Virginia Nature Centers (Hover mouse over pog to popup clickable link)
This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of Virginia.
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.
| Name | Location | County/City | Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve | Leesburg | Loudoun | Northern | website, 725 acres of successional fields, hardwood forests, wetlands, and riverine habitat; nature center; and over 20 miles of trails; operated by the county, with support from Friends of Banshee Reeks and from Banshee Reeks Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists |
| Blacksburg Price House Nature Center | Blacksburg | Montgomery | website | |
| Blue Ridge Center | Purcellville | Loudoun | Northern | website, 900 acres, trails, education center |
| Boxerwood Gardens | Lexington | Lexington | Southwest Virginia | 15-acre arboretum, nature center and woodland garden |
| Broadlands Nature Center | Broadlands | Loudoun | Northern | website, information, operated by the Audubon Naturalist Society and the Broadlands Homeowners Association, local animals, nature programs and events |
| Claytor Nature Study Center of the University of Lynchburg | Bedford | Bedford | Central Virginia | website, 470 acre nature center owned and operated by the University of Lynchburg, includes education and research facility, Cloverlea Farm and Memorial Gardens, environmental programs, nature trails, campground, Belk Astronomical Observatory, and horticultural research area |
| Claytor Lake State Park Discovery Center | Dublin | Pulaski | Southwest Virginia | 472 acres, visitor center exhibits about lake ecology, fish life |
| Ellanor C. Lawrence Park | Chantilly | Fairfax | Northern | 650 acres, operated by the county, Walney Visitors Center features educational exhibits, programs and information, live animals |
| False Cape State Park | Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Hampton Roads | 4,321 acres, Wash Woods Environmental Center for ecological studies, park also offers nature programs |
| First Landing State Park | Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Hampton Roads | 2,888 acres, Chesapeake Bay Center, environmental programs |
| Frogshackle Nature Center | Sterling | Loudoun | Northern | website, operated by the County at Claude Moore Park for special events |
| Gulf Branch Nature Center | Arlington | Arlington | Northern | website, 37 acres, operated by the City in Gulf Branch Park and Natural Area |
| Hidden Oaks Nature Center | Annandale | Fairfax | Northern | website, operated by the County in the 52-acre Annandale District Park |
| Hidden Pond Nature Center | Springfield | Fairfax | Northern | website, 25 acres, operated by the county, adjacent to 700-acre Pohick Stream Valley Park |
| Norma Hoffman Visitors Center at Huntley Meadows | Hybla Valley | Fairfax | Northern | Over 1,500 acres, operated by the county, visitor center includes an auditorium and museum space with exhibits, nature and history programs |
| James River State Park | Gladstone | Buckingham | Central | 1,500 acres, visitor center features an aquarium, replica bateau, history exhibits, seasonal nature programs |
| Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center | Alexandria | Alexandria | Northern | website, operated by the City in 50-acre Dora Kelley Nature Park |
| Joseph S. J. Tanner Environmental Education Center | Boydton | Mecklenburg | Central Virginia | website, natural history of John H. Kerr Reservoir |
| Long Branch Park and Nature Center | Arlington | Arlington | Northern | website, 17 acres, operated by the City at Glencarlyn Park |
| Maymont Park | Richmond | Richmond | Greater Richmond Region | 100 acre Victorian estate, park features a nature center dedicated to native Virginia wildlife, a historic house museum, arboretum, formal gardens, carriage collection and petting zoo |
| Mill Mountain Discovery Center | Roanoke | Roanoke | Southwest Virginia | website, operated by the City in the 611-acre Mill Mountain Park |
| Motts Run Nature Center | Fredericksburg | Fredericksburg | Northern | website, owned by the city and operated seasonally by volunteers in the 860-acre Motts Run Reservoir Recreation Area |
| Potomac Overlook Regional Park and Nature Center | Arlington | Arlington | Northern | website, 70 acres, operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, energy and natural history exhibits, live animals |
| Riverbend Park | Great Falls | Fairfax | Northern | website, over 400 acres, operated by the county, visitor center self-guided activities for children, live animal displays and natural and cultural exhibits |
| Rockfish Valley Foundation | Wintergreen | Nelson County | Central | website, 20 acres of trails, parks, river and creek access, and children's nature play area, plus indoor natural history center |
| Rockwood Nature Center | Richmond | Chesterfield | Greater Richmond Region | website, 160 acres, operated by the County in Rockwood Park |
| Rust Sanctuary | Leesburg | Loudoun | Northern | website, 68 acres, operated by the Audubon Naturalist Society |
| Sandy Bottom Nature Park | Hampton | Hampton | Hampton Roads | website, 456-acre environmental education and wildlife management facility, operated by the City |
| Three Lakes Park & Nature Center | Richmond | Henrico | Greater Richmond Region | website, operated by the County |
| Virginia Living Museum | Newport News | Newport News | Hampton Roads | Natural history museum of indigenous animals, aviary, outdoor animal displays, botanical preserve and planetarium |
| Walker Nature Center | Reston | Fairfax | Northern | website, 72 acres, operated by the community, 2 miles of trails |
| Woodpecker Ridge Nature Center | Fincastle | Botetourt | Southwest Virginia | information, 70 acres, privately owned preserve and bird-watching site |
External links[edit]
Defunct centers[edit]
- Smithsonian Institution Naturalist Center, Leesburg