Anita Purves Nature Center - Urbana, Illionois

Anita Purves Nature Center - Urbana, Illionois offers a wide variety of programs for youth and adults alike.

The Anita Purves Nature Center is home to several wild animals that cannot be released into the wild. They are part of the exhibits in the center’s Field Station and help teach thousands of visitors each year about Illinois natural history and ecology. Many are taken to area schools as part of the Naturalist in the Classroom Program. Volunteer caretakers help keep these animals’ homes clean and make sure they are well fed.

School Tour Leader
Thousands of children participate in the School Tour program at the Anita Purves Nature Center every year. Volunteers are needed to lead these children on guided tours of Busey Woods and Meadowbrook Prairie on school days. Training sessions teach volunteers how to lead the tours and share their love of Illinois’ Natural Areas.

Busey Woods is an adjacent 59-acre forest that was managed by the Urbana Park District for a number of years before it was purchased in 1991. This additional resource has enhanced the Urbana Park District’s environmental program offerings. Busey Woods is used by for interpretive hikes and school tours, as well as by the public for walks and bird watching. The Anita Purves Nature Center has more than 35,000 visitors each year and Busey Woods has more than 10,000.