List of nature centres in Canada
Appearance
This is a list of nature centres and environmental education centres in Canada.
Alberta
[edit]Name | Location | Region | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
Beaverhill Lake Nature Centre | Tofield | Central Alberta | website, operated by the Town, features natural history exhibits, information on area birding opportunities |
Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation | Slave Lake | Northern Alberta | Located in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, indoor and outdoor exhibits, programs, education and study center of boreal birds on their breeding grounds |
Bow Habitat Station | Calgary | Calgary Region | website, operated by the Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resources Department in 21 hectares Pearce Estate Park, features aquariums, fish hatchery, trout pond, hands-on exhibits |
Helen Schuler Nature Centre | Lethbridge | Southern Alberta | website, operated by the City, 196-acre Lethbridge Nature Reserve, part of the Oldman River valley parks system |
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre | Calgary | Calgary Region | website, operated by the City, 36-hectare wildlife reserve |
John Janzen Nature Centre | Edmonton | Edmonton Capital Region | website, operated by the City |
Kerry Wood Nature Center | Red Deer | Central Alberta | website, operated by the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society, adjacent to Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary, a municipally-owned 118-hectare park and federal migratory bird sanctuary |
Kimiwan Lake Interpretive Centre | McLennan | Northern Alberta | website, operated by Kimiwan Lake Naturalists, open seasonally |
Police Point Park Nature Centre | Medicine Hat | Southern Alberta | website, managed by the Society of Grasslands Naturalists in the municipal 97.7 hectares (241.43 acres) natural reserve |
British Columbia
[edit]Name | Location | Region | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
Allan Brooks Nature Centre | Vernon | North Okanagan | website, open seasonally, named after area naturalist Allan Brooks |
Buck Creek Canfor Hatchery & Nature Centre | Houston | Northern BC | Small salmon hatchery and nature centre, operated by A Rocha Canada. |
Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area | Creston | Central Kootenay | 7,000-hectares (17,000 acres), Wildlife Interpretation Centre open seasonally |
Goldstream Nature House | Langford | Capital | Seasonal programs, located in the 477-hectare Goldstream Provincial Park and operated by RLC Park Services |
Gorge Waterway Nature House | Esquimalt | Capital | Located in Esquimalt Gorge Park. Seasonal programs, displays about local ecosystems. Operated by the Gorge Waterway Action Society. |
Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve | Chilliwack | Fraser Valley | website, 130 hectares (325 acres), features Rotary Interpretive Centre |
Iris Griffith Centre, Ruby Lake Lagoon | Madeira Park | Sunshine Coast | website, operated by the Ruby Lake Lagoon Society, displays about human interaction with the natural environment from the mountains down to the sea |
Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre | North Vancouver | Metro Vancouver | Located in 617-acre (250 ha) Lynn Canyon Park, features natural history museum and education programs |
Miracle Beach Nature House | Campbell River | Strathcona | Seasonal programs, located in the 137-hectare Miracle Beach Provincial Park and operated by RLC Park Services |
Morrell Nature Sanctuary | Nanaimo | Nanaimo | website, 111 hectares of preserved second growth forest with 11 kilometers of walking trails |
Nk'mip Desert Cultural Centre | Osoyoos | Okanagan-Similkameen | Natural history of the Okanagan Desert and culture of the Osoyoos Indian Band |
North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre | Errington | Nanaimo | website, wildlife rehabilitation facility specializing in raptors and black bear |
Osoyoos Desert Centre | Osoyoos | Okanagan-Similkameen | Natural history of the Okanagan Desert, 67-acre nature interpretive facility, operated by the Osoyoos Desert Society |
Rathtrevor Beach Nature House | Parksville | Nanaimo | Seasonal programs, located in the 347-hectare Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park and operated by RLC Park Services |
Richmond Nature Park | Richmond | Metro Vancouver | 200 acres, includes the Nature House |
Scout Island Nature House | Williams Lake | Cariboo | website, open seasonally |
Stanley Park Nature House | Vancouver | Metro Vancouver | Operated by the Stanley Park Ecology Society, exhibits and programs about the park's natural history |
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary | Saanich | Capital | Features the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature House |
Manitoba
[edit]Name | Location | Region | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
FortWhyte Alive | Winnipeg | Winnipeg Capital Region | Website 640 acres, natural history exhibits and live animals, 70-acre bison prairie and viewing mound, over 7 km of interpretive trails, family treehouse |
Living Prairie Museum | Winnipeg | Winnipeg Capital Region | 12-hectare (30 acre) tall grass prairie preserve, displays on prairie history and ecology, operated by the City |
Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre | Stonewall | Winnipeg Capital Region | 36 km2 Wildlife Management Area |
Riverbank Discovery Centre | Brandon | Westman Region | website, natural history of the Assiniboine River, tourism information |
New Brunswick
[edit]Name | Location | County | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
Cape Jourimain Nature Centre | Cape Jourimain | Westmorland | Natural history of the Northumberland Strait |
Ducks Unlimited Conservation Centre | Fredericton | York | website, operated by Ducks Unlimited on the north banks of the Saint John River |
Irving Eco-Centre | Bouctouche | Kent | website, operated by J. D. Irving, sand dune environment of La Dune de Bouctouche |
Lamèque Eco-Parc | Lamèque | Gloucester | website (in French), open seasonally |
Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre | St, Andrews | Charlotte | website, art gallery, art and nature classes |
Tantramar Wetlands Centre | Sackville | Westmorland | website, 15 hectares, community-based centre of wetlands education specializing in experiential programming aimed at public school students and teachers, focus is the Tantramar Marshes |
Wild Salmon Nature Centre | St. Andrews | Charlotte | website, biology, research, issues affecting salmon, angling heritage and art, operated by the Atlantic Salmon Federation |
Newfoundland
[edit]Name | Location | Summary |
---|---|---|
The Fluvarium | St. John's | Operated by the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation, natural history and environment of the river |
Salmonier Nature Park | Holyrood | website, operated by the Province, 40 hectares with trails and animal displays, centre for environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation, research and environmental monitoring, additional undeveloped 1415 hectares |
Nova Scotia
[edit]Name | Location | Summary |
---|---|---|
Joggins Fossil Centre | Joggins | website, museum exhibits about the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, area coal mining, guided beach tours and programs |
Natural Resources Education Centre | Middle Musquodoboit | website, operated by the Province, 80 hectares (120 acres), curriculum-based educational programs for schools and groups |
Robie Tufts Nature Centre | Wolfville | website, operated by the Blomidon Naturalists Society, features structure for chimney swifts |
Ontario
[edit]Name | Location | Region | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
Apps' Mill Nature Centre | Brantford | Southwestern Ontario | website, operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority in the 107-hectare (266 acre) property of mature forest, fields and plantations; features the 1841 Apps' Flour and Grist Mill |
Backus Mill Heritage and Conservation Centre | Port Rowan | Southwestern Ontario | 1,240 acres, features late 18th century grist mill, conservation education centre and heritage village |
Bronte Creek Provincial Park | Oakville | Southwestern Ontario | 6.4-square-kilometre (2.5 sq mi) park, features nature centre, children's farm, early 20th century historic farmhouse museum |
Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation | Ball's Falls | Southwestern Ontario | Natural and cultural history of the Niagara Escarpment and ghost town with restored buildings |
Camp Kawartha Environment Centre | Peterborough (@ Trent University) | Central Ontario | Sustainable Living and Building, Regenerative/Nature Rich Landscaping Practices, Environmental & Nature Education (K-12 and Post Secondary), Educator, Parent and Community Training, Workshops, and Events. |
Cooper Marsh Conservation Area | South Lancaster | Eastern Ontario | website, operated by the Raisin Region Conservation Authority, visitor center located on Lake Saint Francis |
EcoHouse Green Venture | Hamilton | Golden Horseshoe | website, sustainable living environmental education demonstration centre operated by Green Venture |
Giant Rib Discovery Centre | Dundas | Golden Horseshoe | Natural history of the Dundas Valley Conservation Area and the Niagara Escarpment |
Gamiing Nature Centre | Lindsay | Central Ontario | 100 acres, nature workshops and events about lake ecosystems |
Guelph Lake Nature Centre | Guelph | Southwestern Ontario | Operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority in the 1608-hectare (3,971-acre) property of the Guelph Lake Conservation Area |
Heartland Forest Nature Experience | Niagara Falls | Golden Horseshoe | website, 93 acres with 2.5 km of accessible trails |
High Park | Toronto | Golden Horseshoe | 161 hectares (400 acres) park, High Park Nature Centre serves as an educational centre for visitors to the Park |
H. R. Frink Outdoor Education Centre | Plainfield | Central Ontario | website, Friend of the Frink Center, operated by the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board in partnership with the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board on land owned by Quinte Conservation |
Kortright Centre for Conservation | Vaughan | Greater Toronto Area | 325 hectares, environmental and renewable energy education and demonstration centre, operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority |
