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Welcome to the Great Plains Nature Center's site in cyberspace.   Where are we in realspace?  Click here for directions!  We hope you enjoy your visit and that you can come visit us in person sometime soon.  Click on one of the links to continue your visit, or scroll on down this page for more information about us!

 

Hours   Our Goals    Participating Agencies   Staff    Contact info

Kansas Critters: Bugs Cover

The Great Plains Nature Center is proud to announce the publication of
"
Kansas Critters: BUGS", A Wildlife Book Written and Illustrated by Kansas Kids!

Learn more about it and how you can get a copy

The GPNC is on Facebook!
Image of Parks Pass

If you are interested in obtaining a federal
Interagency Senior Pass or Interagency Access Pass,
they are both available at our Owl's Nest Gift Shop
between 10 and 4, Monday-Saturday. 
Here's how to get them.

Mark your calendars for:
Art on the Trail
October 9, 10 AM - 3 PM

Plein air painting in Chisholm Creek Park!

People's Choice Award and juried competition for annual greeting card selection!

Now recruiting artists!  If you are an artist interested in participating in this event, please contact Cindy Amos at 683-5499 x109 or Cindy@gpnc.org

Recent GPNC Publications
Colorful Songbirds - 2008 GPNC Poster

Our current poster is about
the prairie pretty birds! 

Copies may be picked up free, one per family, when you visit.
Or, they may be mailed to you. 
Here's how to get yours!

A Pocket Guide to Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses

A Pocket Guide to
Kansas Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses

This is the eigth in our series of GPNC Pocket Guides.
This Pocket Guide has species accounts on
many of the common forbs and grasses
of the Kansas Flint Hills,

Find out how you can get a copy.

Read it online in The Meadow!

Birthday Parties at the Great Plains Nature Center !!

 Party !    YAY !    Honk !

Yes! We do Birthday Parties at the GPNC!
Click here for all the details!

The GPNC is a cooperative partnership between:

United States Department of the Interior - Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)

State of Kansas - Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)

City of Wichita - Department of Parks and Recreation

Special features of the GPNC include the Koch Habitat Hall, the Coleman Auditorium, a wildlife observatory, the Owl's Nest Gift Shop, a classroom and an office wing.

We are open Monday - Saturday,
9 AM to 5 PM.
There is no admission charge.

We are closed Sundays and Holidays.
Upcoming Holiday closings include:
Monday, September 6  |  Monday, October 11
Thursday, November 11 
Thursday-Saturday, November 24-27
Friday-Saturday, December 24-25
| Friday, Dec. 31 & Saturday, January 1, 2011

We offer many scheduled programs and also host meetings for a variety of local wildlife, outdoors and environmental groups.  Visit our Programs section for that information.

The Region 4 office of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is located in our office wing.  Visit their page on this web site to learn more about their hours, operations and personnel.

Our Goals

1. Provide opportunities to the public to learn about natural resources, especially the wildlife and plant species, of the Great Plains Region.

2. Provide visitors with enjoyable educational experiences that impart the importance of wise stewardship of natural resources and the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Wichita Department of Park and Recreation.

3. Serve as community resource for conservation and related informational materials, with emphasis on the importance of urban habitats to wildlife and people.

4. Serve as a resource for environmental education with school district, youth organizations, colleges and universities, conservation organizations, and other groups and individuals interested in wildlife and the environment.

5. Provide environmental educational services for and accommodate the physically challenged, senior citizens and other special needs groups.

Our Staff

The Staff of the Great Plains Nature Center is drawn from four different organizations.

STAFF TITLE PARENT ORGANIZATION
Bob Gress Director City of Wichita
Marc Murrell Manager KDWP
Jim Mason Naturalist City of Wichita
Connie Leger Naturalist City of Wichita
Lorrie Beck Visitor Services USFWS
Patty Marlett Naturalist KDWP
Joyce Lent Naturalist Friends of the GPNC
Mike Leck Business Manager Friends of the GPNC
Cindy Amos Volunteer Coordinator Friends of the GPNC
Charlene Van Walleghen Gift Shop Friends of the GPNC
Christy Hanne Gift Shop Friends of the GPNC

Contact Information

Telephone
316-683-5499
FAX
316-688-9555
Postal address
6232 E 29th Street North
Wichita, KS 67220-2200
E-mail
Media contact: Marc Murrell marcm@wp.state.ks.us
Programs:  Joyce Lent Joyce@gpnc.org
Webmaster/General Information: Jim Mason Jim@gpnc.org

Link to 360Wichita.com   Link to Homeworkspot.com   Link to thingstodo.com

 

SpideyQuestions or comments?  Send Email to Jim Mason
Or write us at: 
Great Plains Nature Center
6232 E. 29th Street North
Wichita, KS 67220-2200            
Call:  316-683-5499           
Fax:  316-688-9555