MULTIPLE COUNTIES
Altacal Audubon Society; Serving Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties. Free public field trips. Beginners are always welcome, since our trip leaders are eager to instill a love of birds in anyone. We provide indoor and outdoor education for primary and secondary school classes. Getting kids out in nature where they learn about birds, their habits and habitats, and how they fit into the ecosystem is important work altacal.org. Email director@altacal.org.
California Native Plant Society, Mount Lassen Chapter; Butte, Glenn, Tehama & Plumas Counties. Year-round field trips, native plant seeds, monthly meetings & annual events, rare plant conservation & educational outreach programs to schools & groups. mountlassen.cnps.org.
BUTTE COUNTY
Barry Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary & Educational Center; Oroville. This education & preservation center is home to a wide variety of non-releasable endangered & exotic live animals. See tigers, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, leopards, hawks, owls, African lions, servals, a lemur, wallaby, reptiles & much more. kirshner.org. 4995 Durham-Pentz Rd. (530)533-1000.
Butte Environmental Council; Chico. Educates & advocates for the environment. Information about current land, air & water issues, classroom education programs & resources for community action. Waste education thru RARE program (Recycling and Rubbish Education). Hosts the annual Endangered Species Faire each spring in Bidwell Park & the annual Bidwell Park & Creeks Clean-up Day in September. becnet.org. 313 Walnut St., Ste. 140. (530)891-6424.
Chico Creek Nature Center. Quality educational programs to elementary school students and the public. Uses the natural systems of Bidwell Park as a classroom. chicorec.com/chico-creek-nature-center. 1968 E 8th St. (530)891-4671.
Feather River Fish Hatchery; Oroville. State-of-the-art facility features underwater viewing windows to observe migrating salmon (mid-Sept through mid-Nov) & steelhead trout (mid-Dec through mid-Feb). Learn about the life cycle of fish & view spawning operations. Offers educational programs & tours & hosts the Annual Salmon Festival in Sept. Open daily, sunrise to sunset. Free admission. Check website for hours. wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Hatcheries/Feather-River. 5 Table Mountain Blvd. (530)538-2222.
Feather River Nature Center & Native Plant Park; Oroville. An original river rock bath house used by gold miners. This is a great place to enjoy family picnics or just relax by the river. Nature Center: daily from sunrise-sunset. Bath House Museum: Apr-Oct; Sat-Sun, noon-4pm; guided tours by appt. Museums link at cityoforoville.org. Montgomery St. & Old Ferry Rd. (530)538-2401.
Gateway Science Museum, CSU; Chico. Inspiring the exploration of science & natural history in Butte County & beyond. Hands-on, minds-on exhibitions, Discovery Room for kids, native plants gardens & ongoing STEAM projects. csuchico.edu/gateway. 625 Esplanade. (530)898-4121.
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area; Gridley. Year-round wildlife viewing in a 9,100-acre wetland area. In fall & winter see vast numbers of migratory waterfowl. A museum, paved trail to a viewing platform & seasonal guided tours Oct-Feb. Annual events include a children’s fishing day. Open sunrise to sunset. wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Gray-Lodge-WA. 3207 Rutherford Rd. ,along the Pacific Flyway. (530)846-7500; Sat-Sun (530)846-7505.
Oroville Botanic Gardens & Education Center. Dedicated to the betterment of Oroville, Butte County & California through education, research, propagation and planting. Offers seed swaps, garden tours and an Arbor Festival in March. obgec.com/. 4790 Foothill Blvd. (530)649-4308.
The Worm Farm; Durham. Family farm with 5,000 linear feet of windrows of redworms. Hands-on group tours year-round by appt. Wear gardening clothes when visiting. Provides gardeners with a means of producing healthy plants while positively affecting the environment. Call for appointment. thewormfarm.net. 9033 Esquon Rd., 7 miles south of Chico. (530)894-1276.
Wild Things; Weimar. Let Wild Things share a fun-filled and energetic experience with your school, library, or private event. Wild Things brings rescued exotic and native wildlife to you and utilizes the animals’ personal stories to teach natural history, unique adaptations and a conservation message. Wild Things has something for everyone with topics such as: the Amazing Amazon, North American Wildlife, Beasts of the Backyard, Animals of the World, and Scaly Wonders, among others. In-person & live or recorded virtual programs. Wildthingsoutreach.org. programs@wildthingsoutreach.org. (530)878-2618.
GLENN COUNTY
Honeybee Discovery Center; Orland. The Honeybee Discovery Center teaches the importance of pollinators, especially honeybees, play in the environment. One out of every three bites we eat is thanks to a bee. Learn more about the history of beekeeping and the vital role pollinators play in our food supply through our immersive bee experiences. New exhibit The Making of a Queen Bee is coming this fall. Admission $3 adults, $2 kids ages 5-12. honeybeediscoverycenter.org. 501 Walker Street. (530)805-BUZZ.
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; Willows. Five national wildlife refuges & three wildlife management areas, comprising more than 35,000 acres of wetlands & uplands in the Sacramento Valley. Auto tours, hiking trails, visitor center, bookstore & educational programs. School & group tours available. fws.gov/refuge/Sacramento. (530)934-2801.
SHASTA COUNTY
California Native Plant Society, Shasta Chapter; Redding. Field trips, workshops, monthly events with presenters, annual plant sales, shows & information. Serves Shasta, Lassen, Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. Educates the public about native plants in their natural environment & for use in the garden. shastacnps.org. shastacnps@gmail.com.
