Welcome to Pioneers Park Nature Center

Fundamental to Environmental Quality and Youth Development

668 acres of tallgrass prairie, woodlands, wetlands and a stream. Since 1963 the Nature Center has served the Lincoln area as an environmental education center and wildlife sanctuary. Over eight miles of hiking trails wind through various habitats and take visitors past non-releasable raptor exhibits, as well as bison, elk, and white-tailed deer.

Visitor Information

The Nature Center is a great place for people of any age to visit during all seasons. Come walk the trails through our prairie, meet our exhibit animals, listen to the birds in our bird garden, relax on one of our benches, treat yourself to the smells of our herb garden, dig in the natural play area, or learn from our exhibits.
Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Sundays from noon to 5 pm during the summer months. Starting in the fall, facilities close at 4:30pm. Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is free.

Two interpretive buildings house hands-on and small animal exhibits. The Edna Shield’s natural play area for Children provides a place for kids to dig, build and climb. Prairie, bird, children’s and herb gardens with many labeled specimens are both beautiful and instructive. Programming includes a preschool, nature camps, school hikes, scout badge work, birthday parties, special events and a variety of other classes for all ages. The Nature Center is open 362 days a year. Admission is free, suggested donations $3/person, $5/family or $10/group.

Nature Camp

Day camps are offered through the Nature Center for children ages three to 17 and focus on enjoying and learning about nature while exploring the outdoors.