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 California.
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| Name | Location | County | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural history, ecology and cultural history of the 400-acre lagoon and surrounding area | |||
| Operated by the Youth Science Institute in 720-acre Alum Rock Park, natural history exhibits, live animals | |||
| Operated by the American River Conservancy in Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park | |||
| 307 acres, marsh ecology and operations of the wastewater treatment plant | |||
| Operated by Audubon California in the 282-acre municipal park, nature education programs and native plant restoration projects | |||
| website, Evan Frankel Discovery Center operated by the city in the 8.5-acre park | |||
| Operated by the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation, programs about the 610-acre lagoon | |||
| San Bernardino | Visitor center with exhibits, nature playscape, environmental education programs about the San Bernardino National Forest | ||
| Located in 4,766-acre Andrew Molera State Park, exhibits on California condors, operated by the Ventana Wildlife Society | |||
| San Diego | Operated by the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association, education programs and store about Anza-Borrego Desert State Park | ||
| Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center | website, natural history of Buena Vista Lagoon | ||
| Carolyn Parr Nature Center | website, managed by the Napa Valley Naturalists, located in Westwood Hills Park | ||
| Charmlee Wilderness Park Nature Center | website, operated by the City in the 532-acre park, displays on Chumash Indian history, the park’s history as a working ranch, geology, local flora and fauna | ||
| Butte | Located in 3,670-acre Bidwell Park, live animals, natural history exhibits, native plant garden | ||
| City of Watsonville Nature Center | Santa Cruz | website, operated by the City in Ramsay Park, a wetlands area | |
| Environmental education programs, located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area | |||
| Alameda | Exhibits about the marine life environment and importance of San Francisco Bay, aquarium, local history, 2.5 mile beach | ||
| Formerly the Coyote Point Museum, experiential science and wildlife center with many live animals, native garden | |||
| David C. Daniels Nature Center | website, education center for the 2,143-acre Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve | ||
| San Bernardino | Natural history of the Mojave Desert, 8 acre outdoor trail and classroom, live tortoises | ||
| Operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, area wildlife, plants and geology, 1,310 acres | |||
| 190 acres, live animals, exhibits about canyon wildlife | |||
| Focus on sustainable living, features demonstration home and garden, workshops and classes | |||
| 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) park, nature center located in the day use area by the Ehrman Mansion, displays of park birds, mammals, game fish, lake ecology, wildflowers, trees | |||
| website, 77 acres, live native animals, wetlands exhibit, replica Nisenan summer village, operated by the American River Natural History Association | |||
| El Dorado Nature Center | website, 105 acres, 2 miles of trails, operated by the City | ||
| Santa Cruz | Operated by the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, about 1,700 acres, exhibits about the birds, plants, animals and marine life of the watershed. | ||
| Sonoma | Operated by Sonoma County Parks, 320-acre park, hands-on exhibits about Sonoma County's plants, animals and natural resources, tide pool with live, touchable sea creatures | ||
| Environmental Nature Center | website, Established 1972; 5 acres; hands-on natural science and sustainability programs, field trips, nature camps; LEED Platinum-certified building, seasonal butterfly house | ||
| Feather River Nature Center | Butte | website, operated by the City, exhibits portraying local wildlife, basaltic boulders, paintings, native plant park along the river | |
| Operated by the San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy, 42-acre park, environmental education programs | |||
| Owned by the City and operated by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, 36 acres, exhibits include butterflies, birds of the canyon, insects, plant habitats, animals and wildflowers | |||
| Alameda | Operated by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, focus is San Francisco Bay wetland and shoreline ecosystems | ||
| Humboldt Coastal Nature Center | Humboldt | website, 113 acres, operated by the Friends of the Dunes, natural history of Humboldt Bay | |
| Idyllwild Nature Center | website, operated by Riverside County Parks in the 202-acre Idyllwild Park, exhibits and programs on mountain ecology, habitats, flora and fauna, Cahuilla Native culture and the history of the San Jacinto Mountains | ||
| Jughandle Creek Farm and Nature Center | website, 39 acres, private organization that includes a nature center, overnight lodging, native plant nursery, community gardens, forests, meadows and trails, adjacent to Jug Handle State Natural Reserve | ||
| Contra Costa | Natural history museum with live native animals and wildlife rehabilitation center | ||
| website, private organization located on the 316-acre Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, features aquariums and displays of local marine life and reptiles, a sea turtle lagoon, outdoor aviaries of rescued birds, a shark and ray exhibit, and hiking trails | |||
