Okeeheelee Nature Center

About

Hands-on nature programs run by county naturalists include animal encounters, snake feeding demos, and seasonal activities like archery. Okeeheelee spans 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands with 2.5 miles of trails, live exhibits, and a gift shop. Your kids can touch snakes, watch birds of prey, or explore on guided tours. Best for families with young kids through teens who want outdoor learning mixed with indoor exhibits. First visits usually start with the hands-on area and animal encounters, then move to the trails. Programs require advance reservation and run multiple days throughout the week.

e-News: http://pbcgov.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/pbcgov YouTube: http://youtube.com/pbcgov20 Founding Palm Beach County Palm Beach County was carved out of Dade County in 1909 becoming Florida's 47th county. The first county government me

Programs (14)

• On the Wing: Exploring Animals that Fly

  Class
  Ages 5–7· Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday· Morning· Paid

  Kids learn about butterfly life cycles and bird habitats through live animal encounters and nature walks. The one-hour program is designed for kindergarten and first grade students with curriculum-based activities. Kids meet feathered friends up close and walk through a butterfly garden.

• Alligator Feedings

  Workshop
  · Saturday· Afternoon· Free

  Kids watch live alligator feeding demonstrations led by county naturalists every Saturday afternoon. It's a free drop-in program that gives families a chance to see these impressive reptiles up close during feeding time.

• Archery for Beginners

  Workshop
  · Morning· Paid

  Kids learn basic archery skills including safety and shooting technique from USA Archery certified instructors. It's designed for ages 8 and up with no prior experience needed. All equipment is provided for the 90-minute session.

• Animal Homes and Habitats

  Class
  Ages 7–9· Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday· Morning· Paid

  Kids explore pine flatwood and wetland habitats to discover what animals need to survive and search for nests, burrows, and other animal homes. The 90-minute program is designed for second and third graders with hands-on habitat exploration. Kids then meet resident animals that could live in the homes they discovered.

• Animal Feedings

  Workshop
  · Wednesday, Thursday, Friday· Afternoon· Free

  Kids watch naturalists feed live animals including snakes and other nature center residents during regular feeding demonstrations. These are drop-in programs that happen three times a week, perfect for families visiting the nature center.

• SchoolPrograms

  Birthday Party
  · Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday· Morning, Afternoon, Evening· Paid

  Okeeheelee Nature Center offers school programs that let kids get hands-on with nature through interactive exhibits, live animal encounters, and guided experiences like owl prowls and touching live snakes. The programs run on various days throughout the week including mornings, afternoons, and evenings, so there's likely something that fits your schedule. At just $2 per month, it's an incredibly affordable way to get your kids exploring the center's 90 acres of trails, pine flatwoods, and wetlands. Whether your child is curious about birds of prey or wants to discover what's hiding in the wetlands, there's something here to spark their love of nature.

• UpcomingPrograms

  Birthday Party
  · Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday· Morning, Afternoon, Evening· Paid

  Okeeheelee Nature Center offers hands-on programs where kids can get up close with live animals, touch snakes, and search for owls while exploring 90 acres of natural trails through pine flatwoods and wetlands. Programs run throughout the year on various days including mornings, afternoons, and evenings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so there's flexibility to find a time that works for your family. The center combines interactive exhibits with real outdoor exploration, making it great for kids who are curious about nature and wildlife. Programs are just $2 per month, making it an affordable way to get your kids outside and learning. It's a really special spot if your child wants actual hands-on animal encounters rather than just reading about nature.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​School Programs

  Birthday Party
  · Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday· Morning, Afternoon, Evening· Paid

  Okeeheelee Nature Center's school programs bring kids out into 90 acres of real Florida nature—think pine flatwoods and wetlands with 2.5 miles of trails to explore. Your child will get hands-on experiences like touching live snakes, seeing birds of prey up close, and doing animal encounters that make learning about nature stick. Programs run throughout the week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with morning, afternoon, and evening options, so there's flexibility to find what works for your family's schedule. It's just $2 a month, which is honestly such a deal for this kind of outdoor education. This isn't a screen-based program—it's the real deal where kids get to interact with actual wildlife and explore a natural habitat that's right here locally.

• Activities and Programs

  Birthday Party
  · Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday· Morning, Afternoon, Evening· Paid

  Okeeheelee Nature Center runs activities and programs throughout the week that get kids (and adults too!) out on 2.5 miles of nature trails through 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands. You'll find hands-on exhibits and live animal encounters — think touching a snake or spotting owls — that really bring nature to life for children. Programs are offered Tuesday through Sunday with morning, afternoon, and evening time slots, so there's usually something that fits your schedule. It's super affordable at just $2 per month, which honestly feels like a steal for this kind of outdoor education and adventure. The on-site gift shop is a nice bonus too, and honestly, this is the kind of place where kids actually get excited about learning because they're doing it in nature.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Upcoming Public Programs

  Birthday Party
  · Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday· Morning, Afternoon, Evening· Paid

  Okeeheelee Nature Center's public programs let kids get up close with real animals like birds of prey and live snakes while exploring 90 acres of trails through pine flatwoods and wetlands. Programs run throughout the year on various days including mornings, afternoons, and evenings to fit different schedules, and they're designed for both kids and adults so families can experience them together. The center features hands-on exhibits and animal encounters that make learning about nature interactive and memorable, plus there's a gift shop if you want to grab something to remember the visit. At just $2 per month, it's an incredibly affordable way to get your family outdoors and engaged with nature regularly.

• Superstars of the Night

  Workshop
  · Evening· Paid

  Kids explore nocturnal animals during a night hike and learn about astronomy from guest experts from the Astronomical Society. The program combines wildlife spotting with stargazing in a unique evening format for families.

• Raptor Chapter

  Class
  Ages 9–11· Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday· Morning· Paid

  Kids learn about birds of prey through nature preserve walks, owl pellet dissection, and live raptor encounters. The two-hour program is designed for fourth and fifth graders and includes hands-on activities like dissecting owl pellets to understand food webs. Kids meet a variety of resident raptors and learn conservation strategies.

• Caterpillar Crawl & Craft

  Workshop
  · Morning· Paid

  Kids search the nature trails for caterpillars and butterflies with naturalists, then make a related craft to take home. It's a hands-on outdoor exploration combined with an indoor craft activity that works for all ages.

• Family Owl Prowl

  Workshop
  · Evening· Paid

  Families meet nocturnal animal ambassadors then walk the nature trails after sunset to look and listen for nighttime wildlife. The evening program runs from 7:30 to 9:00 PM and works for all ages who can handle an evening hike.