Open 361 Days a Year: Admissions 10:00am – 3:30pm; park closes at 4:30pm

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Reservations are not required, and tickets do not need to be purchased online in advance.

You Can Help!
Your gift to the Friends of the WNC Nature Center
supports the animals you love!
Donate Now!
Adopt an Animal
You provide the love, and we'll provide the expert care!
Become a Wild Parent!
Volunteer
Share your love of animals by giving back at the WNC Nature Center!
Learn More
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Current Project: New Vet Clinic

Samson and Bonita are red foxes that were found injured in the wild. Each lost a leg due to their injuries. The Nature Center was happy to give them a safe home to spend the rest of their lives as ambassadors for their species. When we welcome an animal into the Nature Center, it’s a lifelong commitment! It’s time to build a new clinic to ensure that our Animal Care team has the resources they need to provide exceptional care to all of our animals — whatever their circumstance. This will cost $80,000! The vet clinic is vital to the Nature Center. It’s where medical treatment is administered, surgeries are performed, and we assess the health and wellbeing of our animals throughout their lifespan. Here’s how your donation will make a difference:
  • Increase the footprint of our veterinary care with a state-of-the-art 1,200 sq. ft. clinic
  • Increase the availability of on-site diagnostic services
  • Enhance the surgical facilities for more complex procedures
  • Create a comfortable  recovery and rehabilitation area
  • Expand our pharmacy and medical storage capabilities
  • Upgrade isolation and quarantine areas for our animals
Your gift to the Friends of the WNC Nature Center directly supports this effort and our dedication to advancing the critical work of the Nature Center! For more information about this project, please reach out to Cindy Smith, Director of Development, at development@wildwnc.org.

Membership

An annual membership to the Friends of the WNC Nature Center helps provide resources to support the animal habitats, education programs, and conservation initiatives of the Nature Center.

When you become a member, you support projects and initiatives like

Two children petting a barnyard animal
Wild Parent Adopt Package

Adopt an Animal

You provide the love, and we’ll provide the expert care! Become a “Wild Parent” or give an Adopt-an-Animal package as a gift!

Animal adoptions have helped provide major renovations to the Nature Center’s cougar, bobcat, and gray wolf habitats.

Buy a Brick, Bench, or Picnic Table

Honor a friend or remember a loved one with a personalized brick or bench! You can visit these lasting gifts each time you come to the Nature Center.

A brick pathway at the Nature Center.
An otter engages with puzzle enrichment.

Amazon Animal Wishlist

Volunteer

Show your love for the Nature Center by volunteering! From helping out with events to working with the animals to providing office support, we have a place for you! 

Nature Center staff at Highland Brewing.

Corporate Friends

The WNC Nature Center is one of the premiere family-friendly attractions in the area. Open 361 days a year and offering a wide range of education, recreation, and conservation programming, the Nature Center is a great place to reach your target audience and the 180,000 people who come through our gates annually! 

Depending on their level of support, Corporate Friends receive free passes to the Nature Center, tabling opportunities, discounts on employee memberships, event sponsorship promotion, and more!

Legacy Gifts

Support the future with a planned gift that impacts the WNC Nature Center for generations to come. 

A grandfather and his granddaughter at the Nature Center.

Coming Soon: Butterfly Exhibit!

We’re excited to share our next project, breaking ground in 2024! The WNC Nature Center will be adding a permanent butterfly exhibit, complete with pollinator gardens and an immersive experience for guests!

Friends of the WNC Nature Center logo

The Friends of the WNC Nature Center (Tax ID: 23-7412910) has supported the Nature Center since 1974. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises funds through donations, memberships, events, and Gift Shop sales. The Friends also provide outreach education, volunteer coordination, and marketing. Your donation directly supports the Nature Center!​