Thurston Nature Center is a community and student-created outdoor environmental lab that was led by the global “founder of environmental education”, Dr. William Stapp, in the 1960s on Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) property. It is the oldest operating environmental education nature center in the country built by students for students and continues to thrive to this day. Dr. William Stapp took his experience from the Thurston Nature Center and created K-12 environmental education curriculum which he spread across the world through the United Nations which later gave him a nomination for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Students, scouts, and the community continue to preserve and maintain this delicate ecosystem that was created with a mission to learn from our natural environment. The space is 20 acres of a flourishing pond filled with turtles, and frogs and the home to many visiting birds (166 species to date) along with the surroundings of Michigan native trees, an Oak Savanna and a rain garden. 

Please see our history and archives to learn about this unique space and how it became one of the first and the longest in-operation environmental education centers in the country with this White House-commissioned national environmental documentary “We are on our way” which was recognized by Lady Bird Johnson.

Stewardship and Students

This area was created by students who cleared the land, planted 2K trees, and repopulated the once polluted swamp into a flourishing pond. We continue to work with scout troops, school students, and local organizations to ensure this space is thriving for future generations to learn from in this historic outdoor lab. The area is enjoyed by many people in the community, and school classes have used the nature center as part of Ann Arbor Public Schools’ Environmental Education Program for decades. Fall and Spring Workdays help with trail maintenance, add planting, and invasive control.

Species and Habitats
The Nature Center is home to many species of wildlife and is a rest-over location for many migratory birds. We host several habitats, which include the pond, wetlands, oak savanna, prairies, forest and vernal pond. There are several rain gardens and a Monarch Butterfly Waystation located here as well. The Thurston Pond is an important watershed that feeds into Miller’s Creek to the Huron River Water Shed. We are home to 166 bird species, 15 butterfly species and many other wildlife like frogs, turtles and snakes. Volunteers submit photos of the Thurston Nature Center’s birds, trees, and flowers to document the biodiversity of the area.

Fun Facts

Founding and Recognition

On March 28, 2019, Thurston Nature Center received the Washtenaw County Environmental Excellence Award for Water Quality Protection. See the News and Events page to read the citation on what TNC has done to protect Thurston Pond, Miller Creek and the Huron River. The Ann Arbor Public Schools has a news article about TNC, Thurston Elementary, and this award on their District News page.

UPDATE: New Thurston Plan Proceeds (02/27/2025) We thank you for all your emails, calls, commentary, and support over these past few months. The Board of Education (BOE) had a special study session on Tuesday. While the Thurston Nature Center was not permitted to present, two parent-led groups shared their perspectives—one in support of the plan and one opposed. AAPS then presented for 3.5 hours, with experts providing their rationale. On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Board of Education debated the Thurston Plan and ultimately voted 4–3 in favor of proceeding (Trustees Wilkerson, Wilkens, and Mohammad opposed; President Feaster and Trustees Wilks, Schmidt, and Baskett in favor). We appreciate that AAPS and some of the BOE took the time to listen, visit, and understand what made Thurston so unique. While we are disappointed by this outcome, we are grateful that our collective efforts helped influence modifications to the plan to minimize harm and preserve as much of the nature center as possible. We will continue working with AAPS on logistics to relocate plants, signs, and assets. In the coming weeks, we will need your help moving key elements—plants, signs, the shed, and more—to a new home. Please watch for volunteer workdays and requests from our stewardship team.  Our commitment to the nature center remains unwavering, and we will continue to advocate for it and honor its history. This gem means too much to many of us; we will adjust and work to care for the beings that rely on this space.  Thank you for your support in all the ways you have given it. This place is what it is because of the 60 years of hard work we have all given to it. We deeply appreciate your efforts—past, present, and future. We also thank our elected officials, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, State Senator Sue Shink and State Representative Jen Conlin for their letters of support. Also, thank organizations such as the  National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes, Leslie Science & Nature Center,  Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance,  Wildflower Association of Michigan  Huron River Watershed Council & University of Michigan SEAS Department for their letters of support.

Thank you for standing with us to protect the Thurston Nature Center and our precious green spaces for play, learning, and wildlife. 
Sincerely,
Thurston Nature Center Committee
ThurstonNatureCenter.info

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Ann Arbor Public School Board of Education.

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The Nature Center is managed by the volunteer Thurston Nature Center Committee, a sub-committee of the PTO at Thurston Elementary School with a Land Use Policy Statement that was agreed upon with AAPS in 2003.