Exhibits and animals highlighting all that KS nature has to offer. Paved hiking trails and programs.
The Great Plains Nature Center is a cooperative project between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and the City of Wichita Department of Park and Recreation. We offer experiences that connect people to the environment, wildlife and conservation measures. The adjacent 240-acre Chisholm Creek Park provides our outdoor classroom. More than two mi
les of wheelchair-accessible trails and boardwalks meander through riparian woodlands, prairies, streams and wetlands. An indoor wildlife observatory lets visitors relax in front of a stream of cattail-ringed wetland, where beaver, muskrat, ducks and graceful egrets make regular appearances.
Operating as usual
The Great Backyard Bird Count is LIVE! It runs from February 17-20. Go fill your bird feeders and grab your binoculars! See the post below for more information on how you can help scientists study birds populations 🐦
Don’t want to bug you, but you should really check out Kansas Wildlife Exhibit’s event on Sunday at 1pm called Love Bugs! Don’t forget to catch their daily feeding at 12pm too. ❤️🐛
You really won't want to miss Senior Wednesday tomorrow! Wildlife Supervisor, Jon Beckman PhD, will be chatting about the work he has accomplished with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. He has worked with grizzly bears, mountain lions, pronghorn, bats and monarch butterflies to name a few, along with helping establish the first (and to date, only) federally protected wildlife migration corridor. Come grab a cup of coffee and find us in the auditorium in the GPNC lobby at 1:30pm! And it's FREE!
Happy Valentine's Day from your favorite GPNC animal ambassadors 💘
Grab your partner in grime tomorrow and meet us for Riparian Restorers tomorrow at 1:30pm! We'll be showing some love to Chisholm Creek Park and clearing trash and debris out of the east fork of the creek until 3:30pm. Don't miss out on this memorable date. Waders provided!
Can't make tomorrow? Riparian Restorers meet every Tuesday from 1:30-3:30.
Naturally Crafty is getting a little sticky today 🍯
Come make a pinecone bird feeder, grab a backyard bird guide, and record all the new birds you see! 🐦 We’ll be in the lobby of GPNC until noon!
The sun is shining and the trails are calling 🥾🌞
It’s World Wetland Day! 👏
Not only does this ecosystem filter pollution and prevent flooding, it also is home to plenty of wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see migrating birds, muskrats, beavers, herons, bullfrogs, and turtles at the wetlands in Chisholm Creek Park. 🦫🐾
Starting a new month can be rough…
No two sunsets are ever the same in Kansas 🌅
Thank you to Mark Pierce for capturing this gorgeous shot of Chisholm Creek Park!
Are you looking to get a little CRAFTY this morning with your little ones??? Head over to Great Plains Nature Center at 10am for their weekly "Naturally Crafty" program...
More info: https://wichitaevents.com/event/naturally-crafty
“Step with care and great tact and remember that life's a great balancing act”
-Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
On chilly days, you’ll often see birds balanced on one foot! It’s no balancing act for them either. By tucking up a foot and puffing up their feathers, heat loss can be dramatically reduced! How are you staying warm on this frigid January day? 🧤🧣🧦
🌻2023 Kansas Day🌻
It’s days like today that we are reminded that we have the most outstanding volunteers, staff, and community members! Thanks to everyone who came out to GPNC today and helped us celebrate Kansas Day, checked out the Agents of Discovery, and learned a little about our home state! 🦬🌿
Another very special thanks to USOA Mrs. Kansas for joining us today! Tag us and share your photos from the event below 📸
Looking for some sweet deals? Come out to our Kansas Day event between 10AM-1PM today and sign up for our Walking Book Club. It's free to sign up and comes with a 10% discount on books for sale at our Owl's Nest Bookstore. (Pro Tip: You can stack this benefit with your Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center membership for a 20% discount! Love that.) 💡✅
📚Sign up for the Walking Book Club in person today at our Club Table.
📲Become a Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center anytime online (or in person during the Owl's Nest Bookstore’s hours, M-Sat, 10AM-4PM). https://gpnc.org/friends/
Agents of Discovery Missions @ GPNC start TOMORROW!
Download the free mobile app and the Great Plains Nature Center mission so you can play when you arrive for Kansas Day! PLUS we have a special Kansas Day Mission on our half-mile trail, available this weekend only! Play the Missions and earn your GPNC Agents of Discovery button 😄
Check out a description of the 2 available Missions below:
🌻Celebrating Kansas Habitats: Walk along the Heron Trail in Chisholm Creek Park to find challenges that explore and celebrate our amazing Kansas habitats! (1 mile)
🌻Kansas Symbols: From January 28th-29th only, enjoy Kansas Day by learning about our state's symbols while walking along the Quail Trail! (0.5 mile)
Just when you thought all the surprises were revealed... here is one more! The first 100 families to visit our Kansas Day event Saturday 28th starting at 10am will receive one FREE goodie bag full of some of the Naturalists' favorite Kansas-inspired items! Here is a sneak peak at what is inside.
