Arizona

The Highlands Center for Natural History is a regional hub for lifelong learning through outdoor education. In this classroom without walls you will discover Ponderosa Pine covered mountains, deeply shaded riparian habitats, chaparral and woodland, remarkable geologic formations, and amazing vistas, in addition to all manner of forest inhabitants. With educational programming, hiking trails, and a botanic garden, our Prescott nature center has activities for all ages. . We nurture a meaningful sense of place and foster an appreciation for and knowledge of the Central Arizona Highlands. The development of both onsite and offsite outdoor education programs and partnerships provides opportunities for our community to understand the connections between humanity and the natural world, inspiring all to live in a respectful and sustainable way.

Originally the Community Nature Center, an organization that hosted programs using a 20-acre natural site in the Prescott Unified School District, the Highlands Center for Natural History has served the residents of Central Arizona for nearly three decades. The Highlands Center was formed in 1996 and assumed the mission of the original organization. Since that time the Highlands Center has grown to offer an 80-acre campus in the Prescott National Forest near Lynx Lake, has built remarkable facilities, and now offers community events and outdoor educational programs and opportunities year-round.

The Highlands Center for Natural History works to connect everybody with the outdoors. Whether it’s through camps for children, outdoor music and theater events or educational programming it’s our goal offer experiences on and of nature for everyone.

From August through October the Highlands Center will be hosting Plein Air Artists in our Discovery Gardens on select Sundays. Watch them work and learn what plein air painting is, how plein air artists are inspired by nature and view and purchase their artwork.

The Prescott Plein Air Art festival will be held October 21-24.

For more information, visit https:// highlandscenter.org/about-us/