About Us > Who We Are
Award-winning Facilities
Lakeside Nature Center serves the public as both an educational and recreational resource. More than 175,000 people visit the Nature Center annually, hike the trails or attend one of the educational programs to learn about native Missouri animals, plants and their habitats. It also serves as one of Missouri’s largest wildlife rehabilitation facilities.
Free and open to the public, the award-winning facility houses ~60 animals including bald eagles and other birds of prey, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. The Nature Center is located within Kansas City’s historic Swope Park and is owned and managed by KC Parks and Recreation. Additional support is provided by Friends of Lakeside Nature Center which provides volunteers and funding.
Educational Programming
Staff naturalist with Opossum. Photo © Charlene Hansen
Wilma, Ornate Box Turtle. Photo © Juanita Bach
Staff naturalist and Storm, Great Horned Owl. Photo © Aaron Bono
Staff naturalists lead on and off-site educational programming that includes:
• a general wildlife program with an up-close look at birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, or invertebrates. Learn about the habitats and life history of several native species,
• a birds of prey program featuring the raptor species that are native to Missouri, with some of our ambassador raptors on display,
• a radical reptiles and amazing amphibians program with information on the myths and mysteries of our native snakes, turtles, frogs and more.
More information is at Educational Programming.
Live Native Animal Displays
Display Hall and Viewing Gallery. Photo © Aaron Bono
Cody, Coyote. Photo © Juanita Bach
Warsaw, Bald Eagle. Photo Juanita Bach
Live native animal displays include:
• a bald eagle exhibit,
• a weathering area that can be viewed from inside, showcasing the Nature Center’s hawks, owls, falcons, and vultures,
• aquariums and displays with several turtles, amphibians, reptiles, and fish,
• and several mammals, including rabbits, gray and flying squirrels, an opossum and a coyote.
More information is at Raptor Ambassadors and Educational Animals.
Gardens, Habitats and Trails
Dry Sun Garden in Late Summer. Photo © John Whiteman
Marsh in Summer. Photo © John Whiteman
Bethany Falls Boulders. Photo © Jim Hinds
The many gardens, habitats and trails surrounding the Center showcase:
• several gardens featuring native Missouri prairie flowers and grasses,
• a bird watching area with blind,
• water features including a marsh, pond, creeks, and rivers,
• savanna, prairie and upland and lowland forests with old-growth oak, cottonwood, sycamore and hickory trees,
• insect, butterfly and hummingbird habitats,
• Fox Hollow Trail including the Bethany Falls limestone boulders.
More information is at Gardens, Habitats and Trails.
Rental Spaces
Classroom/Event Space. Photo © Aaron Bono
Display Hall and Viewing Gallery. Photo © Aaron Bono
Lake Lodge. Photo © Aaron Bono
Spaces available for rent for parties, corporate retreats and other events include:
• the entire public space within Lakeside Nature Center, including the classroom/event space,
• a classroom/event space within the Nature Center overlooking the savannah, forest, and wetlands,
• Lake Lodge, a 1930’s rustic dining hall with full kitchen located within Swope Park,
• and the Hogan, an octagon shaped building for scout retreats featuring an overnight tent pitching area, fire ring and glade trail.
More information is at Reservations.