Louisville Nature Center

At the Louisville Nature Center, our mission is to be a catalyst for conservation through environmental education and connection to nature for every person. We approach this goal from every angle, and believe that fostering the next generation of conservation stewards is as important as taking care of the land we have today. 

Nature Education

LNC offers countless points of connection to nature for all people of all ages. There are kids of all ages learning and playing on our grounds 40+ weeks out of the year between summer camps, our Swallowtail Forest School, and visiting field trips. We also bring nature into the classroom with our outreach programs in schools throughout greater Louisville and Indiana. Thousands of students experience a connection with nature via our programs every year, each one learning what it means to care for and connect with the planet they call home.

Our trails are always open to the public, so adults can also explore the outdoors right here in their own backyard. We offer guided hikes day and night, beginner birdwatching workshops, and other season-specific programming throughout the year. If you want to learn more about the outdoors in the heart of metro Louisville, the Louisville Nature Center is the place to do it.

Land Restoration

LNC maintains 80 acres of forest, including the Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve. Our team of staff and volunteer forest stewards keep our trails free and clear of debris to ensure you can enjoy them all year round. They also remove invasive species throughout the forest, bringing it closer and closer to a healthy, balanced ecosystem that can sustain itself in perpetuity. This also means planting native species like spicebushes, pawpaws, and more. 

The same care and attention that goes into our forest also goes into the gardens around our buildings. Our sensory garden is a quiet oasis teeming with native plants of all kinds. Monarch butterflies take refuge in our milkweeds, and endangered box turtles seek the garden out to lay their eggs. The grounds are a haven for hawks, tree frogs, moths, turtles, and humans alike. Without your support, these natural resources could be lost forever.

Environmental Collaboration

The Louisville Nature Center is proud to partner with research and academic institutions to contribute to a broader mission of conservation in Kentucky and around the globe. Currently, we're working with a team of researchers to catalog and tag endangered Eastern box turtles and learn how to halt their decline. LNC is in a unique position to become a haven for these animals, and working with tenured experts is what can help make that happen. We also have numerous community partnerships to bring nature resources to people and places far and wide across the Louisville Metro. This includes helping with community gardens, plantings, bringing nature education programs, providing scholarships to nature programs, and more!

Pledge your support 

We are working towards a future where the people of Louisville can connect with the outdoors in the heart of their city. With your help, we can build a sustainable and long-lasting place for people of all ages to learn what it means to conserve and protect the environment right here at home. Your generous support of the Louisville Nature Center helps us continue our mission to provide nature education and stewardship in an urban forest. Please consider making a contribution this Give for Good to ensure the Louisville Nature Center is here for generations to come.