Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park

About Us
It’s pretty simple, the Urban Ecology Center gets people outside.

We connect people in cities to nature and each other.

We know what you’re thinking….how do you do that!? Well, on any given day you’ll find…

-classes of students from local schools engaging in hands-on learning about science, nature, and sustainably
-community volunteers and staff removing invasive species and restoring urban ecosystems
-adventure seekers climbing the rock-wall in Riverside Park, canoeing in the lagoon in Washington Park, snowshoeing in Three Bridges Park (Menomonee Valley) and participating in programs through all 4 seasons
-people visiting the parks, the buildings, its staff, and lots of volunteers
At the Urban Ecology Center’s three locations people make connections between new and old ideas, their behaviors and impacts, and most of all, with each other.

What we do
At the Urban Ecology Center’s three locations the wonders of the outdoors bring curious people together. Our programs bring our city’s children and families into nature and as a result, our urban parks are safe to visit, our kids are acquiring the science skills they need to succeed, and adults keep on learning about how our changing world around us works.

The Urban Ecology Center provides year-round educational programs for kids, families and adults of all ages.

The cornerstone program is the Neighborhood Environmental Education Project (NEEP) serving kids in 60 urban Milwaukee schools each year. This program enables students to take a walk in the woods, stand in a river in hip waders, or run along the beach at Lake Michigan when they might not have other opportunities to do so.

The school program is complemented by after-school programs, summer camps and weekend activities designed to involve, inspire, educate and connect kids to each other, to caring mentors, and to the natural world around them.

In addition to NEEP we offer even more programs for you and your family:

Urban Adventures
Weekend youth and family programs
High School Outdoor Leader program
Adult summer internships
Community Science research projects
Volunteer activities
and more!