The Thurston Nature Center is home of about 18 acres of land owned by Ann Arbor Public Schools and Orchard Hills Athletic Club. The space is dedicated toward educating and providing space to learn for those in the school system and community about the natural world around them.
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 space is dedicated to being green and we are a Certified Natural Area.
We originated from a small group of Thurston Families, led by Bill Stapp in the 1960s when the neighborhood was just beginning. Since then many have come and gone from the committee, each giving of their talents and time to continue to serve and protect the Nature Center.
All are welcome at Thurston Nature Center Committee meetings. Please sign up for the email list (bottom of this page) to get details on upcoming meetings and all the latest news.
Policies and information are available in the Thurston Nature Center Manual (PDF).
We have a Thurston Nature Center Committee (TNCC) that is a committee of the Thurston Elementary Parent Teacher Association. The TNCC consists of around eleven members who volunteer and act as stewards for the Nature Center. The members include Chair, Land and Water Stewards, Treasurer, Secretary, Thurston School Representative, At-Large Members and Alumnus.
By-laws and committee roles are found HERE.
Meeting minutes are found HERE.
The current Thurston Nature Center Committee members are:
- Praveena Ramaswami, Chair (email: chair *)
- Jim Vallem, Land Steward (email: steward *)
- Michael Tucker, Land Steward
- Holly Zechar, Treasurer (email: treasurer *)
- Pam O’Neal, Secretary
- Jeffrey Hamilton
- Beth Caldwell
- Colin Brooks
- Kristen Cella, Thurston PTO Representative
- Mary Manthey, School/Teacher Representative
- Amy Creten, OHAC Pools Representative
* Add @thurstonnaturecenter.info to get full email address
Drone aerial photo of the Thurston Nature Center on April 1, 2020
See the History and Archives page for information on the history of the Thurston Nature Center.