The Audubon Center is gorgeous and has many fun (and cool) areas. There is a room with a few hands-on type learning displays as well as some critters. The library is stocked with books for all ages to explore and read as you lounge in this comfortable spot and listen to the birds - which are piped into the room through microphones on the bird feeders just outside the wall of windows (which also overlooks the wetlands). Then there is the Forest Room which has a small climbing structure and lots of costumes for pretend play and adventures (note: this room is sometimes used for the summer camps during the week, so please call to verify when it is open to the public if you intend on making this part of your visit.)
Outside you can look out over the Scioto River from a deck, which also has a telescope. You can explore the wetlands as you walk across a boardwalk, and climb the tower (two flights/levels) to look out over the park, or north for a view of the city. Not far from that is the playground, climbing walls (they offer rock climbing lessons) and covered picnic area, which you can make a great picnic lunch spot before walking some of the trails.
During our visit outside, we saw the head-bobbing common carps and a Great Blue Heron meandering through the water as we peered out over the deck. In the wetlands we found countless frogs staring up at us and a half a dozen turtles of different sizes swimming around. We saw lots of different types of birds, including an osprey and nest. Between finding all those critters, and everything else the park and center have to offer, my kids fell in love. And so did we!
On Saturdays and Sundays between 1-3pm you can find educators out and about teaching different things. They will have nets out which can be used in the wetlands (if that is where the educators are).
I'm only touching the surface of all you can do and see at this great park and center! You can check out their website and definitely plan at least one trip to this great center and park this summer... you will not be disappointed!
Also, an important note for all parents, there are outside restrooms connected to the center, as well as inside the center. Down by the playground/picnic area/climbing wall there are portable potties, but if it's not an emergency you could trek up to the center to use the nice bathrooms.
View their website here. Get directions here. Phone number: 614-545-5475.
Hours for Grange Life Insurance Audubon Center (indoor education/nature center):
Monday – Closed
Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday - 10 am - 3 pm
Sunday - noon - 5 pm
On a side note, we sent our seven year old to camp there last week. He LOVED it! To date, it's his favorite camp of the last few years. They did a lot of hands on, including catching critters, fishing (and getting their fishing passport and a new pole), bird banding, and so much more! Just in case you were wondering about their summer camps, this mom (and her child) give their camps two... make that four, thumbs up!
I thought I had more photos, but it seems I don't have all that I thought I did (nor are they as good as I would have liked). Regardless, here are some views. The lead image at the top of this article is of the center.
Looking down towards the wetlands, tower, climbing walls, playground and picnic area from the parking lot of the center (you can walk down from the center, or drive down there).
Playground:
Tower and climbing walls:
One of the turtles we saw:
The Forest Room - this is not a great photo (taken during active play time), but the structure you see in the photo is the climbing area, you can go up three levels. There is also a little cave like area in the corner of the room (out of view here) and a bunch of animal costumes.
