Supporting the Ankeny Hill Nature Center
Volunteers receive instructions about planting native species from a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist.
Volunteer
We want the Ankeny Hill Nature Center to be an integral part of the community. Volunteers and partners become advocates for conservation, wildlife, Refuge management activities and provide vital assistance in fulfilling The Center mission.
Each of the partners organizations will maintain their own volunteers. Each organization hosting their own function brings their own volunteers.
If someone wants to volunteer at The Center, they may contact the Volunteer Manager using the button below. Please indicate areas of expertise or interest, availability, and your affiliation with partner organizations if relevant.
Things to Know
When is the Ankeny Hill Nature Center Open?
The Ankeny Hill Nature Center is a place of opportunity and provides multiple functions: It is a public-use learning space during Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge hours (dawn to dusk), and it is an educational center available for use by the community through a reservation system.
The Center’s outdoor areas are OPEN from dawn to dusk every day.
Access to indoor facilities in Gehlar hall is available by reservation only.
The Center – Operating Procedures
When not reserved with the indoor classroom, the covered outdoor classroom component of Gehlar Hall and the rest of the Ankeny Hill Nature Center are public-use spaces and are open when the Refuge is open. For more information visit: https://www.ankenyhillnaturecenter.org/gehlar-hall-use
Accessibility
The Ankeny Hill Nature Center was constructed to be accessible for those experiencing mobility concerns. There are handicapped parking spaces in front of the building, and both entry doors can be reached by wide sidewalks and ramps leading from the parking area.
The trails are ABA-compatible.
Artist rendering of the complete Phase I and II elements of the Ankeny Hill Nature Center project.
Donate
The launch of the Ankeny Hill Nature Center project was supported by a significant gift from the Mark Gehlar family, which provided funding for Phase I; the design, construction, and partial funding for the full completion of Mark Gehlar Hall.
Construction of additional outdoor learning spaces, including the Dave Marshall Outdoor Classroom at Peregrine Marsh will begin in 2023.
Contributions benefit programming and facilitate the operations that make our work possible. 100% of donations go directly to support our mission.
Please contribute now. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.