Belle Isle Nature Center

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Belle Isle Nature Center

Plan your visit: belleislenaturecenter.detroitzoo.org

The Belle Isle Nature Center offers free admission and is located on the beautiful Belle Isle State Park, which offers the perfect location for educational, environmental and natural experiences.

08/11/2026

Get ready for a wild night out next Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Belle Isle Nature Center!

During this lively Nature at Night event, hosted in partnership with the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, you can enjoy a rare glimpse into the world of nocturnal animals. There will be a guided walk, campfire gatherings and educational activities featuring native wildlife who rule the night!

This free event is from 7-9 p.m., and no registration is required. Learn more on our website: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/nature-at-night-nighttime-animals/

08/03/2026

Buzz over to the Belle Isle Nature Center Aug. 15 for Bee Fest!

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., we will be celebrating the tiny pollinators that run our world. It is sure to be a sweet day with all we have in store:

🐝 Beekeeper talks
🐝 Biodiversity presentations from Oakland University
🐝 Pollinator-friendly arts and crafts
🐝 Bee-friendly gardening tips
🐝 Book reading from a local author
🐝 Honey tastings and much more!

This event is free to attend.
Visit our website to plan your visit: https://ow.ly/6P7u50Zv9q8

07/17/2026

The Belle Isle Nature Center is closed today, July 17, due to current air quality conditions.

The health and safety of our guests, staff and the animals in our care is always our top priority. We anticipate reopening the Nature Center tomorrow.

07/16/2026

The Belle Isle Nature Center is closed today, July 16, due to current air quality conditions.

The health and safety of our guests, staff and the animals in our care is always our top priority. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.

06/17/2026

🌱 Ready to grow something good?

Join us at the Belle Isle Nature Center's Native Plant Sale on June 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and discover native plants that help support local pollinators, birds and biodiversity right in your own backyard.

More than just a plant sale, you'll find family-friendly activities, nature crafts, gardening tips from experts and opportunities to connect with fellow nature lovers.

Admission is free, and plants will be available for purchase. We hope to see you there! 🦋🐝

06/03/2026

Savor summer on the island! ☀️🌳

Every Thursday in June, July and August, the Belle Isle Nature Center will be open late till 8 p.m. What will you do with your extra 3 hours? Spot native animals, hit the trails, buzz with the bees, birdwatch, play in the underground kids maze – the possibilities are endless! Admission to the Belle Isle Nature Center is always free and fun for all ages.

Explore our website to learn more and plan your visit: belleislenaturecenter.org

05/29/2026

🐦🌿 Celebrate Black Birders Week at the Belle Isle Nature Center! 🌿🐦

Join us on May 30 from 12 PM – 4 PM for an inclusive outdoor celebration of birding, community and nature. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just getting started, this beginner-friendly event is the perfect chance to connect with local wildlife and fellow nature lovers.

Enjoy:
✨ Guided bird walks
🎨 Art & expression activities
👐 Hands-on experiences
🤝 Community networking

This special celebration honors the contributions of Black birders and naturalists while creating a welcoming and accessible space for everyone to enjoy the outdoors together.

Bring your binoculars — or borrow a pair from the Nature Center — and get ready to learn, connect and celebrate the beauty of birds!

📷 Jennifer Harte

04/22/2026

Conservation champions at work!

Today, we are proud to share what we are doing to help protect a species that swims in the Detroit River, the northern mudpuppy. Though they are Michigan's largest salamanders, mudpuppies are a challenging species to study due to their reclusive nature.

Northern mudpuppies are listed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as a "species of special concern" due to a lack of information and data. To help learn more about their movements and habits, a groundbreaking study using acoustic telemetry was added to our annual mudpuppy survey.

A dedicated team of Detroit Zoological Society staff and our partner organizations captured, studied and implanted the acoustic transmitters while keeping the welfare of the animals as the top priority.

When released, the small transmitters will be able to tell us the animals' swimming patterns and how long they stay in certain areas. This key data will help to expand our previous work and better understand how to help their population and ecosystem thrive.

This exciting project is only possible through the combined effort of multiple organizations and a passionate conservation partnership. Let Earth Day be a reminder to us all to support the causes we care about.

Learn more about this and other Detroit Zoological Society Conservation projects: https://detroitzoologicalsociety.org

04/21/2026

Catch one of nature’s coolest nighttime shows 🌙🪶

Join us Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Belle Isle Nature Center for the American woodcock’s famous “skydance.”

Take a guided evening walk with staff from the Nature Center and the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, and learn about this unique bird’s behavior and role in Michigan’s ecosystem.

✨ Free | All ages | Part of Nature at Night

Know before you go:
• Dress for the weather
• Wear comfortable shoes
• A Recreation Passport is required for vehicles entering Belle Isle State Park

Learn more: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/nature-at-night-woodcock-walk/

04/20/2026

This is our night to shine! 🌟

Join us at the Belle Isle Nature Center for Astronomy Night on April 25 from 7 to 10 p.m. Stargazers can expect:

🧑‍🏫 Educational chats
🤩 A view of the stars through the Michigan Science Center’s Discovery Dome
🔭 Stargazing through Wayne State University telescopes
🐍 Access to the Belle Isle Nature Center
⭐ And much more!

This free, family-friendly event is in partnership with the Wayne State University Planetarium, Michigan Science Center, Michigan State University Science Festival and Department of Natural Resources’ DNR Outdoor Adventure Center.

Click to learn more: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/astronomy-night/

Address

176 Lakeside Drive
Detroit, MI
48207

Telephone

+13138524056

Website

https://bit.ly/3h2yKm2

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