
There Are a Wealth of Nature Centers in SE Wisconsin! An Illustrated Guide, Part 2
February 4, 2025 | Topics: Places, Spotlight
By Eddee Daniel
“The connection between people and nature cannot be understated. When people are outside in nature more it is proven to reduce stress and anxiety. It enhances our creativity. It makes people happier and feeling more fulfilled.”
~ Senator Tammy Baldwin
The quote above is an excerpt from the remarks Senator Baldwin made during the Grand Reopening ceremony for the newly remodeled and expanded Urban Ecology Center in Washington Park (above), which took place on Saturday, February 1. Senator Baldwin joined many local officials who spoke, and her presence there speaks volumes about the stature and importance of nature centers in the lives of so many people who live in Milwaukee and, as this guide illustrates, throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.
This is Part 2 of the guide, which is presented in alphabetical order. Click here for Part 1.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area

As a recreation area, the park is developed to accommodate a wide variety of activities, including passive ones—walking, running, bicycling, swimming, canoeing, fishing, picnicking, in-line skating, snowshoeing—and more active or motorized ones, such as snowmobiling, ATV riding, hang gliding, hot air ballooning, and model airplaning. The park also has places to train dogs, train falcons, go horseback riding, and hunt (in season.) There are also two campgrounds. Adaptive equipment is available for people with mobility impairment, including sit skis for cross country skiing.
For the nature lover, however, it should be noted that only 280 of the park’s 4,515 acres are intensively developed. The remainder is managed for conservation. There are almost 30 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing.
In addition to the indoor Nature Center with year-round educational programming, there is an outdoor Nature Explore Classroom: a nature free-play space open to all ages, abilities and sensitivities.
Entrance fee or Wisconsin State Parks sticker required.
For more information and photos go to our Find-a-Park page.

Story related to Bong State Recreation Area:
The first day of 2024 brings multitudes out to the parks!
River Bend Nature Center

The mission of River Bend Nature Center is outdoor recreation and environmental education. It has two activity buildings and miles of hiking trails, winding through varied terrain, providing a very accessible and comfortable setting for novices or experienced outdoors people. The Center’s 78-acre property is comprised of almost 4,000 feet of Root River frontage, river-bottom land, prairie, ponds, and uplands hardwoods. Canoes and kayaks can be rented for use on the Root River.
There is no admission fee.
“River Bend is only minutes from the urban center of Racine. Yet visitors find themselves transported into nature, and a feeling that they are a hundred miles away. The nature center prides itself keeping programs and trails natural and very personal.” ~ Jeanne Dernehl, River Bend Nature Center
For more information and photos go to our Find-a-Park page.

Story related to River Bend Nature Center and the Root River:
Autumn Splendor on the Root River
Riveredge Nature Center

“Riveredge Nature Center is a nonprofit organization committed to making nature-rich lifestyles accessible to all people. The physical and emotional wellness benefits of time spent in nature are increasingly vital in our modern world, and Riveredge provides a welcoming setting that engages the mind, body, and spirit. Whether attending a class, volunteering with the Habitat Healer conservation team, or simply taking a restorative walk in the expansive sanctuary, time spent at Riveredge connects people to nature and each other.
“Founded in 1968, Riveredge Nature Center stewards 485 stunning acres of native prairie, woodland, wetland, and Milwaukee River frontage. As visitors hike over 10 miles of trails, they can observe astonishing biodiversity and rare habitats, including a State Natural Area. The center’s packed event calendar includes events centered on education, conservation, and community connection. Riveredge is especially known for their Return the Sturgeon project in partnership with the WDNR, their joyful Maple Sugarin’ Season, the Frothy Forage Beer, Wine, and Cider Festival, and the ever-popular Nature Journeys Summer Camp for kids in pre-K through grade 12.” ~ Amy Casey, Riveredge Nature Center
There is a requested trail use fee ($5 per adult or $2 per child). Free to members.
For more information and photos go to our Find-a-Park page.

