| Name
|
Location
|
County
|
Region
|
Summary
|
| Adams Wildlife Sanctuary |
Springfield |
Sangamon |
Central |
40 acres, operated by the Illinois Audubon Society
|
| Andresen Nature Center |
Fulton |
Whiteside |
Northwest |
information, operated by volunteers, open for city events and education programs, features displays of local wildlife, insects, and flora found along the local watershed of the upper Mississippi River
|
| Anita Purves Nature Center |
Urbana |
Champaign |
Central |
website, operated by Urbana Park District, exhibits on the natural history of Illinois, interactive and hands-on displays, live animals, located in Crystal Lake Park, adjacent to Busey Woods, a 59-acre forest preserve
|
| Army Trail Nature Center |
Addison |
DuPage |
Chicago area |
website, 17 acres, outdoor classroom, partnership of the Addison Park District, Addison Elementary School District 4 & DuPage High School District 88
|
| Ballard Nature Center |
Altamont |
Effingham |
Central |
website, 210 acre nature preserve and educational center. It includes 107 acres of woodland, 15 acres of restored prairie, 10 acres of shallow water wetlands and 85 acres of agricultural land.
|
| Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center |
Cypress |
Johnson |
Southern |
Exhibits about natural history of the Cache River Wetlands and Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
|
| Bartlett Nature Center |
Bartlett |
DuPage |
Chicago area |
Located in the James "Pate" Philip State Park, operated by the Bartlett Park District[1]
|
| Black Hawk State Historic Site |
Rock Island |
Rock Island |
Northern |
208-acre park includes Singing Bird Nature Center for outdoor education programs and native bird section, and a museum of Native American life
|
| Cabin Nature Center |
Wood Dale |
DuPage |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Wood Dale Park District
|
| Creek Bend Nature Center |
St. Charles |
Kane |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County in 439-acre LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, interpretive displays including prairie ecology and Fox River
|
| Crabtree Nature Center |
Barrington |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, over 1,000 acres, features outdoor nature play area
|
| Crystal Lake Nature Center |
Crystal Lake |
McHenry |
Northern |
website, operated by the Crystal Lake Park District in 130-acre Veterans Acres Park, seasonal butterfly house
|
| Douglas-Hart Nature Center |
Mattoon |
Coles |
Central |
70 acre preserve with prairie, woodlands and wetlands habitat, 2 miles of trails, interactive displays of local wild life, live reptiles and amphibians, a bird observation area, children's discovery den, library
|
| Eden Place Nature Center |
Chicago |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, 3-acre urban nature preserve with a focus on food production and environmental education
|
| Emily Oaks Nature Center |
Skokie |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, 13 acres, operated by the Skokie Park District
|
| Forest Park Nature Center |
Peoria |
Peoria |
Central |
website, operated by the Peoria Park District, 540 acre preserve, 7 miles of trails, natural history museum and bird observation room, musical and educational programs
|
| Four Rivers Environmental Education Center |
Channahon |
Will |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County in 525-acre McKinley Woods - Kerry Sheridan Grove
|
| Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center |
Oak Brook |
DuPage |
Chicago area |
Operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, 226 acres, exhibits on area natural history
|
| The Grove |
Glenview |
Cook |
Chicago area |
Operated by the Glenview Park District, 123 acres, natural and cultural history displays, 1856 period house, log cabin, Native American longhouse, replica one-room schoolhouse, wetland greenhouse
|
| Hawthorne Hill Nature Center |
Elgin |
Kane |
Chicago area |
website, 67 acres, operated by the City
|
| Heller Nature Center |
Highland Park |
Lake |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the City, 97 acre preserve with 3 miles of trails
|
| Hidden Oaks Nature Center |
Bolingbrook |
Will |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Bolingbrook Park District, almost 80 acres, hands-on discovery center, nature playground, outdoor amphitheater, Seedlings Nature Preschool
|
| Kent Fuller Air Station Prairie/Tyner Center |
Glenview |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Glenview Park District, 32-acre remnant of a tall-grass prairie, seasonal educational programs about the prairie, the environment and "green" programs
|
| Kildeer Nature Center |
Kildeer |
Lake |
Chicago area |
website, 5 acres of open space, operated by the Village
|
| Ladd Arboretum & Evanston Ecology Center |
Evanston |
Cook |
Chicago area |
23 acre arboretum and nature education facility
|
| Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens |
Palos Heights |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the City, 85-acre park, 20-acre man-made lake with gardens, woodlands, and prairie
|
| Lake Renwick Preserve |
Plainfield |
Will |
Chicago area |
Operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County, 320 acre site and 200 acre lake where great blue herons, great egrets, black-crowned night herons, double-crested cormorants, and cattle egrets nest together, features Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Visitor Center with birding programs
|
| Lakeview Nature Center |
Macomb |
McDonough |
Central |
website, operated by the City, adjacent to Spring Lake Park, 55 acres of prairie, interactive displays and hands on programs that emphasize exploration and investigation of the environment
|
| Laws of Nature Center |
Yorkville |
Kendall |
Chicago area |
operated by the Kendall County Forest Preserve District, exhibits about prairies, insects, Native Americans, live bees, snakes, salamanders and frogs
|
| Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center |
Springfield |
Sangamon |
Central |
100-acre (0.4 km2) woodland and prairie garden owned by the city of Springfield and managed by the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation
|
| Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center |
Willow Springs |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, interactive exhibits, live animals
