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Dunwoody Nature Center

play and learn in our backyard
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General Information
About the Dunwoody Nature Center

DNCThe Dunwoody Nature Center is a nonprofit 501-c3 organization established by community volunteers in 1990 to develop, improve, and preserve twenty-two acres of DeKalb County’s Dunwoody Park as a natural classroom for environmental education.

The park features a wetland boardwalk, woodland and streamside trails; display gardens; a picnic meadow; and a shaded playground. The park is open sun-up to sundown, seven days a week, free of charge. Dunwoody Nature Center is open Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm and some Saturdays, to provide programs for children and adults.

Programs include: field trips for school groups and scout groups; Dream Gardens tour, lecture series, and classes for adults; Family Animal Encounters; Park after Dark events; Earth Day festival; the Butterfly Festival; seasonal classes for children; Holiday and Summer Camps. In 2006, the Nature Center served about over 8,000 participants in scheduled programs, and at least 25,000 people simply enjoyed the park facilities.

DNC’s environmental improvement philosophy includes:

  • Removing invasive, nonnative plants and replacing them with native species.
  • Avoiding mowing, trimming, brush removal and deadheading, to allow plants, shrubs, and trees to continue their life cycles.
  • When trees fall, cutting only what is necessary to unblock the trail or rerouting the trail around fallen trees.
  • Isolating garbage cans to picnic areas.
  • Reminding dog owners to respect the leash and poop scoop law.

DNC’s educational philosophy includes:

  • Opening eyes and minds to the beauty of nature.
  • Providing information about the plants and animals native to Dunwoody and the Piedmont.
  • Exploring the relationships among all inhabitants of the area, and the impact human activities have on the environment.
  • Training children to be “backyard naturalists.”
  • Providing educational experiences that appeal to different learning styles.

The Dunwoody Nature Center is funded by program fees, donations,; memberships from local businesses and citizens, and grants. The Center and Dunwoody Park are owned and partially maintained by DeKalb County Parks and Recreation. Staffing, operation, programming, equipment, supplies and environmental improvements are supported by the Dunwoody Nature Center, Inc.

Our Federal Identification Number (for families filing camp-related tax documentation) is 58-2009823.

For further information, please contact:

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