What's New!
Site Index
Flora and Fauna
Tour
Owl's Nest Gift Shop
Programs
Links
Prairies of the World
Kansas Wildlife Exhibit
Friends of the GPNC
Participating Agencies

GPNC logo

Welcome to the Great Plains Nature Center's site in cyberspace.   Where are we in realspace?  Click here for directions!  We hope you enjoy your visit and that you can come visit us in person sometime soon.  Click on one of the links to continue your visit, or scroll on down this page for more information about us!

Learn about the Kansas Junior Duck Stamp competiton
and take a look at this year's winner!

Hours   Our Goals    Participating Agencies   Staff    Contact info

A Pocket Guide to
Kansas Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses

A Pocket Guide to Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses

This is the eighth in our series of
GPNC Pocket Guides.

This Pocket Guide has species accounts on many of the common forbs and grasses of the Kansas Flint Hills,

Find out how you can get a copy.

Read it online in The Meadow!

The GPNC is on Facebook!
Interagency Senior Pass If you are interested in obtaining a federal
Interagency Senior Pass or Interagency Access Pass,
they are both available at our Owl's Nest Gift Shop
between 10 and 4, Monday-Saturday.
Here's how to get them.
(Payment MUST be by cash or check only:
No credit cards.)
Recent GPNC Publications
Kansas Symbols Poster

Our current poster is about
the natural symbols of Kansas,
in celebration of the sesquicentennial of our state! 

Copies may be picked up free, one per family, when you visit.
Or, they may be mailed to you. 
Here's how to get yours!

Kansas Critters: Bugs Cover

The Great Plains Nature Center is proud to announce the publication of
"
Kansas Critters: BUGS", A Wildlife Book Written and Illustrated by Kansas Kids!

Learn more about it and how you can get a copy

Birthday Parties at the Great Plains Nature Center !!

 Party !    YAY !    Honk !

Yes! We do Birthday Parties at the GPNC!
Click here for all the details!

The GPNC is a cooperative partnership between:

United States Department of the Interior - Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)

State of Kansas - Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT)

City of Wichita - Department of Parks and Recreation

Special features of the GPNC include the Koch Habitat Hall, the Coleman Auditorium, a wildlife observatory,
the Owl's Nest Gift Shop, a classroom and an office wing.

We are open Monday - Saturday,
9 AM to 5 PM.
There is no admission charge.

We are closed Sundays and Holidays.
Upcoming Holiday closings include:
Monday, February 20
Monday, May 28
| Tuesday, July 4 | Monday, September 3
Monday, October 8
| Tuesday, November 12
Thursday-Saturday, November 22-24
| Tuesday, December 25

We offer many scheduled programs and also host meetings for a variety of local wildlife, outdoors and environmental groups.  Visit our Programs section for that information.

The Region 4 office of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is located in our office wing.  Visit their page on this web site to learn more about their hours, operations and personnel.

Our Goals

1. Provide opportunities to the public to learn about natural resources, especially the wildlife and plant species, of the Great Plains Region.

2. Provide visitors with enjoyable educational experiences that impart the importance of wise stewardship of natural resources and the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and the Wichita Department of Park and Recreation.

3. Serve as community resource for conservation and related informational materials, with emphasis on the importance of urban habitats to wildlife and people.

4. Serve as a resource for environmental education with school district, youth organizations, colleges and universities, conservation organizations, and other groups and individuals interested in wildlife and the environment.

5. Provide environmental educational services for and accommodate the physically challenged, senior citizens and other special needs groups.

Our Staff

The Staff of the Great Plains Nature Center is drawn from four different organizations.

STAFF TITLE PARENT ORGANIZATION
Bob Gress Director City of Wichita
Marc Murrell Manager KDWPT
Jim Mason Naturalist City of Wichita
LeeAnn Sack Naturalist City of Wichita
Lorrie Beck Visitor Services USFWS
Patty Marlett Naturalist KDWPT
Amanda Alessi Naturalist KDWPT
Joyce Lent Naturalist Friends of the GPNC
Mike Leck Business Manager Friends of the GPNC
Cindy Amos Volunteer Coordinator Friends of the GPNC
Charlene Van Walleghen Gift Shop Friends of the GPNC
Christy Hanne Gift Shop Friends of the GPNC
Lindsay Drees Gift Shop Friends of the GPNC

Contact Information

Telephone
316-683-5499
FAX
316-688-9555
Postal address
6232 E 29th Street North
Wichita, KS 67220-2200
E-mail
Media contact: Marc Murrell marc.murrell@ksoutdoors.com
Programs:  Joyce Lent Joyce@gpnc.org
Webmaster/General Information: Jim Mason Jim@gpnc.org

Link to 360Wichita.com  

SpideyQuestions or comments about the website?
Send Email to Jim Mason
Or write us at: 
Great Plains Nature Center
6232 E. 29th Street North
Wichita, KS 67220-2200            
Call:  316-683-5499           
Fax:  316-688-9555