List of nature centers in Missouri


This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of Missouri.
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.
NameLocationCountyRegionSummary
Audubon Center at RiverlandsWest AltonSt. CharlesEast Central, located inside the 3,700-acre Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, operated by the National Audubon Society
August A. Busch Memorial Conservation AreaSt. CharlesEast Central6,987 acres, operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Bennett Spring State ParkBennett SpringsLacledeMid-Missouri3,216 acres, exhibits interpreting Missouri's springs and the park's natural environment
Big Oak Tree State ParkEast PrairieMississippiSoutheast1,029 acres, exhibits on area natural history, logging, drainage of Missouri's bootheel, 1812 New Madrid earthquake
Bonebrake Center of Nature and HistorySalemDentMid-Missouri, 12 acres, operated by the Bonebrake-McMurtrey Foundation
Burr Oak Woods Nature CenterBlue SpringsJacksonWest Central, 1,067 acres, operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Burroughs Audubon Nature Center and SanctuaryBlue SpringsJacksonWest Central, nature library and bird viewing center, education programs, located in 7,809-acre Fleming Park, operated by the Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature CenterCape GirardeauCape GirardeauSoutheast, hands-on exhibits including Native American artifacts, freshwater aquariums, located in North County Park, operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Cave SpringKansas CityJacksonWest Central, 39-acre urban nature center and historic area, formally known as William M. Klein Park
Earth's ClassroomRosebudGasconadeMid-Missouri, 179 acres, experiential environmental education center
George Owens Nature ParkIndependenceJacksonWest Central, 86 acres, operated by the City
The Green CenterUniversity CitySt. LouisEast Central, arts and environmental education organization, located in Kaufman Park
Gorman Discovery CenterKansas CityJacksonWest Central, operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 37-acre Kauffman Legacy Park
Kemper Outdoor Education CenterBlue SpringsJacksonWest Central, operated by the County in the 7,809-acre Fleming Park
Knob Noster State ParkKnob NosterJohnsonWest Central3,934 acres, visitor center exhibits, nature programs
Lakeside Nature CenterKansas CityJacksonWest Central, operated by Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department, located in 1,800-acre Swope Park, also performs wildlife rehabilitation
Lewis & Clark Boathouse and Nature CenterSt. CharlesSt. CharlesEast Central, includes exhibits relating to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Native American displays and the Missouri River ecosystem
Martha LaFite Thompson Nature SanctuaryLibertyClayNorthwest, 53 acres, adjacent to the state-owned 40-acre Rush Creek Conservation Area
Powder Valley Conservation Nature CenterKirkwoodSt. LouisEast Central, 116 acres, operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Prairie Oak Nature CenterLeawoodNewtonSouthwest, operated by the City in 115-acre Ironwoods Park, exhibits, live native animals
Remington Nature Center of St. JosephSt. JosephBuchananNorthwest, operated by the City, natural, Native American and cultural history of Northwest Missouri
Roaring River State ParkCassvilleBarrySouthwest4,093 acres, Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center open seasonally
Rockwoods ReservationWildwoodSt. LouisEast Central1,843-acre state forest and wildlife conservation area, Conservation Education Center
Runge Conservation Nature CenterJefferson CityColeMid-Missouri, 107 acres, operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri habitat exhibits and displays, barn and farm exhibits, aquarium, cave exhibit
Sam A. Baker State ParkPattersonWayneSoutheast5,323 acres, seasonal programs in the nature/visitor center building
Science City at Union StationKansas CityJacksonWest CentralScience museum, includes nature center with live animals
Shaw Nature ReserveGray SummitFranklinEast Central2,400 acres, run by the Missouri Botanical Garden as an extension
Springfield Conservation Nature CenterSpringfieldGreeneSouthwest, 80 acres, operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Twin Pines Conservation Education CenterWinonaShannonSouth Central, 462 acres, operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Weldon Spring Site Interpretive CenterSt. CharlesSt. CharlesEast Central, operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, history and clean-up of the Weldon Spring Ordnance Works, 150-acre seeded prairie
Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon CenterJoplinNewtonSouthwest27 acres, partnership project of Audubon Missouri, the City of Joplin and the Missouri Department of Conservation
World Bird SanctuaryValley ParkSt. LouisEast Central, 305 acres, sanctuary for birds of prey, nature center, seasonal shows, nature trails, educational programs and picnic pavilions