| Botanical garden and zoo dedicated solely to the deserts of the world, 1,200 acres | |||
| Louis Robidoux Nature Center | Riverside | website, operated by Riverside County Parks, ecology of the Jurupa Valley area, changing exhibits on Native American history, native mammals, birds and reptiles, basic astronomy, the environment | |
| Santa Clara | Operated by the City in the 1,940-acre Baylands Nature Preserve, 15 miles of trails | ||
| Los Angeles | Operated by the City, exhibits about the plants, birds and animals of the marsh | ||
| Mary Vagle Museum & Nature Center | website, operated by the City, exhibits of local plants, animals, geology and history | ||
| 18-acres, includes nature museum and environmental education center | |||
| Natural history and conservation of the island, operated by the Catalina Island Conservancy | |||
| Hands-on discovery center focused on the natural environment, ecosystems, and cultural heritage of Cachuma Lake, the upper Santa Ynez River and San Rafael Mountain watershed | |||
| 58 acres, live animal and regional natural history exhibits, operated by the City | |||
| Oak Grove Nature Center | website, operated by the County in 180-acre Oak Grove Regional Park, exhibits of flora and fauna native to the Park, San Joaquin County and the San Joaquin Valley | ||
| Operated by the Central Coast Natural History Association at 1,050-acre Pismo State Beach, exhibits about the park's natural history, fresh water lagoon and Chumash culture | |||
| Placer Nature Center | website, interactive exhibits about area natural and cultural history, watershed, energy choices, replica of a Maidu summer shelter | ||
| Located in Placerita Canyon State Park, 12 miles of trails, live animals | |||
| Located in the ocean end of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, interactive exhibits about the natural and cultural history of the Waddell Valley | |||
| Owned and operated by the City's Recreation and Parks Department, focus is nature, science, arts and crafts, live native and domestic animals and interactive displays | |||
| Operated by the National Audubon Society, 911 acres, adult and children's nature programs | |||
| Rotary Nature Center | Oakland | Alameda | website, operated by the City, interactive exhibits about Lake Merritt and Joaquin Miller Park, includes freshwater viewing ponds, five habitat islands, a geodesic dome for injured birds |
| Sacramento River Discovery Center | website, located in the 488-acre Red Bluff Recreation Area in Mendocino National Forest, ecosystem of the Sacramento River watershed | ||
| Operated by the Youth Science Institute in 3,688-acre Sanborn Park, exhibits include animal mounts that populate the Santa Cruz Mountain Range, earthquake and geology displays, an insect zoo and an organic garden | |||
| San Dimas Canyon Nature Center | website, 138 acres, enclosed wildlife sanctuary containing live animals indigenous to Southern California | ||
| Exhibits include natural history and geology of the Santa Cruz Region, Ohlone culture, marine life of the Monterey Bay, nature programs | |||
| Operated by the San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy, exhibits on the plant life and wildlife of the alluvial fan of the San Gabriel River, 70 acre lake | |||
| Operated by Riverside County Parks, 9,000-acre reserve, visitor center exhibits and interpretive programs | |||
| Shipley Nature Center | website, 18 acres, located within Huntington Beach Central Park, owned by the City, area natural and cultural history, native plants | ||
| Shorebird Park Nature Center | website, operated by the City in a strawbale building, focus is marine life, conservation and education, 6 acres | ||
| Los Angeles | Located in 605-acre Franklin Canyon Park, exhibits and programs about the park's natural and cultural history | ||
| STAR Eco Station | website, environmental science museum, exotic wildlife rescue center and haven for endangered and illegally trafficked exotic animals | ||
| Los Angeles | Managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation; part of the Park to Playa Trail | ||
| Alameda | Managed by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, wildlife education and rehabilitation facility, live native animals | ||
| 2,079-acre park, includes the Tilden Nature Area Environmental Education Center | |||
| Located in 11,000-acre Topanga State Park, exhibits about the flora, fauna and geography of the area | |||
| Owned and operated by California State University, Fullerton, includes a natural history museum and interpretive center, two ponds, bird observation porch and feeders, hiking trails, gift shop | |||
| 300 acres, includes the McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Turtle Bay Museum and Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp | |||
| Youth science and nature education facility operated by the Youth Science Institute in the 150-acre Vasona Park | |||
| Operated by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, 102 acres, hiking and handicap accessible trails overlooking the ocean and Catalina Island | |||
| Los Angeles | Operated by the County, exhibits about the plants and animals of the river environment, includes live displays, 400 acres | ||
| Wilderness Park Nature Center | Los Angeles | website, operated by the City, features live animals on display and a pond | |
| Mariposa | Open from May-Sep, located at the Happy Isles bus stop | ||