Northlake Nature Center

• Providing and promoting environmental education • Promoting good natural resource conservation practices and assisting interested groups with stewardship projects • Exhibiting, maintaining and restoring the native habitats and species of Louisiana • Forming academic alliances with area schools, colleges and universities • Providing our guests with a peaceful setting for relaxation and reflection • Providing outdoor recreational opportunities, such as hiking, biking and canoeing.

Environmental education programs: "Bee Alive", "Walk in the Woods" plant identification program; "Storywalk", "Snakes, Mosquitoes, & Bees, Oh My!", "Cool Native Louisiana Snakes", "Mushroom Walk", "All About Nature book club", "Nature Walk & Titivation" and others.
We provide a venue for service opportunities for the community: Church groups locally and across the nation, Scout groups, AmeriCorps, Tulane Primate Center, ARC of New Orleans, Mandeville Rotary Club, Environmental and Honorary School Clubs, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and many others have join our volunteer cadre.
To maintain and restore our native habitats and species, volunteers trim the trails weekly and maintain the site twice weekly throughout the year. Over 90 Plant species identification markers have been made and placed along the 8 miles of trails throughout the site.
We have formed academic alliances with the area schools and have had many students visit the site on educational field trips throughout the year. Our only limitations have been our limited bathroom facilities-we are in need of one to replace the one port-a-potty. A building with 2 real bathrooms has been donated by the Slidell Fire Department. We need the funds to move it to our site.
We have formed partnerships with , with Canoe and Trails Adventures to provide "Canoeing the Bayou" on our designated Blue Trails of St. Tammany (Bayou Castine). Other partnerships formed to provide educational programs and outdoor recreational opportunities such as "Kundalini Yoga" with Sally Dunn, Field trips to "Audubon Survival Center" and "Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, " Moonlight Hike and Marshmallow Melts" with area Scout groups hosting, "Open Air Studio" with Mia Kaplan, "Bicycling the Back Trails" with theBikePath, , and others.

Testimonials

David Penton reviewed Northlake Nature Center - 5 star
March 13 at 8:42pm ·
We became members and have been there twice. We took Logan to the moonlight hike and marshmallow melt Friday 10 MAR 17. We had a great time; the volunteers who led the tour were very friendly, informative, and experienced guiding young children. We went back Sunday and launched our kayaks from NNCs canoe & kayak dock. It is a great setup and is an easy walk from the parking area. Putting in and pulling out were very easy. You do need to pay attention on the lower levels as they stay wet and are slippery, but we didn't have any issues. The trip on Bayou Castine was awesome!

Luzanda Penton reviewed Northlake Nature Center - 5 star
March 11 at 6:43pm ·
Excellent activities for children and adults. They are working very hard to maintain the trails and the river has a little boat launch for kayaks.

Jonathan Bynum reviewed Northlake Nature Center - 5 star
December 27, 2016 ·
Really well maintained network of trails that present several different environments rich with local flora and fauna. The trail system is easy to travers so that nature lovers of all ages may enjoy the splendor of the great outdoors.

Bev Chase testimonial
April 2017
When the wind buzzes the tree tops, the forest floor remains still and I feel safe on the trail. I look up, I look down, I look deep at life inside the woods. City noises are minutes away. Northlake Nature Center is a refuge, not only for native plants and animals, but stressed out humans too. It's a privilege to contribute to this sanctuary in our own backyard. Deer, ducks, and swamp turtles need our support so they can also feel safe.