Well maintained nature center with a variety of animals to see and learn about. Delightful self guided walking path. We spent about an hour and a half exploring. read more

Howell Nature Center - Gray fox - Summer Camps Near Me - Howell, Michigan

The Howell nature center absolutely blew my mind! The play place was very well thought out and just phenomenal! There were so many different activities and places for the kids to play imaginatively. From the Burde blind to the stump jump in the massive treehouse with the hidden swings underneath, it is a child's dream playground. I can't wait to keep him back here and discover all the little things. We enjoyed seeing the animal ambassadors, especially Blue the turkey and it was a really good lesson to my kids about not domesticating wild animals. I wish it was easier to see some of the animals and some of them are mislabeled, especially on the side by the playground. Special tip; if you have a library card, the Howell nature center has a free pass with the Michigan activity pass. You can reserve for up to four people in your family. This is an absolutely amazing deal and we had a blast. Additional tip- pack a sack lunch and enjoy the picnic tables up at the steep hill by the fox and the deer. It's very peaceful and scenic and a wonderful place for the kids to run around safely, see the animals, and have a nice picnic lunch in the semi shade. read more

See all

Giving you five stars so you can see this they have a lot of spiders people where banging on Windows in the middle of the night my daughter almost fell off the zipline very dangerous here a lot of spiders there was a wolf spider it was not a good review for all the money I spent do not recommend and there were bed bugs read more

Howell Nature Center is an amazing little hidden gem with rescued animals that is definitely worth visiting. A peaceful and relaxing environment with very friendly staff. read more

Howell Nature Center - Wishing Tree - Summer Camps Near Me - Howell, Michigan

A Nature Center that rehabilitates injured animals from the wild. There are over 200 acres to explore . Exhibits are clearly marked but some are in need of repair. Numerous well marked natural paths guide you thru the nature center and surrounding forest. Huge kids play area..great for food trips and Summer Camps. Parking is free but there is an admission price of 8.00 per Adult and 6.00 per Child/Seniors. Mostly volunteers work at the Nature Center and they rely on donations to keep the Center operating. An animal clinic to treat injured animals is also on site and they offer many educational programs as well. The staff is very dedicated..you won't be disappointed. read more

See all

I haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Nature Center as a guest yet but I have to give them 5 stars for their wonderful rehabilitation center and caring staff members. A few months back my dog found an injured baby bunny in our yard (he was very sweet and just sniffed her and then barked to alert us of her presence). We've had baby bunnies in our yard before and during the pandemic I got REALLY into protecting them as best as I could. I had a rabbit as a pet growing up so I have a soft spot for them, even though they like to eat many of my plants! Anyway, I spent my time covering the nests from flooding rains, putting netting over them to keep hungry crows out, putting out a trail cam so I could keep an eye out for predators, etc, etc. But of course, they're wild so I never handled them personally. Just gave them the protection they needed to stay safe until they left the nest. Because of this, I also learned quite a bit about the life cycle of rabbits and one look at this baby I knew she was not ready to leave the nest yet. Her eyes were closed, her ears were down. She was definitely still dependent on mama. I searched for a nest in our yard that I may have missed but found nothing. So I deduced that she'd been carried in. I gently picked her up and didn't notice any visible injuries so I wanted to give her a fighting chance. I immediately called around several places but no one was willing to take a baby that smol, until I reached the Howell Nature Center. Immediately they gave me tips on keeping her safe and warm and instructed me to bring her in. I drove the 45 minutes with baby in a shoebox with sock full of rice and washcloths. When I arrived I filled out some intake forms and handed her over, hoping for the best. Everyone was SO nice and they carefully handled her and I could tell she was being cared for with love. It was April so they had a ton of babies in their care so updates could be hard to come by but I was able to sign up with a form to get an update when they had time. A week later I got a call that unfortunately my poor bun had internal injuries so there wasn't much they could do but at least she lived out the last of her moments warm and being cared for, vs freezing alone at night in the cold and in pain. It wasn't the outcome I was hoping for, of course, but I still really commend them for doing the hard work of caring for our wild creatures, both great and small. It can't be an easy job physically, financially, or emotionally. PS--if you want to support the work they do they do take donations to help run the rehabilitation center. In the spring they had a drive called the "baby shower" to help care for the influx of babies in particular. You can make these donations easily over their website. It's a great cause. read more

Howell Nature Center - Summer Camps Near Me - Howell, Michigan

See all

Wildlife rehabilitation is the focus here but also a fun spot for families to enjoy nature. Lots of day campers in the summer months. There is an admission fee. read more