Stories related to Riveredge Nature Center:
Bird Banding at Riveredge Provides Critical Scientific Data
Area Nature Centers Tap Maples for Syrup—and Fun!
Sturgeon Fest: A child’s perspective (2019)
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

“Schlitz Audubon Nature Center’s 185 acres of diverse habitats is nestled on the shore of Lake Michigan in Bayside. A former farm and pasture of the famed brewery that begets its name, this not-for-profit educational facility has been a Milwaukee area destination since its inception in 1971. The scenic landscape offers a beautiful respite close to the most populated region of Wisconsin. Six miles of hiking trails – over one mile of them fully accessible to people with mobility needs – offer contemplative escapes from the bustle of urban life. The Center offers a wide range of educational programs that broaden the mind and encourage guests to enjoy peaceful journeys in nature.
“The stunning Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Education Center is a Gold LEED-certified 30,000 square foot building with exhibits showcasing the habitats and animals found here along with a nature store, seasonal art gallery and the renowned Nature School, the first nature-based preschool in Wisconsin. More than 17,000 students annually are engaged here with environmental education programming; over 4,000 of which are able to attend without cost due to philanthropic support. Noteworthy are the Raptors of Schlitz Audubon which has fifteen birds of prey – eagles, hawks and owls: these ambassadors inspire people to study, cherish and conserve the natural world.” ~ Tom Finley, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Admission fee required. Free to members.
For more information and photos go to our Find-a-Park page.

Stories related to Schlitz Audubon Nature Center:
Raptors get top billing at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Photo essay: A misty morning at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Xtreme Raptor Day 2021 at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Touring Schlitz Audubon Nature Center with the Sierra Club
Seno K/RLT Woodland Education Center

Five miles south of Burlington in western Kenosha County and almost an hour from Milwaukee, this 127-acre property is the most remote of our nature centers. But it is well worth the drive. Over five miles of trails run across a rolling terrain of woodlands and prairies, skirting a large tamarack bog. Open from dawn to dusk with no admission fee.
“Seno Woodland Center is a physical testament to Dr. Elvira Seno’s love for the wonderful landscapes of Wisconsin. We’re happy to continue her legacy of educating both the current and future generations on Wisconsin’s natural resources using the prairie, woodland, and wetland ecosystems on the 127-acres as an ever-evolving outdoor classroom. We welcome everyone to come find a little quiet and solace on the trails, and learn something new about the natural world around them with each hike!” ~ Stacy Santiago, Seno K/RLT Conservancy
For more information and photos go to our Find-a-Park page.

Urban Ecology Center
The Urban Ecology Center is the largest nature center in our guide, with three branches in three different parks within the City of Milwaukee. Their mission is to connect people in cities to nature and each other. All of the branches have year-round educational and recreational programming for school children and people of all ages. They also have periodic “Take it Outside Days” when adventure equipment, such as bikes, skis, snowshoes, kayaks, etc., are available to the public free of charge.
UEC Riverside Park

The original branch was established in 1991 in order to reclaim Riverside Park from decades of neglect, abuse, and criminal activities. Wildly successful, the current “green” building was launched in 2004, followed by the other branches. 24-acre Riverside is one of Milwaukee County’s three Olmsted-designed parks. Significantly, it is also part of the 897-acre Milwaukee River Greenway. A boat launch on the river is used for watercraft activities. The UEC oversees stewardship of the 40-acre Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, established in 2013 on a former brownfield.
The UEC building opens directly onto Milwaukee County’s Oak Leaf Trail. Its observation tower overlooks the Greenway and downtown Milwaukee. There are no admission fees to the building, Riverside Park, the Arboretum, or the Greenway.
For more information and photos of the Milwaukee River Greenway go to our Find-a-Park page.

