Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge Programs and Camps
Fort Worth Nature Center, 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76135
About
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge Programs and Camps include activities such as Canoe/Kayak Tours, summer camp, self-guided hikes, and staff-guided hikes. Program topics include A Monarch's Journey, Backyard Birding, Bison on the Brink, Endangered Texans, Gator Talk, Lone Star Bats, Nature's Pollinators, Neighborhood Wildlife, Radical Reptiles, Reading the Wild, Skullduggery, Texas Scavengers, Texas Wildlife, and Turtles are Terrific. Families can also encounter program outreach such as a Career Day/Info Booth.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Refuge open daily with seasonal hours; programs and camps offered during open hours
• Price: $6 Adults (13–64); $2 Children (3–12, under 3 FREE); $3 Seniors (65+); $1 Discount per person (with Military ID-Active/Retired); $1 Dogs (Dogs Free with FONC Membership)
The refuge has set hours during the year: October–April from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and May–September from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no entry after 4 p.m. The Hardwicke Interpretive Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. The Nature Center will be closed on Thursday, January 29, 2026, and will be open Thursday, January 1, 2026 with normal operating hours.
The mission of Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge Programs and Camps is to enhance the quality of life by enrolling and educating the community in the preservation and protection of natural areas while standing as an example of these same principles and values in North Central Texas. The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge began when land was purchased around the West Fork of the Trinity River in 1914 to protect the quality of drinking water, and in 1964 it was designated as a wildlife sanctuary and nature preserve. It was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1980 by the U.S. Department of the Interior and received a Lone Star Land Steward award in 2009 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is a division of the City of Fort Worth Park and Recreation Department, and the Fort Worth Audubon Society advocated for its creation. Additional funds come from The Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FONC), a 501(c)3 organization that provides financial support for projects, professional development for staff, and other operational needs. Membership in Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge includes an annual pass to the Nature Center and program discounts.
The area includes forests, prairies, and wetlands, over 20 miles of hiking trails, and many native habitats. Resource management staff manage a bison herd and implement prescribed burns to help ensure wildlife have a sustainable home. Online registration is available for programs and events, including Canoe/Kayak Tours and summer camp. All professional photography requires a permit, and dogs must be kept on leash at all times with their waste disposed of appropriately and not on trails.
Last updated January 29, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Refuge open daily with seasonal hours; programs and camps offered during open hours
• Price: $6 Adults (13–64); $2 Children (3–12, under 3 FREE); $3 Seniors (65+); $1 Discount per person (with Military ID-Active/Retired); $1 Dogs (Dogs Free with FONC Membership)
The refuge has set hours during the year: October–April from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and May–September from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no entry after 4 p.m. The Hardwicke Interpretive Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. The Nature Center will be closed on Thursday, January 29, 2026, and will be open Thursday, January 1, 2026 with normal operating hours.
The mission of Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge Programs and Camps is to enhance the quality of life by enrolling and educating the community in the preservation and protection of natural areas while standing as an example of these same principles and values in North Central Texas. The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge began when land was purchased around the West Fork of the Trinity River in 1914 to protect the quality of drinking water, and in 1964 it was designated as a wildlife sanctuary and nature preserve. It was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1980 by the U.S. Department of the Interior and received a Lone Star Land Steward award in 2009 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is a division of the City of Fort Worth Park and Recreation Department, and the Fort Worth Audubon Society advocated for its creation. Additional funds come from The Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FONC), a 501(c)3 organization that provides financial support for projects, professional development for staff, and other operational needs. Membership in Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge includes an annual pass to the Nature Center and program discounts.
The area includes forests, prairies, and wetlands, over 20 miles of hiking trails, and many native habitats. Resource management staff manage a bison herd and implement prescribed burns to help ensure wildlife have a sustainable home. Online registration is available for programs and events, including Canoe/Kayak Tours and summer camp. All professional photography requires a permit, and dogs must be kept on leash at all times with their waste disposed of appropriately and not on trails.
Last updated January 29, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.