ABOUT EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER:

Earth Discovery Center: With an emphasis on the youth, the Earth Discovery Center seeks to enhance environmental education for all ages!

As soon as you walk in, it’s very likely you’ll be greeted by some sort of creature! That might be a snail, frog, salamander, or during the summertime, you can even catch the morphing of a caterpillar into a monarch butterfly right at the front desk.

Inside the center, you’ll find exhibits and information about native Indiana plants and animals, including aquariums with live native reptiles, fish, amphibians, taxidermy mounts, and replicas.

Other wildlife educational ambassadors may make appearances at scheduled program times. When you venture outside, you can take in a beautiful view of the reservoir out on the deck or hop on the nearby hiking trails.

Indy Parks naturalists host field trips, public programs, events, and summer day camps.

“We find that a lot of kids are really scared of nature — they come here and think they’re going into the jungle! We want them to take a walk in the park and realize that there is nothing dangerous out there. They might find some of these creatures in their own backyard, but they’re harmless and fun to learn about.”

Leah Frenzel, Earth Discovery Center Naturalist

• Carpet made of recycled material
• Eco-friendly bathrooms with motion sensor lighting, faucets, and hand dryers, as well as low-volume toilets
• Revolving front door that helps keep cooled or heated air inside

• Built on the site of the old ranger station (using previously disturbed land means fewer habitats affected and less land cleared)
• Furniture made of recycled plastic