Stories related to Riverside Park and the Milwaukee River Greenway:
Hiking the Milwaukee River Greenway: Our premier urban wilderness
The Milwaukee River Greenway: A Wealth of Nature in the Heart of the City
Meghan Burke McGrath: Artist in Residence in Riverside Park
UEC Washington Park

128.5-acre Washington Park is another Olmsted-designed park and the current configuration of the park more closely resembles his original design than Riverside. In the park since 2007, the newly remodeled and greatly expanded UEC building doubles the capacity to provide environmental education to K12 schoolchildren as well as the general public. Its new observation tower overlooks the park, the surrounding neighborhoods, and the downtown skyline. No admission fees.
“The building is beautiful but we consider it to be a vessel for connecting neighbors to the nature found within Washington Park.” ~ Terry Evans, Branch Director, Urban Ecology Center
“The renovation of the Washington Park Branch is a testament to our unwavering commitment to this community and our belief in the transformative power of nature. As we open the doors to this revitalized space, we look forward to deepening our connection with our neighbors and continuing to inspire a love of the environment for generations to come.” ~ Jen Hense, Executive Director, Urban Ecology Center
For more information and photos of Washington Park go to our Find-a-Park page. Photos of the Grand Reopening on Flickr.

Stories related to Washington Park:
Washington Park: The Urban Ecology Center perspective
UEC Menomonee Valley

The newest branch of the UEC opened in 2012 adjacent to Three Bridges Park, which has one of the most unusual origin stories of any park in the region. Its rolling hills, inspired by glacial terrains, were designed and built “from the ground up” on top of a former railroad yard. Its 24 acres are squeezed between the Menomonee River and a remaining rail line, requiring the three bridges of its name for access to the park. One of the three bridges connects to Mitchell Park, home of the Domes. The Hank Aaron State Trail runs through the park.
The building, which is housed in a repurposed tavern, serves as another model of “green” building options.
For more information and photos of Three Bridges Park go to our Find-a-Park page.

Stories related to Three Bridges Park:
A guided tour of wildflowers at Three Bridges Park
Three Bridges Park celebrates its Tenth Anniversary with a “Party in the Park!”
Frosty fun in Three Bridges Park with a three-year-old!
A photography lesson in Three Bridges Park
Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley lights up for Urban Candlelight hike 2022
Wehr Nature Center

Wehr Nature Center’s 220 acres is nestled within the 627 acres of Whitnall Park, the largest of the Milwaukee County Parks. For urban and suburbanites, Wehr provides a safe and accessible place to recreate in a diverse set of habitats representative of southeast Wisconsin: woodlands, wetlands, prairie, savanna, and Mallard Lake with its popular waterfall—all within a short distance from one another. Wehr provides respite, resources, and quality programming that has and continues to provide a sense of community, a sense of place, for more than fifty years.
Wehr has an all-terrain wheelchair available for those who need assistance on the trails, along with many accessible trail features such as boardwalks, an observation blind and a pier on Lake Mallard.
“Whether alone or in company, nature shares with us the opportunity to connect more deeply to each other and to the environment. I feel privileged to witness this connection daily from people of all ages, background, and ability.
“It does my heart good to know that we are playing a role in improving the overall quality of life, both directly and indirectly to hundreds of thousands of residents annually. It is our torch to pass to the next generation and a gift to the current one.” ~ Carly Hintz, Wehr Nature Center
Admission/parking fee requested. Free to members.
For more information and photos of Whitnall Park go to our Find-a-Park page.

Related stories:
An Autumn Foray and a Season of Fragility
Accessibility is front and center for the Wehr Nature Center Healthy County Challenge!
Area Nature Centers Tap Maples for Syrup—and Fun!
Vernal and Ephemeral: These Ponds Are Essential Habitats!
To see Part 1 of this guide click here.
Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks and a member of Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Urban Ecology Center, and Wehr Nature Center. Milwaukee County Parks (Wehr Nature Center), Riveredge Nature Center, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, and Urban Ecology Center are all project partners of A Wealth of Nature.