This program provides outdoor exploration, builds friendships, and promotes a love for nature! Campers enjoy hands-on natural science labs, up-close animal visits, nature walks, arts and crafts, building tree forts, swimming in Big Chico Creek and camp BBQ’s every Friday.

What runs but never walks? Water! Join us at the Nature Center as we explore Big Chico Creek and learn how we are part of the local Chico watershed. Participants will have the opportunity to observe, discuss and personally reflect on the diverse ecological connections to local creeks and river ecosystems within our watershed.

Bidwell Park provides an excellent and accessible opportunity to teach valuable lessons of the natural world. For over thirty years, the Chico Creek Nature Center has provided quality educational programs on the natural systems of Bidwell Park to elementary school students, using the park as a classroom.

Nature ABC's is a time for families of children ages 0–5 to gather and enjoy an hour of fun free activities with our instructor.  Join us Fridays for an animal visit, story time, singing and dancing, an art project and a nature walk in our beautiful park. This program is offered free of charge through funding from First 5 Butte County.

Looking for the perfect place for your child’s birthday party? The Nature Center has just the spot!

Click HERE for more information.

This outdoor based program runs on the Chico Unified schedule and provides outdoor recreation such as  swimming in Big Chico Creek (weather permitting). In addition to free play, science, craft and games, children have the opportunity to go on nature walks, build tree forts, attend live animal presentations and grow connections with their peers and nature. We hope to see you there!

Join us for an adventurous outdoor experience designed just for younger kids! Campers will enjoy up-close animal visits at our Living Animal Museum, explore beautiful Bidwell Park with daily nature walks, and splash in the creek.

Nature School is a first learning experience for kids ages 3-5, who are potty trained and ready for an experience away from their family. This program has zero screen time and is predominantly held outdoors. Nature kids get to visit live animals at the Nature Center, go on nature walks daily and practice nature identification along the way. We provide fun themes every two weeks and work on social emotional and school readiness skills. All units include play-based learning, healthy body movement like yoga and dancing, themed stories, songs, art projects, sensory exploration and sign language. We PLAY, we teach KINDNESS, and we truly nurture a love of NATURE!

Join us at the Nature Center for a family friendly owl prowl. What a hoot! Kiddos will think like a scientist as we dissect owl pellets in the science lab and learn about native owl species in our area. Brush up on your night vision as we end the evening with an owl prowl around the Nature Center to look for our nocturnal, feathery friends.