Anita Purves Nature Center

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Anita Purves Nature Center The Anita Purves Nature Center serves as Champaign County's premier environmental education resource.

The Center and the adjacent Busey Woods provide a natural resource to individuals, families and groups interested in learning more about the outdoors. A facility of the Urbana Park District, the center includes a Field Station, Wildlife Observation Room, Audubon Gift Shop, educator resource room and meeting rooms. Programs, activities, and special events are held at this facility each year. Located at the north end of Crystal Lake Park, the Anita Purves Nature Center is an environmental education facility open free to the public. Next door you'll find Busey Woods, a 59-acre forest preserve with a boardwalk loop, seasonal ponds and more.

A fall flush of color in the prairie restoration, with asters in bloom attracting some late-season pollinators: skippers...
10/23/2026

A fall flush of color in the prairie restoration, with asters in bloom attracting some late-season pollinators: skippers, hoverflies, and the last bumblebees of the season!

Our last Fungi Friday walk of the season is coming up tomorrow (Friday, 10/23)! Meet outside the Anita Purves Nature Cen...
10/22/2026

Our last Fungi Friday walk of the season is coming up tomorrow (Friday, 10/23)! Meet outside the Anita Purves Nature Center at 5:30PM to explore the Woods one more time looking for mushrooms and other cool fungi! (We'll likely even see some deer, and if we're really lucky, salamanders!)

Our last Tales and Trails program of this year is coming up this Friday (October 23) at 10AM! Join us for a story and th...
10/21/2026

Our last Tales and Trails program of this year is coming up this Friday (October 23) at 10AM! Join us for a story and then a lovely walk in some lovely weather in the lovely Woods!

We'll be back with more Pre-K programming once Pre-K Fridays with Ms. Rachel starting on November 13!

Did you know that today is National Reptile Day? We love reptiles here at APNC! We get to hang out with five turtles and...
10/21/2026

Did you know that today is National Reptile Day? We love reptiles here at APNC! We get to hang out with five turtles and four snakes every day. They are our Ambassador reptiles, going to events and places all over town or just staying at home to educate the public and how to help wild reptiles! Scroll through these photos to read a bit more about our reptiles and all their stats for the year so far!

Join us tonight (Tuesday, 10/20) from 5:30-6:30pm at Busey Woods for a Connecting You to Nature Hike! Participants will ...
10/20/2026

Join us tonight (Tuesday, 10/20) from 5:30-6:30pm at Busey Woods for a Connecting You to Nature Hike! Participants will meet in front of the Anita Purves Nature Center. The weather is beautiful and the fall colors are finally coming in!

(Lovely fall photos from our amazing marketing team!)

A beautiful late season visitor to APNC! This white lined sphinx (Hyles lineata) was hanging out on the Ed Wing Door yes...
10/16/2026

A beautiful late season visitor to APNC! This white lined sphinx (Hyles lineata) was hanging out on the Ed Wing Door yesterday. These moths are often active during the day, sipping nectar from a variety of flowers, earning them the nickname "hawk moth".

In the wild, their caterpillars feed on plants such as elms, evening primrose, grapes, and wild four o'clock. Occasionally, they may feed on tomato leaves.

10/15/2026

Event time change! Due to the marathon this weekend, the Pride Nature Hike (Sat., 10/17) will begin at 10AM!

Fungi Friday #3 is coming up tomorrow! If we get some rain today, it will boost our chances of seeing even more mushroo...
10/15/2026

Fungi Friday #3 is coming up tomorrow! If we get some rain today, it will boost our chances of seeing even more mushrooms and other forms of fungi out in the Woods! If you've already been to a Fungi Friday hike, please join again! We'll try out different paths and find different species of fungi.

Meet outside APNC at 5:30 for an hour-long walk in the Woods, rain or shine. Please make sure to dress for the weather; current forecast is a little chilly and windy, so bring a comfortable jacket!

Address

1505 N Broadway Avenue
Urbana, IL
61801

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(217) 384-4062

Website

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