Laurel Creek Nature Centre | Waterloo | Southwestern Ontario | website, operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority in the 47-hectare (120-acre) property |
Ojibway Nature Center and Ojibway Park | Windsor | Southwestern Ontario | Operated by the Windsor Department of Parks, natural history of the Ojibway Prairie Complex |
Presqu'ile Provincial Park | Brighton | Central Ontario | 9.37 km2 (3.62 sq mi), features a nature centre and the Lighthouse Interpretive Centre |
Rockwood Nature Centre | Rockwood | Southwestern Ontario | Open seasonally, operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority in Rockwood Park |
Rouge Valley Conservation Centre | Toronto | Golden Horseshoe | Located in Rouge Park, environmental education programs and guided hikes in the park |
Royal Botanical Gardens | Burlington | Golden Horseshoe | 980 hectares (2,422 acres), includes an arboretum, herbarium, nature interpretive centre, network of over 37 km of trails and outdoor floral arrangements |
Shade's Mill Nature Centre | Cambridge | Southwestern Ontario | website, operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority in the 177 hectares (437 acres) Shade's Mill Conservation Area |
Taquanyah Nature Centre | Cayuga | Southern Ontario | website, operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority in the Taquanyah Conservation Area |
Toronto Botanical Garden | Toronto | Golden Horseshoe | 4 acres (2 ha), features 17 themed "city-sized gardens", environmental education programs |
University of Guelph Arboretum | Guelph | Southwestern Ontario | 165 hectares (410 acres), offers workshops, special events, includes the J.C. Taylor Centre |
Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary | Morrisburg | Eastern Ontario | website, operated by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, 9,000 hectares, interpretive centre with exhibits, environmental education programs |
Wawanosh Nature Centre | Belgrave | Southwestern Ontario | website, operated by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority in the Wawanosh Valley Conservation Area |
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre | Midland | Central Ontario | 3,000 acres of wetlands, fen and forest, includes live animals, trails, canoeing and kayaking routes, an observation tower and boardwalks |
Prince Edward Island
[edit]Name | Location | County | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
Macphail Woods Nature Centre | Orwell | Queens | website, operated by the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project |
Quebec
[edit]Name | Location | Region | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area | Saint-Joachim | Charlevoix | Critical habitat for the Greater Snow Goose during migration, encompasses 2400 hectares (24 km2) of marshes, wetlands, plains and forests |
Centre d'interprétation de la nature du Lac Boivin | Granby | Montérégie | website (in French), 1,114 acres |
Centre d'interprétation de la nature et marais Laperrière | Duhamel-Ouest | Abitibi-Témiscamingue | website (in French), open seasonally, natural history of the wetlands area |
Maison Girard Interpretive Centre | L'Isle-Verte | Bas-Saint-Laurent | website (in French), natural history of the peat bogs and tidal marshes of the Baie de l'Isle-Verte |
Saguenay Fjord National Park | Côte-Nord | Includes the Saguenay Fjord Interpretation Centre, Beluga Interpretation Centre and Maison des Dunes Interpretation Centre | |
Tadoussac Bird Observatory | Les Bergeronnes | Côte-Nord | website (in French), seasonal bird banding and migration observation in Saguenay Fjord National Park |
Saskatchewan
[edit]Name | Location | Census Division | Region | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Battlefords Wildlife Federation Nature Centre | North Battleford | 16 | North Central | website |
Beaver Creek Conservation Area | Saskatoon | 11 | Central | website, Meewasin Valley Interpretive Centre, operated by the Meewasin Valley Authority, features an uncultivated short grass prairie site |
Chaplin Nature Centre | Chaplin | 7 | South Central | website, exhibits about shore birds, area brine shrimp and mining industry, bird migration |
Foam Lake Visitor Centre and Nature Centre | Foam Lake | 10 | East Central | Natural history of the Quill Lakes, local tourism information[1] |
Prairie Learning Centre | Val Marie | 4 | South | Education programs about the natural history of Grasslands National Park |
Prince Albert National Park of Canada Nature Centre | Waskesiu Lake | 16 | North Central | Natural history of the park and its significance in the family of national parks of Canada |
Quill Lakes International Bird Area Interpretive Centre | Wynyard | 10 | East Central | Natural history of the Quill Lakes, local tourism information[1] |
Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre | Moose Jaw | 7 | South Central | website, conservation of the endangered burrowing owl and their prairie habitat, open seasonally |
Wadena & District Museum & Nature Centre | Wadena | 10 | East Central | Facebook site, area pioneer heritage, railroad, natural history of the Quill Lakes, open seasonally[1] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Quill Lakes Visitor Centres". Quill Lakes International Bird Area. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.