Great Plains Nature Center

Great Plains Nature Center Exhibits and animals highlighting all that KS nature has to offer. Paved hiking trails and programs.
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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.

๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฆ… Introducing Flat Teeto Travels!Inspired by Flat Stanley, one of our favorite animal ambassadors, Teeto the American K...
06/01/2026

๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฆ… Introducing Flat Teeto Travels!
Inspired by Flat Stanley, one of our favorite animal ambassadors, Teeto the American Kestrel, will be traveling the world as a print-out companion! Our supporters, staff, volunteers, and board members will carry Flat Teeto on their adventures and snap photos of him along the way.
๐Ÿ“ First stop: Badlands National Park!
Stay tuned to see where Teeto flies next โœˆ๏ธ

05/31/2026

Theon from the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit wasn't the only Common Snapping Turtle at Walk With Wildlife yesterday!๐Ÿ‘€ This guy was hanging out at the pond near the building and is one of many that call Chisholm Creek Park home.

Their scientific name, Chelydra serpentina, refers to their snake-like, long neck that helps them strike out at crayfish, fish, and amphibians that they hunt for!

Harry, our beloved Plains (or Western) Hognosed Snake, is retiring from educational programs ๐Ÿ’› This little old man arriv...
05/31/2026

Harry, our beloved Plains (or Western) Hognosed Snake, is retiring from educational programs ๐Ÿ’› This little old man arrived at the Great Plains Nature Center in 2017 from Exploration Place. Since then, he's been part of hundreds of outreach programs, events, and field trips.

He's a wonderful animal ambassador that inspired students of all ages with his curiosity, charisma, calm, and, of course, cuteness. Harry will continue to live with the GPNC, enjoying the quiet life off exhibit. He's earned the rest! ๐Ÿ–๏ธ

Just a note- Walk With Wildlife's $3 advance ticket pricing ends at 5pm today! $5 tickets will be available after 5pm on...
05/29/2026

Just a note- Walk With Wildlife's $3 advance ticket pricing ends at 5pm today! $5 tickets will be available after 5pm online and at the gate. Thank you for supporting free nature education! Get your tickets here: https://givebutter.com/walk-with-wildlife-2026

Special thanks to the team from NetApp Serves Wichita for their help with Walk With Wildlife prep this morning! It turne...
05/29/2026

Special thanks to the team from NetApp Serves Wichita for their help with Walk With Wildlife prep this morning! It turned out to be a gorgeous day and their hard work is truly appreciated. Such a fun group of enthusiastic community members making a difference!

Rain or shine, join us for Walk With Wildlife TOMORROW- an interactive nature experience in the park! We'll fill Quail T...
05/29/2026

Rain or shine, join us for Walk With Wildlife TOMORROW- an interactive nature experience in the park! We'll fill Quail Trail with native Kansas wildlife, Naturalists, and wildlife enthusiasts from across the state for a day of fun and fundraising. If it rains, all the fun will move indoors โ˜บ๏ธ

Walk With Wildlife serves as our biggest fundraiser of the year to help keep free nature education available to all. We hope to see you!
See details on our event page here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1CJ44ti1Ch/

**Please note- $3 advance tickets close at 5pm today! $5 tickets will be available after 5pm and at the gate.

05/29/2026

We're cleaning out the Great Plains Nature Center basement to get ready for renovations and let's just say...it's full of surprises!

05/28/2026

Tonight's (5/28) Wildflower Walk is cancelled due to the weather forecast. We will see you next time! Thank you for your understanding.

Next Wednesday- We're kicking off the month of June with Trail Tots! This weekly program is an exciting and inspiring wa...
05/28/2026

Next Wednesday- We're kicking off the month of June with Trail Tots! This weekly program is an exciting and inspiring way to interact with nature on Chisholm Creek Park's half-mile Quail Trail. Join us for our first adventure all about BUGS!
Learn more: https://gpnc.org/programs-events/

Is it a muskrat, beaver...or an otter? ๐Ÿ‘€ These semi-aquatic mammals are often confused for each other, so this World Ott...
05/28/2026

Is it a muskrat, beaver...or an otter? ๐Ÿ‘€ These semi-aquatic mammals are often confused for each other, so this World Otter Day, we wanted to set the record straight๐Ÿ˜Ž

Kansas has one species of otter- the North American River Otter. This carnivore was once thought to be extirpated in our state, but has been successfully reintroduced! They're found along some larger rivers in eastern Kansas and good water quality is a must for their habitatsโœ…

Though they live in similar habitats and all have brown fur, that's where the similarities stop. Beavers and muskrats are both herbivorous rodents with large orange teeth. The beaver is large, a little chonky, and has a flat paddle-like tail. The muskrat is small (like..๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜บ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ a large squirrel in size) and has a long, rat-like tail. Finally, the otter is long, lean, and muscle-y with sharp teeth for gnawing on fish.

Address

6232 E 29th Street N
Wichita, KS
67220

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+13166835499

Website

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