List of nature centers in New Jersey
This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of New Jersey.
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.
| Name | Location | County | Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allaire State Park Nature Center | Farmingdale | Monmouth | Shore Region | 3,199 acres, center operated seasonally by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey |
| Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center | Chester Township | Morris | Gateway Region | website, operated by the County, 100 acres including fields, woodlands and a formal garden |
| Belleplain State Forest | Woodbine | Cape May | South Jersey | 21,320 acres |
| Black River County Park | Chester Township | Morris | Gateway Region | Operated by the County, 223 acres, features the Kay Environmental Center |
| Cape May Bird Observatory - Center for Research and Education | Cape May Court House | Cape May | South Jersey | Operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society, bird watching, open Jan-May |
| Cape May Bird Observatory - Northwood Center | Cape May Point | Cape May | South Jersey | Operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society, bird watching |
| Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary | Short Hills | Essex | Gateway Region | 16.5 acres, trails, live animals, programs |
| Closter Nature Center | Closter | Bergen | Gateway Region | website, 136 acres of ponds, brooks, meadows and forests |
| Cooper Environmental Center - Cattus Island Park | Toms River | Ocean | Shore Region | 530 acres, center features local wildlife including snakes, reptiles and aquatic animals |
| Demarest Nature Center | Demarest | Bergen | Gateway Region | website, 55 acres |
| Duke Farms | Hillsborough | Somerset | Skylands Region | 2,740 acres, nature programs, 18 miles of trails, greenhouse with orchids, outdoor sculpture gallery |
| Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center | Chester Township | Morris | Gateway Region | website, operated by the County, 223 acres |
| Essex County Environmental Center | Roseland | Essex | Gateway Region | website, located in West Essex Park, 1,360 acres of wetlands preserve along the Passaic River |
| Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center | Chesterfield Township | Burlington | Delaware River Region | website located in Chesterfield Township, New Jersey on 230 acres of historic preserved farmland and education center, field trips, homeschool programs and after school programs |
| Flat Rock Brook Nature Center | Englewood | Bergen | Gateway Region | 150-acre preserve and education center |
| Forest Resource Education Center | Jackson Township | Ocean | Shore Region | website, over 900 acres, programs about the forest, 8 miles of trails |
| Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center | Chatham | Morris | Gateway Region | website, 44 acres, operated by the County, natural history of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge |
| Greater Newark Conservancy's Urban Environmental and Ecological Center | Newark | Essex | Gateway Region | Themed gardens, pond, greenhouse, environmental programs and outreach |
| Huber Woods Environmental Center | Locust | Monmouth | Shore Region | website |
| Island Beach State Park Nature Center | Berkeley Township | Ocean | Shore Region | Operated seasonally by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey |
| Jakes Branch County Park | Beachwood | Ocean | Shore Region | website, 400 acres, nature center exhibits about the history and natural surroundings of the Pine Barrens through informational exhibits, live animals and environmental programs |
| James A. McFaul Environmental Center | Wyckoff | Bergen | Gateway Region | website, 81 acres, waterfowl pond, bird shelters, boardwalk, nature trail, memorial gazebo, and natural science exhibits, operated by the County |
| Lawrence Nature Center | Lawrence | Mercer | Delaware River Region | website, 45-acre township-owned property features a stream, forest, meadow, network of trails and a community nature center |
| Liberty State Park Nature Center | Jersey City | Hudson | Gateway Region | Natural history and ecology of the Hudson River estuary |
| Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education | Ocean Township | Ocean | Shore Region | website, 194 acres, habitat includes maritime forest, salt marsh, two tidal streams and a freshwater impoundment |
| Lorrimer Sanctuary | Franklin Lakes | Bergen | Gateway Region | 14 acres, operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society |
| Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center | Howell | Monmouth | Shore Region | 1,204 acre park, 5 mile perimeter trail around the reservoir, center focus is wetlands ecology and wildlife and habitat protection |
