• Hesthavn Nature Center offers year-round opportunities for kids to learn about our natural environment, and it’s a great place for a picnic!
• Hesthavn Nature Center connects the community with wildlife in their native habitat of Oak Savannah and Oak Creek riparian forest, while strolling along a nature trail.
• Hesthavn Nature Center promotes a culture of conservation for native plants and wildlife by offering volunteers a place to be active learning about invasive weed species removal and partnering with the restoration of native habitat.
• Hesthavn Nature Center has opportunities for volunteers to join our educational programs as instructors and through curriculum activities.
• Hesthavn Nature Center offers year-round open house events, workshops, and events for educators, environmental groups, civic groups, artist guilds, garden clubs, and other possible rental uses.

For information about volunteering, please email volunteerasc@gmail.com .

For information about school, groups, and family programs, please email hesthavneducation@gmail.com

If you would like to become an Audubon Society member, please contact Karl Hartzell at karlerun@yahoo.com

The public is welcome to visit Audubon’s Hesthavn Nature Center from sunrise to sunset to walk the nature trail viewing native habitat and wildlife. A great place to picnic to look for birds, butterflies, and especially streamside critters for young children wearing their boots and play clothes. The nature center building has a museum and display cases about birds and other wildlife that is open to the public on set monthly dates (see schedule below). Special educational programs are given throughout the year for children and adults

• The Hesthavn Nature Center will be open every Saturday from Sept 17th through Oct 25th from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Hesthavn Bird Guide created by Sue Haig, Paula Vanderheul, and Marcia Cutler. Be sure to send an email if you have additions or corrections. download here.
• Hesthavn Nature Center is located at 8590 NW Oak Creek Drive.
• Click here for MAPS
• Check out our amazing Rainwater Catchment system!

Habitat Restoration Parties

• January 21
  
• February 25
  
• March 24
  Both Habitat Restoration Parties will include the elimination of false brome, Ray’s Trail weeding and Paula’s Trail maintenance. Volunteers are needed! Please contact volunteerasc@gmail.com .

Open Houses will be scheduled on the same dates as the work parties from 10 am to 1 pm. A place to bring young children wearing their boots and play clothes for a stroll along a trail exploring nature and wildlife!

see Education Page for programs at Hesthavn

Treasure-hunting at Hesthavn

A geocache has been hidden at Hesthavn Nature Center. Go find it!

But what’s a geocache and why should I find it? Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunting game where you use a GPS (global positioning system) device to help you locate hidden containers, called geocaches. Sign the logbook, then share your experiences online at www.geocities.com. This cache was placed at Hesthavn to introduce those near and far to our wonderful nature center. Visit the site www.geocities.com. On the front page type in the Hesthavn GC code: GC2394R, enter the coordinates on your GPS and go. Here they are for you [N 44° 35.998 W 123° 20.058] This cache contains many little toys and trinkets for trading.

A handheld GPS can be a handy device for birders. You can mark a waypoint on the start of your hike and this device will help you find your way back. If you find a rare bird, mark the coordinates where you sighted it to help with relocation. You can even plot your elevation, your speed and the distance you’ve traveled.

Nanette Armstrong

Hesthavn Thanks Volunteers!

Many people have contributed money and hard work towards creating Hesthavn Nature Center facility. We appreciate all of these generous contributions and would like to recognize the following people for especially generous volunteer efforts.

• Ray Drapek Hesthavn chair 1995-2007 for spearheading those first years.
• Paula Vanderheul and Susan Brown for many hours of hard work restoring native plant habitats.
• Rana Foster for all of the native plants she has rescued and planted at Hesthavn.
• Jerry Paul, Barrett Reeves, and Karl Hartzell for hours of volunteer work on barn renovation and general maintenance.
• Karan Fairchild and Mary Van Brocklin for fund raising efforts through Birdathon and Membership.
• Elise Elliott-Smith as coordinator of Hesthavn Nature Center education programs.
• Leslie Green as Art and Nature instructor for kids programs (greengib@peak.org )
• Jim Fairchild for construction of compost toilet, and rainwater catchments system.

Display case and bird/bat/butterfly boxes.

Collection of preserved birds.

Hesthavn is wheelchair accessible.