Heller
Nature Center
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TRAIL HOURS:

  • Every Day
    7:30am - Dusk

BUILDING HOURS:

  • Sun-Mon
    Closed
  • Tue
    11:30am-5pm
  • Wed, Thu, Fri
    10:30am-5pm
  • Sat
    9am-3pm

Adventure is Out There

the opportunities are endless

Heller Nature Center is not only home to 97-acres of beautiful oak-hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, natural wetlands, and three miles of trails, but it is also home to incredible nature programs and adventures. Our Heller staff plans seasonal nature excursions and educational programs, including canoe trips, nature lectures, and amazing nature adventure summer camps with rock climbing and horseback riding.

Every August, you can participate in harvesting hundreds of pounds of Heller Honey produced by our famous Heller bees. If you are looking for a quiet escape to the woods, enjoy a picnic in our woodlands, visit our nature exhibit, participate in a program, play in Wander Woods, and cross-country ski our trails.  Heller also has a teams course for groups and a self-guided StoryTrail. Heller’s red, green and blue trails are crushed stone and wheelchair accessible. Our yellow trail is woodchipped.

Winter Programs

Wander Woods Nature Play Space

Heller Nature Center’s Wander Woods Nature Play Space is a free play natural area designed to nurture a child’s sense of wonder and discovery.

Wander Woods provides an unstructured play area limited only by the imagination. Nestled in the trees and solitude, children can climb a tree house, create in a mud kitchen, experiment with ramps and much more. Let the creativity and messiness begin.

Notes from the Trail Blog

Rentals & Parties

Reserve a date for your next group meeting, family gathering or birthday party at Heller Nature Center.  The unique, natural, and comfortable surroundings of Heller Nature Center make it a great choice for celebrations!

Art Exhibit

Artwork by local nature photographer Susan Fink will be on display in the Prairie Room during November 2025 – February 2026.

“As a nature and wildlife photographer, my artistry gravitates towards a macro perspective to reveal the detail, patterns, texture, complexity, and magnificence of the subject, attributes often overlooked when focused on the broader picture. As flora morphs throughout the seasons, I enjoy highlighting the emergence of new life, summer color and texture, culminating with its entry to dormancy. With birds and other animals, I strive to document their behavioral characteristics. For me, capturing the catch light in their eyes is a reflection of their soul. Through this level of detail and intimacy, one can begin to fully appreciate the beauty and miracle of creation. My hope is that through my camera lens, I can share a deeper level of awareness and reverence for nature, ultimately helping to ensure that we all take on a stewardship role in preserving the planet and its inhabitants for generations to come.”

We recommend calling ahead (847.433.6901) to be sure the room is available for viewing, since the room is often used for programs and rentals.

Heller Nature Center is proud to feature artists who explore nature through their work and passion. If you are an artist who would like to display your work at Heller, please contact Heller Nature Center 847.433.6901

Heller Honey

2025 Heller Honey is Sold Out

Heller Honey is 100% natural and produced in hives at the Heller Nature Center. Heller bees gather nectar from local plants, including bee balm, linden, acacia, honeysuckle and other fragrant blossoms to make this flavorful honey. In addition to producing hundreds of pounds of tasty honey, the bees play an essential role, pollinating many flowering plants.

Heller Nature Center staff and beekeeping volunteers extract the honey in late August. Heller Honey sales typically begin on or around September 1, annually. Tune into our newsletter for future dates.

We offer public education programs at Heller’s apiary or we can come to you with our new portable observation hive. If you would like to discover more about bees and beekeeping, call us at 847.433.6901.

Questions?

Contact Us

Meghan
Meredith
Program Manager
847.579.4183
Mark
Bryant
Naturalist Teacher
847.579.4184
Phelicia
Jozwiak
Nature Program Coordinator-Teacher
847.579.4182