Highlands Center for Natural History

Sitting in the Highlands Center ramada while the wind rustles through the ponderosa pine needles and a robin chirps, there is a moment of silent contemplation. Natural history is complicated – personal and universal at the same time. Our Natural History book club met beginning in 2021 and the discussions occasionally resulted in these special moments of quiet thoughtfulness.
We’re excited to continue to offer this free and open to the public program. Reading is something on many of our “to-do” lists, but some of us need a little extra incentive, like having a group that meets monthly to discuss. This group focuses on books related to natural history, with some southwestern component, written in the last decade or […]

This summer, we’re celebrating 30 years of Nature Camp with a theme rooted in curiosity, connection, and nature discovery. Each week, campers will explore the natural world through time. Looking at the past, experiencing nature in the present, and imagining the wild future we’re helping to protect.

Through hands-on exploration, trail time, nature-based lessons, and environmental science, campers will investigate water, plants, animals, and ecosystems while building confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. Whether it’s their first summer at camp or one of many, every camper becomes part of the story as we celebrate three decades of wonder and look ahead to many more.

This summer, we’re celebrating 30 years of Nature Camp with a theme rooted in curiosity, connection, and nature discovery. Each week, campers will explore the natural world through time. Looking at the past, experiencing nature in the present, and imagining the wild future we’re helping to protect.

Through hands-on exploration, trail time, nature-based lessons, and environmental science, campers will investigate water, plants, animals, and ecosystems while building confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. Whether it’s their first summer at camp or one of many, every camper becomes part of the story as we celebrate three decades of wonder and look ahead to many more.

We know—both intuitively and through science—that nature is profoundly healing. When we spend time in wild, quiet places, something inside us begins to soften, settle, and restore. To show up fully for our families, our communities, and ourselves, we must first give ourselves space to reconnect—with our breath, our grief, and the natural world.

That’s why Peace in the Pines takes place in the heart of the Ponderosa pine forest of Prescott National Forest, on the grounds of the Highlands Center for Natural History. Here, you can hear the wind whispering through the tall pines, feel your footsteps grounding into the earth, and notice the presence of birds, Abert’s squirrels, and other wildlife. This setting is more than a […]

Join the Highlands Center for Natural History Community Science team to learn about Prescott’s local bat species and see a monitored bat colony in our bat box. Discover how researchers use EchoMeter bat detectors to identify and record bats’ ultrasonic calls, and, with a little luck, watch these fascinating nocturnal mammals emerge at sunset in Walnut Meadow.

This summer, we’re celebrating 30 years of Nature Camp with a theme rooted in curiosity, connection, and nature discovery. Each week, campers will explore the natural world through time. Looking at the past, experiencing nature in the present, and imagining the wild future we’re helping to protect.

Through hands-on exploration, trail time, nature-based lessons, and environmental science, campers will investigate water, plants, animals, and ecosystems while building confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. Whether it’s their first summer at camp or one of many, every camper becomes part of the story as we celebrate three decades of wonder and look ahead to many more.