List of nature centers in Virginia

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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.

NameLocationCounty/CityRegionSummary
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 LoudounNorthern website, 900 acres, trails, education center
Boxerwood Gardens Lexington Lexington Southwest Virginia 15-acre arboretum, nature center and woodland garden
Broadlands Nature Center Broadlands LoudounNorthern 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 Virginia472 acres, visitor center exhibits about lake ecology, fish life
Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Chantilly Fairfax Northern650 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 Roads4,321 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 FairfaxNorthern website, operated by the County in the 52-acre Annandale District Park
Hidden Pond Nature Center Springfield FairfaxNorthern website, 25 acres, operated by the county, adjacent to 700-acre Pohick Stream Valley Park
Norma Hoffman Visitors Center at Huntley Meadows Hybla Valley FairfaxNorthernOver 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 Central1,500 acres, visitor center features an aquarium, replica bateau, history exhibits, seasonal nature programs
Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature CenterAlexandriaAlexandriaNorthern 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 CenterArlingtonArlingtonNorthern 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 FredericksburgNorthern 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 CenterArlingtonArlingtonNorthern website, 70 acres, operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, energy and natural history exhibits, live animals
Riverbend Park Great Falls FairfaxNorthern 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 FoundationWintergreenNelson CountyCentral 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 LoudounNorthern website, 68 acres, operated by the Audubon Naturalist Society
Sandy Bottom Nature Park Hampton HamptonHampton 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 NewsHampton RoadsNatural history museum of indigenous animals, aviary, outdoor animal displays, botanical preserve and planetarium
Walker Nature Center Reston FairfaxNorthern 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

Defunct centers