Howell Nature Center - Summer Camps Near Me - Howell, Michigan

found a baby rabbit with a open wound about the size of a quarter on the ground. I thought it was dead till it cried out, it broke my heart. It's Sunday night and everyone is closed but I left a message at the Howell Nature Center. I was so surprised they called back in less than a hour, requested pictures and than said we could bring her in tomorrow morning read more

Called them a few weeks ago about a wounded Sandhill crane! Sent videos and photos they agreed the crane had a wounded wing BUT also said she'll be fine in a public park!!! Really!! She was stranded in a subdivision with kids throwing rocks and all sort of crazy things at her!! I pleaded with this nature center to please come and get this crane and put her in a safe environment.! their answer was she knows where to go to bed down and we can't move her because it's against the law. I found out that's not entirely true! I also found out that the crane is a protected bird. I called every agency in Michigan even reached out to a nature center in Omaha, Nebraska.!! everyone seemed concerned except for howell nature center !!! I asked what about the below zero temperature that is coming oh, she'll be fine. Cranes can survive winters in Michigan!! what??? She was in the rain and then the temperature dropped to-22 degrees. I had to watch this inhumane event unfold. I cried every day. It was the hardest thing to watch.!! I left messages on their phone of me crying literally. Begging pleading daily. Please help this crane. She's stuck in a park. Well sadly Rachael (that's what I named her) passed away from the elements and I'll spare you the harsh details about her death!! SHAME ON YOU!! They turned their backs on her and I can't imagine what she went thru before she finally died!!! I'm not a fan of Howell nature center!! This is Rachael!! She's finally in peace!!! Good bye my friend!!! I'm giving them zero stars but unfortunately I have to give one to be able to post read more

Howell Nature Center - Summer Camps Near Me - Howell, Michigan

This place is so great. I love the fact that they take in animals who are injured or unable to return to the wild. I haven't been here in years since a field trip with my older two kids. I brought my youngest a teen and had a great morning. On recommendations from a friend and due to the pandemic, you have to purchase tickets so they can control admittance. My plans changed due to a work injury and I called them up to pick another day and I was able to switch it. There is a lot of critters from rabbits, birds, owls, turtles to bobcats, fox and coyote. The habitats are well designed for the animal and there is a lot of information regarding each animal at the habitat including why they are there. All staff were wearing masks and we would pull ours up when others passed which was rarely. It was easy to socially distance here. A truly great experience. read more

See all

We have been here several times now. Winter as well. Happy to see all these animals have a safe home and variety of environs. The birds are always vocal when they know the staff is coming with food. Have bought nice gifts from the shop here to support crafts people and we have bought admission gift cards for people as gifts too. Downtown Howell is a good stop afterward. read more

Great nature center, our guide was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions.

I felt compelled to write a review for this wonderful non-profit organization after I got off the phone with Ally Ross. I called the Howell Nature Center because I was looking for a summer sleep over program for my best friend's daughter. They have tons of amazing programs to choose from. If you sign up way in advance you can get your child ready for a fun summer! I really liked the positive and upbeat nature of the way that Ally spoke directly to me & was beyond helpful. It was such a pleasant phone experience that I wish I could go to this sleep away camp. I didn't get the chance to sign her up because it is too late to register but because Ally was so amazing we will absolutely do it next summer! read more

True story. One day my husband is driving along with the window open, and a dead possum lays in the middle of the road. Too late to roll up (potential stink, yuck) he hears a tiny little noise coming from the nearby brush. After some investigating and giving up, he meanders away on his merry way to wherever he was going. Half an hour later while on the phone with myself, he can't let go of the noise and tells me about it. He picks me up and we go investigate some more. Well, a tiny little baby possum the size of a small mouse is crawling around, crying for his mommy. Of course this happened on a Sunday and of course we have no idea what to do. Leaving it seems sad - so I start Googling. Eventually I find *this* place, and they tell us to go ahead and bring him in. We make a little possum bed out of a large Tupperware bin and a towel we find in the trunk, and off we go on our way to Howell. We arrived and dropped off "Dot" the possum in the capable hands of the staff. They rehabilitate stray wildlife to the point where in the near future it can once again be released into the wild. Attached to this area is a nice nature trail, as the center is in a wooded area. A cool plus is that along this trail they have numerous animals indigenous to Michigan for viewing. All these animals have been rescued and are for whichever reason not capable to be re-released into the wild. There are plenty of birds such as owls, hawks, etc (even a bald eagle), deer, raccoons, and so many more along the trail. This would be a nice place to take your family, go for a walk, check out the animals, learn a thing or two and maybe enjoy a picknick. Since most of our day was 'shot' because of this little excursion to Howell, we were unable to stick around for too long. We spent about an hour perusing the grounds but could have easily spent double that time if we took our time doing the trails. Entrance is free, but donations are highly recommended. read more

