About
ecoEXPLORE at Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center includes chances for kids to observe the birds that come to the feeders located on the Bird’s Nest and to view the various animals that come to the flowers in the native pollinator garden. The program also offers an interactive search and find game at the interpretative display and the option to check out explorer backpacks for free for use during visits.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk, and the Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center is open Monday–Sunday with hours that vary seasonally between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• Price: $80/hour (2-hour minimum) for Dogwood Room; $65/hour for Lady's Slipper Room; $25/hour for Warming Kitchen; $35/hour for Deck; $35/hour for Birds Nest; $15 non-refundable application fee; $40 setup/cleanup fee; $250 damage deposit; $25 audio/visual equipment usage fee; $60/hour supervision fee for all rented hours outside of normal operational hours in addition to hourly room rate; 25% non-resident rental fee applied to the hourly rental rate for non-residents; $100 City of Raleigh alcohol permit fee (non-refundable after permit is submitted).
The focus of the Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center is on environmental education and fitness, and the facility offers a variety of nature and fitness programs. The pollinator garden at the center is an ecoEXPLORE hot spot, and ecoEXPLORE (Experiences Promoting Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) is an incentive-based citizen science program for children in grades K–8 developed by the North Carolina Arboretum. An interpretative display at the center includes information about protecting wetlands, birds, and plants at the park, an interactive search and find game, and a home for the box turtle, Jimmy, and this exhibit is open to the public during facility hours. Wildlife viewing is available from the back deck and at the native pollinator garden, and explorer backpacks are available at the center to check out for free.
The leadership team for the center includes Park Manager Dan Bagley and Assistant Park Manager David Kammerer. The center is listed with the year 2016 under landmarks.
Last updated August 8, 2026.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk, and the Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center is open Monday–Sunday with hours that vary seasonally between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• Price: $80/hour (2-hour minimum) for Dogwood Room; $65/hour for Lady's Slipper Room; $25/hour for Warming Kitchen; $35/hour for Deck; $35/hour for Birds Nest; $15 non-refundable application fee; $40 setup/cleanup fee; $250 damage deposit; $25 audio/visual equipment usage fee; $60/hour supervision fee for all rented hours outside of normal operational hours in addition to hourly room rate; 25% non-resident rental fee applied to the hourly rental rate for non-residents; $100 City of Raleigh alcohol permit fee (non-refundable after permit is submitted).
The focus of the Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center is on environmental education and fitness, and the facility offers a variety of nature and fitness programs. The pollinator garden at the center is an ecoEXPLORE hot spot, and ecoEXPLORE (Experiences Promoting Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) is an incentive-based citizen science program for children in grades K–8 developed by the North Carolina Arboretum. An interpretative display at the center includes information about protecting wetlands, birds, and plants at the park, an interactive search and find game, and a home for the box turtle, Jimmy, and this exhibit is open to the public during facility hours. Wildlife viewing is available from the back deck and at the native pollinator garden, and explorer backpacks are available at the center to check out for free.
The leadership team for the center includes Park Manager Dan Bagley and Assistant Park Manager David Kammerer. The center is listed with the year 2016 under landmarks.
Last updated August 8, 2026.
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