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The GPNC is on Facebook!
The Great Plains Nature Center is now on Facebook!
THIRD KANSAS CRITTERS BOOK IS PUBLISHED!
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!

August 2010

The Lattner Family Foundation provided the funding for this project.

Single copies of the book may be picked up free at the Owl's Nest Gift Shop in the Great Plains Nature Center.

Single copies may be mailed for $4.00 by sending your check to:
Kansas Critters
Great Plains Nature Center 6232 E. 29th St. N, Wichita Kansas 67220

NEW GPNC POCKET GUIDE TO KANSAS FLINT HILLS WILDFLOWERS!

A Pocket Guide to Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses

 

   August 6, 2010

   Our new GPNC Pocket Guide covers the beautiful and charismatic flora
   of the Kansas Flint Hills.

   Copies of the Pocket Guide to Kansas Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses
   can be mailed to you for $3.00 each, postpaid. 
   Make your check out to:
   "Friends of the GPNC"
   and mail it to:
   Owl's Nest Gift Shop
   Great Plains Nature Center
   6232 E. 29th Street N.
   Wichita, KS 67220

   Be sure to include your full mailing address!

   Browse the online version in the Meadow!

KANSAS JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONTEST
2010 Best of Show

March 25, 2010

The Junior Duck Stamp competition is a wildlife art contest for students in grades K-12 all across the nation, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The Great Plains Nature Center hosts this event every year for the state of Kansas.

Click here to see who the winners were for 2010, where you can go to see them on display and how you can enter the 2011 competition!

Deadline for entries each year
is March 15.

Pocket Guide to Great Plains Waterbirds

Pocket Guide to Great Plains Waterbirds

   December 22, 2009

   The seventh GPNC Pocket Guide covers the Waterbirds of the Great Plains.
   Click on the thumbnail image to browse the online version in the Shoreline!

Pocket Guide to Kansas Freshwater Mussels

Click here to visit the Mussel Bed!  

   December 5, 2008

   The sixth GPNC Pocket Guide covers the 48 different species of Unionid mussels known from Kansas.
   Click on the thumbnail image to browse the online version in the Mussel Bed!

"Colorful Songbirds of the Great Plains" Poster

Click here to see our latest poster!

  November 4, 2008

  The latest in our series of educational posters is here! 
  Click on the thumbnail image to take a closer look!

SECOND KANSAS CRITTERS BOOK IS PUBLISHED!
Kansas Critters: Birds

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

August 2008

The Lattner Family Foundation provided the funding for this project.

Copies of this book are no longer available.

Pocket Guide to Great Plains Shorebirds

Pocket Gude to Great Plains Shorebirds
   January 24, 2007

   The fifth GPNC Pocket Guide covers the common shorebirds of the Great Plains.
   Click on the thumbnail image to browse the online version in the PEEP'S PUDDLE!

Pocket Guide to Kansas Snakes
A Pocket Guide to Kansas Snakes

   November 3, 2006

   The fourth GPNC pocket guide covers all 38 species of snakes known from Kansas. 
   Click on the thumbnail image to browse the online version in the SNAKE'S BURROW!

KANSAS CRITTERS BOOK IS PUBLISHED!
Kansas Critters book cover

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

September 21, 2006

The Lattner Family Foundation provided the funding for this project.

Copies of this book are no longer available.

Pocket Guide to Kansas Threatened & Endangered Species

Pocket Guide to Kansas T&E Species

  August 3, 2005  

   The third GPNC pocket guide covers the species at risk in Kansas. 
   Click on the thumbnail image to browse the online version in the KANSAS WILDLIFE REFUGE!

Pocket Guide to Kansas Mammals

A Pocket Guide to Common Kansas Mammals  September 3, 2004  

   The second GPNC pocket guide covers the common mammal species of Kansas. 
   Click on the thumbnail image to browse the online version in the MAMMAL'S DEN!

Pocket Guide to Kansas Raptors

Kansas Raptors Pocket Guide

   December 6, 2003

   The first GPNC pocket guide covers the raptors of Kansas. 
   Click on the thumbnail image to browse the online version in the RAPTOR'S ROOST!

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ALIENS AMONG US?

July 15, 2003

          The Cottonwood borer is a very big black-and-white beetle found on the Great Plains during summer.  If you see one, its large size and striking markings may make you think the aliens have landed!  Click here to learn more!

HOW TO FIND US!

March 21, 2003

          If you are wondering where we are located, use the directions and maps on our Locator Page to get here.

BUTTERFLIES, DRAGONS & DAMSELS!