Today we held our weekly press conference at the Great Plains Nature Center to promote their upcoming Kansas Day celebration on Saturday from 10am-1pm.
The event is free to the public & a great way to learn more about Kansas wildlife, including turtles such as this little guy. 🙂
Check out the Mayor’s Briefing at GPNC!
Another surprise! 🎉 Did we mention that Mrs. Kansas will be attending Kansas Day? Here is a little background on the 2023 Mrs. Kansas, Samantha Nigliazzo:
"Hi! My name is Samantha Nigliazzo. I am your reigning United States of America’s Mrs. Kansas 2023. I was born and raised in Manhattan, KS and now reside in Wichita as my husband, Tony, is stationed at McConnell, AFB. We have been married for coming up on eight years and we have two daughters, Leighton (6) and Natalie (3). This past December I graduated from Liberty University with a Master’s in Crisis Response and Trauma and for the past year I have been honored to work as a Sexual Assault Advocate with the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center. Having been born and raised in Kansas it is a great honor to get to represent my home state at the United States of America Pageant in April. "
Stop by to meet her and get a photo together from 10am-1pm, on January 28th!
Enjoy the cool breeze of a nighttime adventure as you set out on the moonlit trails of Chisholm Creek Park! Experience the nocturnal side of nature during this unique monthly program guided by a naturalist from the Great Plains Nature Center for an inclusive and fun educational experience. The end of the trail greets you with a cup of hot chocolate after the walk. Don't forget to bring a flashlight! Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.
REGISTER HERE
https://bit.ly/3kGLH6E
The news is out! Thanks to Agents of Discovery and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the Great Plains Nature Center will be launching interactive missions you can play in Chisholm Creek Park on your phone! Become an Agent of Discovery starting at our Kansas Day Event on January 28th. Just like our event, the app is FREE!
Here's how you can play:
✅Download the Agents of Discovery mobile game.
✅Find and download the Great Plains Nature Center Mission to start playing.
✅Visit the Park and explore the map to uncover and solve Challenges.
✅Solve all the Challenges and collect a special prize from the GPNC when we're open!
More details to come!
👀🧢🥾🤳
Snowy owls will find themselves as far south as Kansas when they are searching for better hunting ground. It's a long journey from the artic circle and these birds will often be extremely emaciated when they arrive. Despite the skeptical look, we are positive this owl is thankful for the kind treatment he received in Lane County.
We could not be more grateful for the guidance that Vanessa gave us on enrichment and training for our birds of prey. As you can see, Teeto is more than enthralled to be the center of attention.
KWE and Great Plains Nature Center staff had a unique and meaningful experience this morning. Master falconer Vanessa Avara took us under her wing and offered all kinds of avian advice.
She also donated some fun enrichment devices for the KWE animal ambassadors. Thank you, Vanessa! Your decades of working with birds is valuable knowledge and we appreciate you coming out of retirement to share some sage wisdom.
We will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The trails will remain open from dawn to dusk!
Have you ever seen a mallard hybrid? 🦆 There are reports of mallards hybridizing with over 40 different species of duck, both domestic and wild! This actually can be a problem for endangered waterfowl populations, as it puts the species' genetics at risk.
Muskrats may not be able to beat you in a foot race but they can outswim you any day, with top speeds at 3mph while the average human only swims at 2mph.
Don’t forget to join us for today’s Creature Feature at 11am with Emily to learn the ABC’s of Kansas Creatures! You’ll get to meet our favorite yellow mud turtle and learn about the diversity of Kansas wildlife! 🐢🦬🦝
We are counting down the days until Kansas Day! 🦬On Saturday, January 28th investigate the beautiful and diverse state we call home! While you're there, you'll also learn about what GPNC has in store for 2023. Stay tuned for some exciting surprises and updates about one of our favorite events of the year!
Celebrate the birthday of Kansas this month with educational activities at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita. Its FREE to attend! GPNC will host a self-guided Kansas Day event this year on Saturday, January
Word from the bird is that it's .
We use this day not only to celebrate our avian friends but also to focus on the adversity bird species face, not only in Kansas but also globally. Habitat loss, disease, and extreme weather are a few of the challenges they deal with today but that doesn't mean we can't help our local flocks!
🐦Bring outdoor cats inside! They are one of the leading contributors to bird deaths throughout the U.S. and it lowers the risk of fatality for your pet.
🐦Buy a Migratory Bird Stamp from the post office! The proceeds go directly to habitat conservation through the National Wildlife Refuge system.