City of Anderson Water Pollution Control Plant. Students of all ages can learn what happens to sewage water in a field trip that shows the steps of sewage wastewater treatment before it is released into the Sacramento River. Students will view the microorganisms used in a natural biological process that treats the water. ci.anderson.ca.us. 3800 Rupert Rd. in Anderson River Park. (530)378-6664.
Coleman National Fish Hatchery; Anderson. One of the largest Chinook salmon and steelhead hatcheries in the lower 48 states. See the hatchery building, rearing raceways, fish ladder, Battle Creek Trail, spawning operations (Oct-Feb) and more. Open daily for informative self-guided tours. fws.gov/fish-hatchery/coleman. 24411 Coleman Fish Hatchery Rd. (530)365-8622.
Redding Reptiles; Redding. Check out reptiles from around the world on display in the Reptile Exhibit Room, a sanctuary/home to 50+ reptiles that have been surrendered. Pets, supplies and feeders available. Store: Tu-Sat 11am-6pm. Exhibit Room: Wed-Sat 12-5:30pm. reddingreptiles.com. 74 Lake Blvd. (530)338-2446.
Shasta Land Trust. Learn about our local ecosystems, wildlife and the natural wonders of our biodiverse region. Events include family-friendly hikes, bike rides, movie screenings & more. All events support local land conservation efforts in protecting wildlife habitat, recreational lands, and working agricultural farms and ranches. Visit Shastalandtrust.org to sign-up. (530)241-7886
Shasta Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation; Anderson. A nonprofit organization that rehabilitates sick, orphaned & injured wildlife to release back into the wild. Volunteer opportunities in spring & summer. Tasks include feeding baby birds & helping rehabilitate older birds so they can be successfully returned to the wild. shastawildlife.org. 3752 Rupert Rd. (530)365-9453.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park; Redding. Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a fun, 300-acre, non-profit, gathering place, featuring the Sundial Bridge, museum, forestry and wildlife center, arboretum, and botanical gardens. Attractions and educational programs for all ages including animal shows, traveling exhibitions, towering playgrounds, indoor aquariums, an immersive Parrot Playhouse, and more. Turtle Bay also offers educational resources to the community including school field trips, Discovery Camps, teacher/classroom support, and Turtle Bay TV, a free distance-learning show on YouTube. Memberships available. turtlebay.org. 844 Sundial Bridge Dr. (530)243-8850.
Wild Horse Sanctuary; Shingletown. This 5,000-acre preserve is dedicated to protecting & preserving America’s wild horses as a living national treasure. Provides them sanctuary in an ecologically balanced environment. Tours available by appointment through November, weather permitting. The ideal time to view horses is between 10am-2pm as that is when they are at the feed grounds. Call the office to make an appointment. wildhorsesanctuary.org. 5796 Wilson Hill Rd. (530)474-5770.
Wintu Audubon Society; A chapter of the National Audubon Society serving Redding and the Shasta County area. The mission of the Wintu Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. We promote enjoyment of the natural environment through education and interactive programs. wintuaudubon.org. (530)276-8854.
SISKIYOU COUNTY
Mount Shasta Audubon Society. The Mount Shasta area offers outstanding opportunities to view more than 300 species of birds. The varied landscape, with its numerous creeks, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and wildlife refuges, attracts birds throughout the year. The Mount Shasta Area Audubon encourages birders by providing field trips, a colorful map of A Birder’s Guide to Driving Routes in Siskiyou County, a checklist of birds in the county and occasional programs. The chapter is also involved in education and conservation efforts to protect and enhance this beautiful region. Search “Mt. Shasta Area Audubon” on Facebook.
Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center. Family-friendly events & activities including herb walks, hikes, rafting fundraisers, and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival & Earth Day celebration. Mountain Patrons & volunteers support community education, environmental monitoring, ecological restoration & visitor programs. mountshastaecology.org. (530)926-5655.
Mt. Shasta Fish Hatchery. The West’s oldest operating hatchery raises trout to stock mountain streams, rivers and lakes. Feed the fish and learn how they are raised. At this time only self guided tours outside the building are available. Please call for updated information. Open daily. wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Hatcheries/Mount-Shasta. 3 N. Old Stage Rd. (530)926-2215.
Raven Tree Wild Bird & Nature Shop; Mt. Shasta. The North State’s only nature shop. Kids’ educational toys, books, board games, kites, puzzles, fun unique toys, birthday gifts galore. raventreeshop.com. 138 Morgan Way. (530)926-6695.
OTHER AREAS
Great Cats World Park; Cave Junction, OR. Interactive and educational 10-acre park home to lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, ocelots, lynx, a fishing cat and more. Meet feline ambassadors, learn about the plight of rare and endangered cats and watch trainers interact with the animals. Guided school and private group tours. greatcatsworldpark.com. 27919 Redwood Hwy. (541)592-2957.
Sequoia Park Zoo; Eureka. Families can explore the natural world & cultivate a passion for wildlife at the Sequoia Park Zoo. The zoo features exotic birds that live in a free-flight environment, interactive displays & animal exhibits in a unique redwood setting. Learn more about wild animal populations & the protection of their habitats with a variety of educational resources, special events & more. Check website for the most updated hours and information, as some exhibits are weather permitting. sequoiaparkzoo.net. 3414 W St. (707)441-4263.
