Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center

Nolde Forest encompasses more than 665 acres of deciduous woodlands and coniferous plantations. A network of trails makes the Center’s streams, ponds and diverse habitats accessible to both students and casual visitors.

Become a woodland detective and use your five senses to explore the deciduous woodlands of Nolde Forest. Find a pleasant place to sit and close your eyes or look for tracks and try to guess what animals live here. Teaching stations offer places for students to work and benches for those who wish to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds associated with the natural world.

The network of trails among the ponds and diverse habitats make the center an easy escape into the trees and a favorite for hikers, birders and nature photographers.

The Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center is dedicated to helping people develop a sound environmental ethic. Since the early 1970s, the center has provided a wide variety of activity-oriented programs for students, teachers, adult groups and individuals.

When hosiery baron Jacob Nolde acquired this area in the early 1900s, a single white pine grew amid meadow vegetation. Inspired by this tree, the German-born Nolde hired an Austrian forester to create a coniferous forest. As the plantations grew they formed a “luxury forest,” a source of family pleasure and pride.

Come Prepared

Help preserve the habitat by sticking to trails. Bicycles and motor vehicles are not permitted on any trails or roads except the main entrance road.

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited, the park closes at sunset and pets must be leashed.

Outsider’s Tip

Nolde Forest is the first environmental education center operated by the Bureau of State Parks.