| Meadowlands Environment Center | Lyndhurst | Bergen | Gateway Region | Operated by Ramapo College of New Jersey, wetlands trails and education programs |
| Merrill Creek Reservoir | Harmony Township | Warren | Skylands Region | 650-acre artificial lake surrounded by 290 acres of protected woodland and fields, visitor center exhibits, environmental education programs |
| Nature Center of Cape May | Cape May | Cape May | South Jersey | Operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society, features a gallery with exhibits from local artists, aquariums, a second story viewing deck and a third story viewing tower |
| New Weis Center for Education, Arts & Recreation | Ringwood | Passaic | Gateway Region | website, 152-acre environmental, nature and education center; located in the former Weis Ecology Center |
| Palmyra Cove Nature Park | Palmyra | Burlington | Delaware River Region | website, 250 acres on the Delaware River just south of the Tacony Palmyra Bridge |
| Paws Farm Nature Center | Mount Laurel | Burlington | Delaware River Region | website, owned by the Town, 9 acres, farm and other animals, children's themed play areas, trails |
| Plainsboro Preserve | Plainsboro | Middlesex | Gateway Region | Environmental education center operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society, almost 1000 acres, 5 miles of trails, 50-acre McCormack Lake |
| Poricy Park Nature Center | Middletown | Monmouth | Shore Region | 250-acre (100 ha) nature preserve and park, known for its Cretaceous era fossil shell beds |
| Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area | Montville | Morris | Gateway Region | website, operated by the County, over 1,500 acres, visitor center features interactive exhibits about the history and wildlife of the area |
| Rancocas Nature Center | Mount Holly | Burlington | Delaware River Region | website, situated on a 210-acre piece of Rancocas State Park, features 3 miles of hiking trails |
| Reeves-Reed Arboretum | Summit | Union | Gateway Region | 13.5 acres, arboretum and gardens, nature education programs |
| Ridgefield Nature Center | Ridgefield | Bergen | Gateway Region | website, information, 5 acres |
| Rifle Camp Park | Woodland Park | Passaic | Gateway Region | 225 acres, operated by the County, adjacent to Garret Mountain Reservation, features the John Crowley Nature Center and Astronomical Observatory |
| Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary | Bernardsville | Somerset | Skylands Region | 276 acres, Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education operated by the New Jersey Audubon Society |
| Schiff Nature Preserve | Chatham | Morris | Gateway Region | 423 acres, 14 miles of trails, nature center, education programs |
| Scotland Run Park Nature Center | Clayton | Gloucester | Delaware River Region | website, operated by the County, over 1000 acres, 80 acre Wilson Lake |
| Somerset County Environmental Education Center | Basking Ridge | Somerset | Skylands Region | 425-acre Lord Stirling Park, ecosystem of the area around the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge |
| Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association | Hopewell Township | Mercer | Delaware River Region | Watershed Center for environmental education on the 930-acre preserve |
| Tenafly Nature Center | Tenafly | Bergen | Gateway Region | Over 7 miles of trails throughout nearly 400 wooded acres and education center |
| Trailside Nature & Science Center | Mountainside | Union | Gateway Region | Located in the 2,065-acre Watchung Reservation |
| Warren E. Fox Nature Center | Mays Landing | Atlantic | South Jersey | website, located in Estell Manor Park, operated by the County, exhibits of natural history, Native Americans, local industry |
| Washington Crossing State Park Nature Center | Titusville | Mercer | Delaware River Region | 3,100-acre park, includes the site of Washington's crossing of the Delaware at Johnsons Ferry, |
| Wells Mills Nature Center | Waretown | Ocean | Shore Region | website, located in Wells Mills County Park, over 900 acres of pine and oak forest in the Pine Barrens |
| The Wetlands Institute | Stone Harbor | Cape May | South Jersey | 6,000 acres (24 km²) of protected wetlands, aquarium, wildlife art and carvings, bird observation tower |
| Whittemore Wildlife Sanctuary | Oldwick | Hunterdon | Skylands Region | website, 180 acres, features the Roving Nature Center and 11 miles of trails for hiking, dog walking and horseback riding |
| Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge | Medford | Burlington | Delaware River Region | website, 171 acres, includes Elizabeth Woodford Nature Center with hands-on exhibits, outdoor animal area with over 60 native animals, wildlife rehabilitation hospital |
