What is The
Hudson Highlands Nature Center (HHNc)?
The Hudson Highlands Nature Center is a nonprofit (501c3) center for nature, with a focus on Nature Education and Nature Play. We use our living collections of native animals, natural habitats, nature play spaces like Grasshopper Grove, and trails to present a wide variety of programs at our two locations, the Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC) and Wildlife Education Center (WEC). Over the years we have developed an array of hands-on, experiential education programs to help children and families establish a meaningful connection to the natural world. The Nature Center is a leading provider of Nature Education experiences in the Hudson Valley that reaches over 30,000 people each year through our popular preschool program, weekend nature programs, summer camp, school programs, and more! Click below to watch our “Nature Play Today” video to learn more about what we do.
Mission
Our Mission is to connect children with nature through hands-on education and play, and to inspire active stewards of our shared environment.
VISION
The vision of HHNM is:
To be known and recognized as the leading provider of nature education and play in the Greater Hudson Valley
To be a hub of nature interaction and recreation for the region
To reach diverse audiences and ensure our work embodies the ideal that nature is for everyone
To model sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship
VALUES
HHNM inspires active stewards of the environment. We believe in:
Promoting nature education
Finding joy and having fun outdoors
Engaging and including all communities
Working collaboratively both internally and externally
Leading by example
Encouraging resourcefulness and resiliency
Pursuing sustainability
The natural world doesn't discriminate -- everyone belongs and everyone is welcome. Regardless of who you are or where you live, the fields and trails of the Nature Center are there for everyone to enjoy. Please keep that in mind when you visit and always be sure to treat other visitors with the utmost respect.
View a brief video to learn more about the Nature Center, its mission, and some of the many programs offered!
HISTORY
The Hudson Highlands Nature Center (HHNC) began in 1959 as a summer environmental program for young people called the ‘Summer Science Workshop’, where teenagers collected natural artifacts and cared for and studied injured wildlife in an upstairs room of Cornwall’s Town Hall.
Wildlife Education Campus
By 1962, the program had become too large for its space. Two local philanthropists donated land and money for the construction of a facility on the Boulevard in Cornwall-on-Hudson. It would house what would be known as the Museum of the Hudson Highlands. The 1200 square foot Ogden Gallery was added in 1978, and in 1984 the Nature Museum renovated the Hall of Animals, adding 1500 square feet of habitat exhibits. The facility and its grounds are now referred to as the Wildlife Education Campus.
Outdoor Discovery Campus
In 1993, the Nature Center, in cooperation with Scenic Hudson, Inc., acquired the 177-acre Kenridge Farm property. Now known as the Outdoor Discovery Center, this property is home to 10 miles of trails and a 5-acre mitigated wetland, as well as the Nature Center's administrative offices and its popular Young Naturalists program, a science and nature-based preschool. In 2013, we opened Grasshopper Grove, an enclosed natural play space that encourages children to use their imaginations, take appropriate risks, and play with natural materials.