See all

Outstanding staff that made our field trip so memorable. The grounds are beautiful & well maintained. The activities are engaging and truly do teach students how to work together and be respectful to nature. We did zip lining, fire & shelter building, night hike, bonfires, rock climbing, high ropes, and archery. Any down time was filled with games outside. We did go out rain or shine, so be prepared for that! Our group stayed in 3 of the cabins and they were all well maintained. Of course, they are not luxury (it is camp after all) but they were comfortable and all had hot water! The only issue we had was one night a fire alarm went off in one of the cabins. Apparently this happens often - when the shower fills the room with too much steam. Be prepared to shut this off on your own! (I would ask ahead of time just in case!) Meal time required our students to help set the table and clean up after themselves. This may seem silly, but students really learned a lot by doing this! They couldn't leave the room until everything was put back the way it was. I really appreciated this life lesson being taught because it was clear that this didn't happen at home for a lot of them. Our group will definitely be back for years to come! read more

See all

They really are a great facility, with a little bit of everything. Don't expect anything huge, but the small zoo housing about 30 different Michigan species (all rescued) is very pleasant. The camps for scouts, school groups, and private family groups are wonderful for the kids (and parents!). The Global Village program is a hidden gem that more people need to know about. And it is awesome to have a place to call and potentially bring injured wildlife that you may find. It is the largest wildlife rehab center in Michigan. With lots to offer families, groups of all ages and sizes, and a place of refuge for critters, this place is awesome! read more

We drove over an hour to get here and it was so worth it! The animals were fun to see but the play area was my three year olds favorite part. We played for hours and she was devastated when we had to leave. Big waterfall/shallow pond that's manmade for the kids to play in, giant tree house, so much all natural fun. You'll get wet and dirty, but you won't care. Wish we lived closer. read more

Howell Nature Center - Summer Camps Near Me - Howell, Michigan

See all

I went to the Howell Nature Center Owl Prowl 2/21/2020, from 7pm-9pm. First thing I thought of this morning is, I want to go back. They had a great attendance and gave good pre-hike instruction. This was an all age event. Our guide (group broken up into sub-groups), had an app with owl calls on it-audubon's was mentioned-and off we went. Even though we didn't hear any owls, the nicest surprise is how cool it is to be outside with a group at night in total darkness, total quiet and incredible star show, the sky was lit with star sparkles and the air felt really refreshing. The hike was about 30 minutes. Then a presentation followed with 4 owls: Great Horned Owl, Screech Owl, Snowy Owl and Barn Owl. Fascinating, beautiful and fun. Educational - owls keep rodent infestations down, as with opposums who eat ticks - and how rodent poison pellets used kill owls and other wildlife. Such a great wildlife rehabilitation center. This was a paid event and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I agree with the other posters about donations. When you visit, consider giving a donation, or if you donate yearly to organizations, think of Howell Nature Center. I am thankful for the people there who give us their time teaching us how important our connection to our animal/wildlife population is. read more

First of all, the state's official groundhog, Woody (actually a girl), is housed here. Cool, right? Also, lots of other little critters are here too! My toddler loves visiting here and looking at all the animals and walking around. It's the perfect spot to spend a summer day hiking (there's a small loop and two other trails that are around 4 miles I believe), picnicking and watching animals. Mega bonus? It's FREE, but I strongly suggest a donation. We need to keep this gem open! There's also an AMAZING kid's play area, complete with a massive water fountain, sand box and more. Such an awesome spot to spend some time. One item to note: If you have a baby, wear him/her, or pack a jogging stroller. The dirt paths aren't the most stroller-friendly. With that said, regular strollers can be used, you just may be getting a nice workout in the process! The staff is super sweet and wonderful and the grounds are gorgeous, too. Enjoy! read more

Fun place to take kids to during a hot summer. The tree house there awesome! There is a little creek running in front of the tree house where you can step inside or drop a toy boat in there and watch it float. My kids had so much fun they refuse to leave. read more