🐦Opt for "Bird-friendly" coffee. Many birds migrate south for the winter, where coffee is grown. This certifies that the company is harvesting in a way that keeps bird habitats safe.
🐦Participate in citizen science. It can be from your own backyard or you can join up with a local Audubon chapter. Tracking bird populations is crucial to understanding conservation!
This message is supported by Teeto, our America Kestrel.
We want to hear your nature New Year’s resolutions! 🏕📸🧘♀️🌅
We will be closed today in celebration of the New Year! Trails will be open from dawn to dusk.
GPNC will close today at noon.
Enjoy your New Year's Eve! 🎉
Recycle your Christmas Tree! 🌲 From now until January 23rd, various locations around Sedgwick County such as Great Plains Nature Center, Old Cowtown Museum, Edgemoor Park, and others will be open to drop your tree off in a designated area.
Locations will have free mulch for the public based on availability!
For a full list of locations and extra information:https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/media/40697/scer-xmastreerecycle.pdf
Okay nature buffs- what (or who) caused those little holes in the ice? Drop your thoughts, speculations, and theories below. Ice and snow can tell you so many secrets about wildlife!
Tomorrow, we'll comment what we thought it was!
6232 E 29th Street N
Wichita, KS
67220
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| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
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| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |
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Let’s learn about jumping spiders with Ollie! Creature Features are the first Monday of every month. Drop questions below! 🕷
Beekeepers and Bee Fans - We're starting our amazing Beekeeper Course on October 15th and spaces are filling fast. Register today! You'll be guided through every step of starting your first hive, collecting honey, and helping your bees do winter right. ✨Saturday October 15, 2022 9:00 – 11:00 AM -- Overview, hive types, hive site, build or buy, Preparation for winter ✨Saturday January 21, 2023 9:00 - 11:00 AM -- Progress on decision to become a beekeeper, where to get bees, group orders for bees, and tools ✨Saturday February 18, 2023 9:00 – 11:00 AM -- Q&A + BEE ORDERS DUE/PAID Saturday April ?, 2023 9:00 – 11:00 AM (Date TBD) --Receive and install your bees!! ✨Saturday May 6, 2023 9:00 – 11:00 AM -- Share experience to date, planning for honey harvest, equipment, SCKHP involvement The cost for the series is $30 for non-members and FREE for current members of the Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center. (Members, check your email to RSVP.) 🐝Non-member Registration: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/FriendsoftheGreatPlainsNature/nonmemberbeekeepingclass.html #beeautiful #beekeeper #beehive
Our sweet Opossum needs some new everyday essentials. Make her home as awesome as she is! Only 9 hours left to give —> https://donorbox.org/our-animal-ambassadors-need-you?fbclid=IwAR3G3hGGHvJsycFfZvIA4OvlxpP8J0U2uzYrjtOpkJcqNgclAwT0x0hoP-E#info
Today’s Creature Feature is Surviving Sand with the Ord’s Kangaroo Rat. There will be a new topic the first Monday of every month. Can’t make it person? We’ll be sure to go Live for each one so you can watch it later! Drop your questions in the comments!
We love seeing mentors in action, changing lives and inspiring kids to enjoy the outdoors! Join us in celebrating a local mentor, Charles E. Brown, better known as “Charlie Brown,” an avid fisherman and mentor to many young men in our city. He has provided the community around him with fresh food to eat and inspired future fishermen to give their all to projects they care about. Throughout the next few months, we will be honoring local mentors and sharing how they've made a difference. Thanks for taking a moment to listen to Charlie's impact.
Join Naturalist Isaac as we talk about Aestivation with the Yellow Mud Turtle.
Hornworms make excellent treats for our turtle friends! They are high in protein and fat, so of course we had to go out and get some for our animal ambassadors to try! We were so ecstatic to feed Tripod (an Ornate Box Turtle) one of these chonky worms! Tripod’s exhibit is located in our front lobby, so it is always a blast getting to do things like this with a live audience. The family you hear in the background of this video were just so in “awh!” It just made our day! We love getting to share things like this with our fellow animal and GPNC lovers! Full disclosure: We do not recommend feeding hornworms you find straight from the wild to your reptiles. Wild hornworms collect and store toxins from the plants they feed on, making them toxic if ingested. Who should we try feeding a hornworm next? 🤔 Comment below!!
Join Emily for these month's Creature Feature! Learn the ways animals survive Kansas winters with the Speckled Kingsnake.
Creature Feature: Prairie Dog Edition! GPNC Naturalist, Jalen Holloway, shares how fascinating these small little rodents are and how unique their chitter chatter can be! These prairie dog families’ have such an exceptional communication they can even differentiate specific details of their predators including how tall this hunter is! Wow!
