Activities

The WNC Nature Center offers a range of fun opportunities for people of all ages, including daily animal programs, interactive Nature Play areas, and hands-on learning activities.

Daily Animal Programs

The Nature Center provides short, free, pop-up public animal programs daily. Depending on the program, you’ll have a chance to see the otters feed, get up close with our turtles, and more!

Programs and times are updated and shared daily at the Front Entrance.

Events, Programs & Experiences

The WNC Nature Center offers a variety of family-friendly programs, events, and experiences all year round! Reserve spaces and learn more about our offerings below.

Custom Experiences
Educational Programs & Fundraisers
Birthday Parties
Classroom Rentals & Private Events

Nature Play Areas

Find out just how fun nature can be! Studies show children who play outside are more physically active, more creative and imaginative in their play, and show better concentration.

Practice your poise on natural balance beams, get in tune with nature with wooden drums and a xylophone, slide like an otter, paint with water, build a chute, construct a fort, and more.

Nature Play areas are designated on the onsite Nature Center map by a green box with a white “play” icon inside.

Gift Shop

The Gift Shop is open daily 10:00am to 4:30 pm.

Located near the Front Entrance, the Nature Center Gift Shop offers a variety of souvenirs, apparel, toys, plush animals, jewelry, and snacks.

Friends of the WNC Nature Center members receive a 10% discount on purchases when they show their membership card.

Stop by the Nature Center Gift Shop to

Purchase mining roughage for the mining sluice
Rent a Wild Wagon stroller (limited availability) — $10. Each wagon seats up to two kids and holds up to 75 lbs.
Symbolically adopt your favorite Nature Center animal

You can find more souvenirs at the Plush Vending Machine inside the barn. Please note: some construction equipment has been interfering with the card reader. You can purchase items with cash or by seeing gift shop staff for help.

Gem & Fossil Mining

Pan for gems or fossils in our mining sluice! Mining roughage is available for purchase in the Nature Center Gift Shop.

Otter Falls Gem Bag — 3 oz gems in 2 lbs sand — $6.00
Mountain Cat Gem Bag — 6 oz gems in 3 lbs sand — $8.50
Prehistoric Panda Fossil Bag — 4 oz fossils plus 1/2 oz shark teeth in 3 lbs sand — $10.00

Snot Otter Gem Bag — 6 oz gem mix plus 3 oz emeralds in 5 lbs sand — $14.00
Big Bear Mixed Bag — 10 oz gems, 4 oz fossils, shark teeth, jumbo amethyst & more in 10 lbs sand — $30.00

Bonanza Bucket — 2.5 gallons of dirt hiding 20 lbs+ of gemstones including an amethyst drusy and large surprise — $75.00

Activity Sheets

Activity sheets and scavenger hunts are available for you to download and print on your own before you come. The Nature Center cannot provide print copies, clipboards, or pencils for this activity.

Download the Language Learning Activity Sheet

Download the K-Grades 2 Scavenger Hunt

Download the Grades 3-5 Scavenger Hunt

Download the Grades 6-8 Scavenger Hunt

Picnics

Guests are welcome to enjoy a picnic at our picnic tables found throughout the park. Snacks and drinks are also available for purchase at the Nature Center Gift Shop and vending machines.

You may also leave the park to visit a variety of nearby restaurants and reenter the same day with your ticket receipt.