Nature Centers/Interpretive Centers

organization organization_description first name address city state zip contact_phone available resources available services available programs

Cayuga Nature Center The Cayuga Nature Center provides environmental and outdoor education programs for school groups, other organizations, and the general public. The Center includes a nature preserve, nature exhibits, trail system, and lodge. Janet Hawkes 1420 Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca NY 14850 607-273-6260
Facilities include large main lodge with overnight accommodations for up to 150 people, 140 acres with trails, and a rope course. The facilities are also available for rental by outside groups.

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology The Laboratory of Ornithology is an international center for the study, conservation, and appreciation of birds. It is located on a 220-acre sanctuary, complete with nature trails, a bird-feeding area and a large waterfowl pond. There is also an art gallery, observatory and gift shop. Rick Bonney 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca NY 14850 607-254-2424

Cornell Plantations The Cornell Plantations include botanical gardens, an arboretum, and many natural areas managed by Cornell University. The Plantations attract and inspire visitors while providing opportunities to learn about plants, natural sciences, and the preservation of natural resources. Nancy Ostman One Plantations Rd, Cornell University Ithaca NY 14850 607-255-9638
Educational programs include: classes, tours, lectures, and other special events related to horticulture and natural history. The Plantations offers maps and inventories of Cornell’s natural areas, slide collections of plants and habitats, and a gift shop offering books and field guides.

DeWitt Historical Society of Tompkins County The DeWitt Historical Society of Tompkins County is dedicated to preserving historical accounts of Tompkins County. Lorraine Johnson 401 E. State St. Ithaca NY 14850 607-273-8284
DeWitt Historical Society provides museum exhibits, collections, a research library, archives, and educational programs that focus on historical aspects of Tompkins County. Changing exhibits, gift shop, and tours. Genealogist fee.

Dryden Historical Society The Dryden Historical Society has a growing collection of historical maps, photographs, and related materials of people, places, and events that have occurred within the Town of Dryden. The collection documents the agricultural and economic development of the Town of’ Dryden. Gina Prentiss 36 W. Main St., P.O. Box 97 Dryden NY 13053 607-844-9209
Dryden History House is open to the public. The Society conducts six programs per year relating to the history of the town and gives slide presentations. Six programs a year relating to the history of the town. History House open to the public Saturdays 10am-2pm.

Lime Hollow Nature Center Lime Hollow Nature Center provides year-round environmental education and nature-based recreation on 115 acres of land with unusual ecological diversity. Steve Davis 3091 Gracie Rd. Cortland NY 13045 607-758-5462 visitors center, interpretive exhibits, 3 miles of trails, activities buildings. Lime Hollow’s facilities include a visitor’s center with interpretive exhibits, an activities building, and 3 miles of trails. Weekly educational programs are offered to the public and schools that utilize the nature center for curriculum-based field trips. Weekly educational programs offered to general public and schools.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge The Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge serves as a major resting area for waterfowl and other water birds on their journeys to and from nesting areas in northeastern and east-central Canada. Wooded areas, grasslands, and wetland habitat are managed to provide healthy populations of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Refuge staff provide wildlife-oriented educational and recreational opportunities for visitors as well as conducting a bald eagle release program. Marva Smith 3395 Routes 5 & 20 East Seneca Falls NY 13148 315-568-5987
Montezuma provides a nature preserve, visitor’s center, trails, fishing, boating access to NYS Barge Canal, public hunting, and a self-guided auto tour route.

Paleontological Research Institute The Paleontological Research Institute offers a hands-on quality educational program for children, adults, students, educators, and enthusiasts to increase their understanding of earth science and the history of life on earth. Program topics include fossils and fossilization, geological history of the Finger Lakes, and dinosaurs. Dr. Peter Hoover 1259 Trumansburg Rd. Ithaca NY 14850-1398 607-273-6623
PRI houses one of the ten largest collections of fossil invertebrates in North America. PRI offers informative field trips, educational workshops, and tours, in addition to issuing both scholarly and popular publications and a quarterly newsletter.