Creature Feature! Tour the Ice Age Great Plains with Naturalist Allan!
Ever notice how all of the coolest stuff in nature is awake at night? Since we didn't get to go live on Monday, watch Naturalist Deb's Creature Feature on how nocturnal animals operate with the marvels of eyeshine!
Are you ready for Pollinator Party? This guy is! This sunflower bee (Diadasia) could bring enough pollen to share, thanks to his "scopae"- the broom-like hairs on his legs that get absolutely coated with sticky pollen grains as he romps around a flower head. While it may seem like cute bee fuzz to us, it is actually a highly-sophisticated pollen collection system. 😤 Come celebrate this bee, and all the other "B's" of pollination at Pollinator Party 2021 on Sat. September 11 @ Chisholm Creek Park! More details on our event page: https://fb.me/e/ckIwIlimT
It's important to slow down and really observe your surroundings from time to time, because you have no idea what you're missing. Maybe you're like these beetles, so focused on the busy work of eating pollen from this compass plant flower that you bump straight into the large, well-camouflaged crab spider watching you. Okay, maybe the stakes aren't quite that high for us. But still! Take a moment, take a breath, make sure nothing is about to eat you, and enjoy nature. 😌
The skipper sipper in action! It's always interesting to see these small butterflies putting their proboscis to work- the mechanics of the butterfly "tongue" are a very strange thing to watch. They really seem to be enjoying these zinnias at a local garden. BUT, even though we always associate butterflies with brightly-colored flowers, that's not the only plant they rely on. In fact, many species of skipper in Kansas rely on our native prairie grasses, like Little Bluestem and Switchgrass, as a host-plant for their larvae! Just your daily reminder that grass is the absolute best. 😌
Reason to Love Snakes # 8721: If Snakes were Gone, You'd Notice! They are an important predator of potentially pesky rodents, keeping populations in check. This #WorldSnakeDay, say thanks to a serpent near you! And you're a bit of an ophidiophobe, just remember- all snakes in Kansas are harmless (if you give them enough space). 🥳🐍
Senior Wednesday @ GPNC! Explore the Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills with Dr. Rex Buchanan.
Hey! Are you like me: unable to breathe effectively through your nose for about four months of the year? Well, this is part of the reason why: cool season grasses like this Eastern gamagrass are in bloom now- not to mention all of the wheat fields flowering the last few weeks. A simple shake of a blooming stalk of grass will release a terrifying cloud of pollen that is making me stuffy just looking at it. Stay strong, allergy sufferers, our plight has only just begun.
Have you ever been as EXCITED for something as this bumblebee is for penstemon? He can barely squeeze into the blooms, but just look at that gusto. Perhaps you just need something new and fresh to pique your interest. Might I suggest that you also get excited about wildflowers? Lots of beautiful things in bloom, guys! Tell us what you're seeing out there. 🤩
CritterTales at GPNC! May is Asian-American and Pacific Islander Month, and today we are reading a story about one South Asian family's great outdoor adventure! This book, by Ambreen Tariq, founder of @BrownPeopleCamping, reminds us that the outdoors is a home for everyone.
Flowers are wonderful to see and smell, and always brighten our day. But they do a lot more for the world around them than just look nice! Let Emily tell you all the reasons we love flowers in this week's storytime.
Hear that beautiful chorus outside your window? What could it be? Deb reads a book about bird songs this morning, with some help from local birds in the background.
Time for a rhyme! Erika reads "Hey Diddle Diddle" as a trip up the food chain in this week's CritterTale. Remember, CritterTales will be back in-person starting Wednesday, June 2nd @ 10am!
Have you heard the frogs singing this spring? Do you know where to look for them? Answer these questions and more as Emily as she tells you all about some of the world's many fantastic frogs!
The Great Plains Nature Center is a free facility that is a cooperative project between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, the City of Wichita Department of Park and Recreation and Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center. We offer experiences that connect people to the environment, wildlife and conservation measures. The adjacent 240-acre Chisholm Creek Park provides our outdoor classroom. More than two miles of wheelchair-accessible trails and boardwalks meander through riparian woodlands, prairies, streams and wetlands. An indoor wildlife observatory lets visitors relax in front of a stream of cattail-ringed wetland, where beaver, muskrat, ducks and graceful egrets make regular appearances.
Lowell D Holmes Museum of Anthropology
FairmountFrank Lloyd Wright's Allen House
N Roosevelt StreetTKAAM - The Kansas African American Museum
N Water StreetWichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
S Main StreetWichita Historical Museum Society
S Main Street
TKAAM - The Kansas African American Museum
N Water Street
Lowell D Holmes Museum of Anthropology
Fairmount
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
S Main Street