[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Twin Cedars Environmental Area". I Love the Finger Lakes. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Environmental Museum to be Converted into Lab; Students Begin Petitioning". The Pace Chronicle. February 4, 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.