Thurston Nature Center

Thurston Nature Center is a community- and student-created outdoor environmental education space in Ann Arbor, Michigan, located on Ann Arbor Public Schools property. Established in the 1960s under the leadership of environmental educator Dr. William Stapp, it is described as one of the country’s first and longest-operating nature centers built by students for students. The 20-acre site includes a pond, wetlands, oak savanna, prairie, forest, vernal pond, rain gardens, and a Monarch Butterfly Waystation. It provides habitat for wildlife, including 166 recorded bird species, butterflies, frogs, turtles, and snakes, and supports the Thurston Pond watershed.

The center offers a living outdoor learning environment used by school classes and enjoyed by the local community. Students, scouts, volunteers, and local organizations help care for its trails, plantings, and habitats through stewardship activities and seasonal workdays. The volunteer Thurston Nature Center Committee coordinates preservation and community involvement. Recognitions include National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat status and a 2019 Washtenaw County Environmental Excellence Award for Water Quality Protection.