September 13, 2002

          The Butterflies of Kansas have a new place on the internet!  So do the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Kansas!  Check these pages out for comprehensive lists for each order of insects and tips on observing them.

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TALLGRASS PRAIRIE TRIP!

June 5, 2002

          Our Natural History Series Field trips explored the Tallgrass Prairie in 2002.  Click here to read about our visit to the Oklahoma Tallgrass Prairie Preserve run by the Nature Conservancy.

ROAD TRIP!

February 12, 2002

          If you are planning a trip to explore the central Great Plains and nearby areas, click here for a map and list of regional nature centers and state park information!

SMOKY VALLEY EXPEDITION!

May 15, 2001
          The second field trip in our Natural History series for 2001 focused on the geology and natural history of the Smoky Valley.  Famous for its scenery and its dinosaur fossils, we found it a delightful place to visit in the spring. Click here to read the Trip Journal!

UNIONID MUSSELS!

April 23, 2001
          North America has greater diversity of Unionid mussels than anywhere in the world.  46 different species have been recorded in Kansas.  To learn more about them, click here!

WE GO CRANE WATCHING!

March 22, 2001
          As a part of our 2001 Natural History Series, the GPNC took a small group of folks up to Nebraska to see the sandhill cranes on the Platte River.  Read the Journal of the trip to see and hear how it went!

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INTERESTING SIGHTINGS

February 23, 2001
          You never know what is going to happen each day at a nature center!  And it's not just that we go looking for the unusual.  When you are a regional reference for wildlife information, unusual things have a way of finding you!  We decided to put some of these unusual things on the web.  Take a look at our Sightings page and see for yourself!

INSECTS IN KANSAS!

January 5, 2001
           What's buggin' you?  If you want to find out more about those little critters with six legs, have we got a page for you!  Find out what it takes to be an insect and learn more about their incredible diversity within the state.  Visit the Kansas Insects web page.

        And if you are wanting a good guide book for Kansas Insects, look no further than the Owl's Nest Gift Shop for the book "Insects In Kansas"!

VISIT THE OWL'S NEST GIFT SHOP!

November 9, 2000
           The Owl's Nest Gift Shop is your one-stop destination for that special naturally-oriented person in your life.  Located in the lobby of the Great Plains Nature Center, it is open from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, 11 - 4 on Saturday.  Click here to learn what you can find there!

OPEN AT LAST!

September 8, 2000
   After four years of delays, The GRAND OPENING of the Great Plains Nature Center was Friday - Sunday, September 1 - 3, 2000.  We had about 4,500 people come to visit in those three days!

    If you want to come visit us, our regular hours are:

Monday - Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM

Closed Sundays and Holidays

There is no admission charge.

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JOHN CODY PAINTINGS

May 25, 2000
           The Great Plains Nature Center displayed 36 original watercolors by Hays, Kansas artist Dr. John Cody in our lobby in the spring of 2000.  The subjects of all his works are the spectacular Giant Silk Moths.  Called the "Audubon of Moths", his works have been exhibited in the Smithsonian.  Prints, posters, note cards as well as copies of his book "Wings of Paradise" are available in our gift shop.  Click here to view three of his magnificent paintings.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES?

February 22, 2000
           The honeybee is the most familiar member of a very diverse group of insects.  Click here to find out more about honeybees and their buzzin' cousins!

NATURAL SYMBOLS OF KANSAS

February 1, 2000
           Several different animals and plants have been chosen as symbols for the state of Kansas.  Click here to learn more about them.

PRONGHORNS ON THE PRAIRIE!

January 13, 2000
           One of the animals featured in our new exhibit hall is the Pronghorn.  Click here to learn more about these amazing creatures!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE LOCALS!

January 13, 2000
           The Pronghorn Antelope is one of many animals and plants featured in our Flora and Fauna section.  Checklists of Kansas mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and woody plants may be found here along with focus pages on many of the species.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

December 2, 1999
          We are looking for a few special people to help us with our program and building responsibilities.  For more information, visit the Volunteers page.

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE GPNC

September 3, 1999
          Our new Friends organization is now up and running!  If you want to help support the Great Plains Nature Center, check out the Friends of the GPNC page and learn the benefits of becoming a member!

PARK MAPS ARE ONLINE

September 1, 1999
          Web and print-able versions of maps for Pawnee Prairie Park and Chisholm Creek Park are on this web site.  Anyone planning a visit can see the "lay of the land" and print their own trail maps.  Look for hotspots within the maps that lead to pictures from the parks!
(Thanks to Rob Braselton with Pioneer Balloon Company for these maps!)

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Questions or comments?  Send Email to Jim Mason Spidey
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