Aldo Leopold Nature Center - Monona Campus

ALNC’s mission is to provide innovative hands-on programs for children and teachers that “…teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands” in the spirit of Aldo Leopold.
Explore global temperatures from prehistory through the future and see how they shape our planet!  Innovate and discover your inner “green inventor” as you learn about cutting-edge renewable energy solutions!  Imagine a sustainable future and take a step to making it a reality by contributing your observational data to national citizen science databases!
Native wildlife is often observed at ALNC, including this pair of sandhill cranes, which makes the nature center their summer home before migrating south.
The Monona Campus, with its gentle, glaciated patchwork of oak savanna, wetlands, prairies and woodlands provides a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the city life that surrounds it.
Science On a Sphere: a high definition global projection system displaying NOAA & NASA planetary data onto a six-foot diameter sphere to illustrate Earth System science.

Features

  • History/Heritage Type
    • Wisconsin History
    • Native American Heritage
  • Natural Attractions Type
    • Arboretum/Botanical
    • Parks, Forests, Trails

Aldo Leopold Nature Center - Monona Campus

Information: 608-221-0404
Open year-round. Hours of Operation: Building: Monday – Friday, 9am–4pm. Exhibits: Monday – Friday, 10am–4pm, Saturday – Sunday 10am - 2pm. Trails: Sun-up to Sun-down.
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Discover adventure and hands-on learning for all ages at the new Aldo Leopold Nature Center! Explore wetlands, forests, prairies and oak savannas outside and exciting high-tech exhibits inside at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Check out a backpack of activities for pond dipping, enjoy summer camps for ages 2-16, attend a family program like Maple Syrup Fest, try pioneering in the Children’s Shack, hear scientists at a Wonder Weekend and explore interactive exhibits including the Storms 360 Immersion Theater, Kids’ Climate Cast Green Screen Studio, the Nina Leopold Bradley Family Phenology Center, the Madison Gas and Electric Renewable Energy Center, the giant Science On a Sphere and much more. Families, schools, small and large groups welcome. Visit naturenet.com/alnc for a calendar of upcoming programs and events.