List of nature centres in Canada

Last updated

This is a list of nature centres and environmental education centres in Canada.

Contents

Alberta

NameLocationRegionSummary
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

NameLocationRegionSummary
Allan Brooks Nature Centre Vernon North Okanagan website, open seasonally, named after area naturalist Allan Brooks
Buck Creek Canfor Hatchery & Nature CentreHoustonNorthern BCSmall 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
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 OsoyoosOkanagan-SimilkameenNatural history of the Okanagan Desert, 67-acre nature interpretive facility, operated by the Osoyoos Desert Society
Rathtrevor Beach Nature House Parksville NanaimoSeasonal programs, located in the 347-hectare Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park and operated by RLC Park Services
Richmond Nature Park Richmond Metro Vancouver200 acres, includes the Nature House
Scout Island Nature House Williams Lake Cariboo website, open seasonally
Stanley Park Nature House Vancouver Metro VancouverOperated by the Stanley Park Ecology Society, exhibits and programs about the park's natural history
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary Saanich CapitalFeatures the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature House

Manitoba

NameLocationRegionSummary
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 WinnipegWinnipeg Capital Region12-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 Region36 km2 Wildlife Management Area
Riverbank Discovery Centre Brandon Westman Region website, natural history of the Assiniboine River, tourism information

New Brunswick

NameLocationCountySummary
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 CentreSt. AndrewsCharlotte website, biology, research, issues affecting salmon, angling heritage and art, operated by the Atlantic Salmon Federation

Newfoundland

NameLocationSummary
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

NameLocationSummary
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

NameLocationRegionSummary
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 Ontario6.4-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 OntarioNatural and cultural history of the Niagara Escarpment and ghost town with restored buildings
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 HorseshoeNatural 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 OntarioOperated 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 Horseshoe161 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 OntarioOperated by the Windsor Department of Parks, natural history of the Ojibway Prairie Complex
Presqu'ile Provincial Park Brighton Central Ontario9.37 km2 (3.62 sq mi), features a nature centre and the Lighthouse Interpretive Centre
Rockwood Nature Centre Rockwood Southwestern OntarioOpen seasonally, operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority in Rockwood Park
Rouge Valley Conservation Centre TorontoGolden HorseshoeLocated in Rouge Park, environmental education programs and guided hikes in the park
Royal Botanical Gardens Burlington Golden Horseshoe980 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 TorontoGolden Horseshoe4 acres (2 ha), features 17 themed "city-sized gardens", environmental education programs
University of Guelph Arboretum Guelph Southwestern Ontario165 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 Ontario3,000 acres of wetlands, fen and forest, includes live animals, trails, canoeing and kayaking routes, an observation tower and boardwalks

Prince Edward Island

NameLocationCountySummary
Macphail Woods Nature Centre Orwell Queens website, operated by the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project

Quebec

NameLocationRegionSummary
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

NameLocationCensus DivisionRegionSummary
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 CentralNatural history of the Quill Lakes, local tourism information [1]
Prairie Learning Centre Val Marie 4 SouthEducation programs about the natural history of Grasslands National Park
Prince Albert National Park of Canada Nature Centre Waskesiu Lake 16North CentralNatural 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 CentralNatural 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 10East Central Facebook site, area pioneer heritage, railroad, natural history of the Quill Lakes, open seasonally [1]

See also

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Foam Lake (Saskatchewan) Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada

Foam Lake is a shallow lake in the aspen parkland ecoregion of the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan. It was named "Foam Lake" in 1882 by the Milligans because of the large amount of froth that forms on it. The lake and surrounding marsh are a protected area and important wildlife habitat. The primary inflows for the lake, Milligan Creek and Beckett Brook, originate to the south in the Touchwood Hills. From the north shore of the lake, Milligan Creek flows north-west into the salty Quill Lakes. The Quill Lakes are endorheic lakes as they have no outlet. Walleye are a commonly found fish in Foam Lake.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Quill Lakes Visitor Centres". Quill Lakes International Bird Area. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.