Sciencenter The Sciencenter is a hands-on museum and science park located in downtown Ithaca. The museum houses over 75 exhibits and a museum store. Hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm; Sunday, noon-5pm. Charles Trautman 601 First St. Ithaca NY 14850 607-272-0600
The Sciencenter hosts "Showtime" every Saturday for children and families and is available at other times for private functions.

organization	organization_description	first name	address	city	state	zip	contact_phone	available resources	available services	available programs
Cayuga Nature Center	The Cayuga Nature Center provides environmental and outdoor education programs for school groups, other organizations, and the general public. The Center includes a nature preserve, nature exhibits, trail system, and lodge.	Janet Hawkes	1420 Taughannock Blvd.	Ithaca	NY	14850	607-273-6260		Facilities include large main lodge with overnight accommodations for up to 150 people, 140 acres with trails, and a rope course. The facilities are also available for rental by outside groups.
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology	The Laboratory of Ornithology is an international center for the study, conservation, and appreciation of birds. It is located on a 220-acre sanctuary, complete with nature trails, a bird-feeding area and a large waterfowl pond. There is also an art gallery, observatory and gift shop.	Rick Bonney	159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.	Ithaca	NY	14850	607-254-2424
Cornell Plantations	The Cornell Plantations include botanical gardens, an arboretum, and many natural areas managed by Cornell University. The Plantations attract and inspire visitors while providing opportunities to learn about plants, natural sciences, and the preservation of natural resources.	Nancy Ostman	One Plantations Rd, Cornell University	Ithaca	NY	14850	607-255-9638		Educational programs include: classes, tours, lectures, and other special events related to horticulture and natural history. The Plantations offers maps and inventories of Cornell’s natural areas, slide collections of plants and habitats, and a gift shop offering books and field guides.
DeWitt Historical Society of Tompkins County	The DeWitt Historical Society of Tompkins County is dedicated to preserving historical accounts of Tompkins County.	Lorraine Johnson	401 E. State St.	Ithaca	NY	14850	607-273-8284		DeWitt Historical Society provides museum exhibits, collections, a research library, archives, and educational programs that focus on historical aspects of Tompkins County.	Changing exhibits, gift shop, and tours. Genealogist fee.
Dryden Historical Society	The Dryden Historical Society has a growing collection of historical maps, photographs, and related materials of people, places, and events that have occurred within the Town of Dryden. The collection documents the agricultural and economic development of the Town of’ Dryden.	Gina Prentiss	36 W. Main St., P.O. Box 97	Dryden	NY	13053	607-844-9209		Dryden History House is open to the public. The Society conducts six programs per year relating to the history of the town and gives slide presentations.	Six programs a year relating to the history of the town. History House open to the public Saturdays 10am-2pm.
Lime Hollow Nature Center	Lime Hollow Nature Center provides year-round environmental education and nature-based recreation on 115 acres of land with unusual ecological diversity.	Steve Davis	3091 Gracie Rd.	Cortland	NY	13045	607-758-5462	visitors center, interpretive exhibits, 3 miles of trails, activities buildings.	Lime Hollow’s facilities include a visitor’s center with interpretive exhibits, an activities building, and 3 miles of trails. Weekly educational programs are offered to the public and schools that utilize the nature center for curriculum-based field trips.	Weekly educational programs offered to general public and schools.
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge	The Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge serves as a major resting area for waterfowl and other water birds on their journeys to and from nesting areas in northeastern and east-central Canada. Wooded areas, grasslands, and wetland habitat are managed to provide healthy populations of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Refuge staff provide wildlife-oriented educational and recreational opportunities for visitors as well as conducting a bald eagle release program.	Marva Smith	3395 Routes 5 & 20 East	Seneca Falls	NY	13148	315-568-5987		Montezuma provides a nature preserve, visitor’s center, trails, fishing, boating access to NYS Barge Canal, public hunting, and a self-guided auto tour route.
Paleontological Research Institute	The Paleontological Research Institute offers a hands-on quality educational program for children, adults, students, educators, and enthusiasts to increase their understanding of earth science and the history of life on earth. Program topics include fossils and fossilization, geological history of the Finger Lakes, and dinosaurs.	Dr. Peter Hoover	1259 Trumansburg Rd.	Ithaca	NY	14850-1398	607-273-6623		PRI houses one of the ten largest collections of fossil invertebrates in North America. PRI offers informative field trips, educational workshops, and tours, in addition to issuing both scholarly and popular publications and a quarterly newsletter.
Sciencenter	The Sciencenter is a hands-on museum and science park located in downtown Ithaca. The museum houses over 75 exhibits and a museum store. Hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm; Sunday, noon-5pm.	Charles Trautman	601 First St.	Ithaca	NY	14850	607-272-0600		The Sciencenter hosts "Showtime" every Saturday for children and families and is available at other times for private functions.