|
| Lockhart Family Nature Center |
Lake Forest |
Lake |
Chicago area |
website, operated by Lake Forest Open Lands, located on 50-acre Mellody Farm Nature Preserve with the adjacent 514-acre Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve
|
| Lost Valley Visitor Center |
Crystal Lake |
McHenry |
Northern |
website, operated by the McHenry County Conservation District in 3,200-acre Glacial Park
|
| Lyman Woods Nature Center |
Downers Grove |
DuPage |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the village, 150 acres of oak woods, prairie, and marsh habitat, William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center features changing exhibits and activities, native landscaping, butterfly and rain gardens
|
| Morton Arboretum |
Lisle |
DuPage |
Chicago area |
1,700 acres, offers extensive nature-entered education programs
|
| Natural Resources Education Center at Russell Preserve |
Genoa |
DeKalb |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the DeKalb County Forest Preserve for environmental education programs
|
| North Park Village Nature Center |
Chicago |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, forty-six acre nature preserve and an educational facility, operated by City
|
| Peck Farm Park |
Geneva |
Kane |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the City, 385 acre park featuring a visitor's center with hands-on nature and history displays, observation silo, trails, sports facilities, outdoor education center
|
| Pilcher Park Nature Center |
Joliet |
Will |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the City, over 640 acres
|
| Plum Creek Nature Center |
Beecher |
Will |
Chicago area |
Operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County in 891-acre Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, natural playscape featuring a pollinator garden, rain garden, and interactive play elements
|
| Prairie Grass Nature Museum |
Round Lake |
Lake |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the village, features realistic habitats, live animals, nature activities and programs
|
| Red Oak Nature Center |
North Aurora |
Kane |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Fox Valley Park District, 40+ acres, hands-on displays, live animals, nature preschool, cave
|
| River Trail Nature Center |
Northbrook |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, live animals, nature programs
|
| Rivershire Park and Nature Center |
Lincolnshire |
Lake |
Chicago area |
operated by the village, 15 acres, outdoor education programs
|
| Robert Allerton Park |
Willow Branch |
Piatt |
Central |
1,517-acre (614 ha) park, nature center and conference center
|
| Rock Springs Conservation Area & Nature Center |
Decatur |
Macon |
Central |
1,300 acres, operated by the Macon County Conservation District, includes nature center museum, restored farmhouse, about nine miles of hiking trails, and a paved bike trail
|
| Ruth Edwards Nature Center |
Dixon |
Lee |
Northwestern |
Operated by the Dixon Park District, Great horned owl on display, education, nature preserve, trails on 200 acres of woodland and meadows, disc golf course, outdoor shelters available, playgrounds including a zip line, boat launch available on the Rock River
|
| Sagawau Environmental Learning Center |
Lemont |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, exhibits on geology, history, and habitat management
|
| Sand Ridge Nature Center |
South Holland |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, 235 acres, exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Calumet region, native animals, reproduction early 19th century log cabins
|
| Severson Dells Nature Center |
Rockford |
Winnebago |
Northern |
website, operated by the County, 369-acre county forest preserve
|
| Springbrook Nature Center |
Itasca |
DuPage |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the village, 2 miles of trails, aquarium, butterfly garden
|
| Stillman Nature Center |
South Barrington |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, private, non-profit center for environmental education located on 80 acres of woods, lake and prairie, live birds of prey
|
| Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center |
Oregon |
Ogle |
Chicago area |
website, 360 acres, outdoor classroom, can host up to 180 people.
|
| Sugar Grove Nature Center |
Funk's Grove |
McLean |
Central |
Located within the 18-acre Funk's Grove Nature Preserve, interpretive environmental exhibits, sensory displays, live animals and a wildlife viewing area[2]
|
| Thorn Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
Park Forest |
Will |
Chicago area |
Operated by the Forest Preserve District of Will County, 985 acres, over 3 miles of trails
|
| Trailside Museum of Natural History |
River Forest |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, displays of live native animals, wildflower gardens, information about local wildlife and their habitats
|
| Vera Meineke Nature Center at Spring Valley |
Schaumburg |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by City, 135 acres, earth-sheltered, passive-solar visitor center, includes hands-on exhibits, discovery niches and a natural history library, park includes Volkening Heritage Farm, an 1880s living history farm
|
| Volo Bog State Natural Area |
Ingleside |
Lake |
Chicago area |
Over 1100 acres including a 45-acre bog, visitor center with exhibits, bog tours, prairie walks, insect and aqua safari's, summer bat programs and more
|
| Watershed Nature Center |
Edwardsville |
Madison |
Metro East |
website, owned by the City of Edwardsville, managed by the Nature Preserve Foundation, Inc., over 40 acres, 1 mile trail, restored prairie, wetlands and woods
|
| Wildlife Discovery Center |
Lake Forest |
Lake |
Chicago area |
website, operated by the City, located at 670-acre Elawa Farm, includes nature center, live animals, wildlife sanctuary, museum, and biological station
|
| Wildwood Nature Center |
Park Ridge |
Cook |
Chicago area |
website, operated by Park Ridge Park District, 5 acres, live animals, nature exhibits
|
| Willowbrook Wildlife Center |
Glen Ellyn |
DuPage |
Chicago area |
Operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, native wildlife rehabilitation facility with rehabilitated animals on display, education, trails
|
