Welcome to Woodlawn Nature Center

Woodlawn Nature Center is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of Indiana’s native flora and fauna through hands-on education, promoting increased appreciation for our place in natural history and our responsibility as a keystone species, and committed to the enhancement of our own habitat.

Cardinal, Indiana's State Bird Peony, Indiana's State Flower Tulip Tree, Indiana's State Tree
Cardinal, Indiana's State Bird, Woodlawn Nature Center Peony, Indiana's State Flower, Woodlawn Nature Center Tulip Tree, Indiana's State Tree, Woodlawn Nature Center
Woodlawn Nature Center presents
this link for more information
about the Cardinal
Woodlawn Nature Center presents
this link for more information
about the Peony
Woodlawn Nature Center presents
this link for more information
about the Tulip Tree


We have four major projects at Woodlawn Nature Center that are very exciting. It is our deepest hope to have these ready for the public this year. These projects are designed as a breath of FUN for all ages, with interactive displays, video and audio, things that children can touch and explore, and wonders for all ages to enjoy. The nature center will NOT be closed while we are building the displays. We figure half the fun will be seeing how things are built as well. In the very near future this page will link to the activity - watch us grow!

Proposed Launch in April 2009
Real Monsters
The “Real Monsters” exhibit highlights the pre-historical depth of bio-diversity, putting our own time in perspective.  It demonstrates on one hand life’s fragility, as seen from past extinctions; and on the other hand life’s robust adapt-ably, as revealed in the magnitude of past epochs and the survival of dinosaur descendants, including modern birds.

Proposed Launch in June 2009
Michiana Alive
“Michiana Alive” showcases local plants, animals, and habitat.  It provides a panoramic view of our environment which includes forest, wetlands, dunes, lakes, streams, and the newest emergent habitats of cultivated fields, lawns, concrete and asphalt.  One key feature of this exhibit is preservation through taxidermy and its ties into other such displays throughout the museum, both indoor and out.

Proposed Launch in August 2009
Space Ship Elkhart
“Starship Elkhart” opens up the entire sky as part of our local landscape and considers our unique perspective on this great life-filled ark traveling through space.  It features a miniature ‘Atwood Sphere’ planetarium that displays the motion of the stars and aids in identification of constellations.  It strives to put our lives into the wider perspective of deep time and space and appreciation for the fact that all nature is made of stardust.

Proposed Launch in October 2009
Going Native
“Going Native” is an exhibit of aboriginal origins and primitive skills.  It focuses on the first people to inhabit the American upper Midwestern area, but also celebrates the pre-historic heritage of all the people who have made this their home.  It features Neolithic domestic technologies along with crafts, skills and wisdom of those who lived close to the earth.