Took my 2.5 year old to the Little Critters event about tortoise and hare, thinking it would be a simple outside farm with explanations of the animals. It was far more than that, though! Ben was the guide and he was awesome with the kids. The program was indoors (nice since the weather was uncharacteristically cold) and consisted of some songs, a book reading, an art activity, a physical counting activity and the opportunity to meet and touch both a tortoise and a hare. It was an enriching morning that my toddler loved and I felt good about her participating in! We will definitely go back for the Little Critter program next month. The only thing I'd warn others to beware of is the rocky dirt roads that lead into the center and the muddy parking area. Drive slowly and wear shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. read more

See all

My wife and I love coming here and walking the trails. The animals are very well taken care of. I love the fact they do so much rehabilitation for wildlife. read more

Wonderful nature center. Everyone should go. It is Well worth the trip. they do wonderful Rehabilitation and their employees are very friendly and informative. Please give a donation so that they can continue their wonderful work. My only constructive comment would be they should put up route markers along the trails and have a better system for receiving donations. They take the animals out for informational classes to a lot of different communities. They really love and care for all wildlife. read more

I took my 2 year old nephews here and they loved it! They got to get up close to native Michigan animals and hike outside!We were especially lucky that many of the animals were very active on the day we were there. It's a great place to take kids, hike and see animals and have a picnic. I will definitely return in the future! read more

My family lives around the corner and we love this place! It has fun for every age level and lots of scheduled activities throughout the year (such as sledding, breakfast with Santa, etc.) They have a huge tree house that my kids love and a water play area. We visit on the weekends quite a bit during the summer. Not only that, this place does amazing things to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals. Love it! read more

Our organization rented their facilities for a weekend retreat. Their employee was quick to take our reservation and deposit, but after that we could not get a hold of her to ask questions. The kids at the office knew nothing. Retreat day came without ever getting our calls and emails returned. We got there to find a dirty lodge. Many of the dishes, cups and silverware were dirty, so we had to wash them all. The kitchen had not been cleaned, so we had to do some scrubbing. Trash was scattered in the meeting room, so we had to vacuum when we were already overwhelmed with our own preparations. The deck was beautiful, but sadly, also unclean. They told us to use a special camping area if we were to sing. After walking all over the property, we could not find it, but nobody was available to help us with any issues during the entire retreat. They even failed to leave instructions on how to operate equipment, where items were located, etc. We were finally able to contact them after the retreat was over. They were unapologetic, saying they are very busy and these things happen. In summary, the location is beautiful and would probably be great for a day trip but the facilities were a disappointment. Too bad because we would have loved to use it every year if it were nice. read more

Animals are fun to watch and they just built a massive play area that's out of this world fun. Suggested donation for entry and our 6 and 4 year old boys have a fantastic time outside. Great way to spend 1-3 hours! read more

okay so i went to howell and stayed over night for a class trip about 5 years ago so things may have changed but my friends and i hated it! there were ants in the showers and sand on the bathroom floors. the water was very gross and was yellow and smelled so bad that some of my friends refused to brush their teeth. we also did not have fun. i was so disgusted (im a germophope, but even my friends were disgusted) i almost faked sick so i could call home. read more

My review isnt on the camp part but on the office part and return message or any follow up. Ive been sending emails and left a message because I was having trouble registering my Grandson ( who visits from Alabama every summer an tried the camp first time last year). He enjoyed it and wanted to back this summer. But no information from them. Sad....such a great place for kids but obviously no leadership or management.... read more

One of my favorite places to go and just walk around. It is absolutely gorgeous. My husband and I found a fox in our neighbors driveway that was very out of it. We tried getting the fox care but no place around us would even resource us. I found this place on Google and they offered to help us. We drove an hour with a fox in our backseat (caged) and I'm so glad we did. The fox would eventually pass but at least we all tried. We now take day trips just to walk around and visit the animals. read more

A must go for the family or just you. It's an awesome nature center with great native wildlife, log cabins for families and large groups, fishing, canoeing, zip line, wildlife education, tours, and more. It's the only facility in the area for animal rescue. So I donate often the the hospital. They are AWESOME!!!!! read more

I've organized a few company offsites here and I love working with the Howell Nature Center! Sally and team are really easy to work with, and very accommodating with fitting in a group that can change frequently and has many requests. Jessa has led our group activities and she can really help adults understand how the activities they're doing have an impact in their professional lives. I love sending our teams there to spend a day having fun and getting outside of their daily office routines! I'm excited to continue to work with the Howell team in 2016 and beyond. read more