Nisqually Reach Nature Center

Mission

Our mission is to promote the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of the Nisqually Estuary through education, interpretation, and community science.

History

Since 1982, the Nisqually Reach Nature Center (the Center) has promoted the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of the Nisqually Estuary through education, interpretation, and community science. Originally opened as an extension of the Black Hills Audubon Society, the Center operates out of a historic hunting and fishing lodge perched on the western shore of the Nisqually Estuary at Luhr Beach in northeast Olympia. Our location is ideal for illustrating the beauty and value of a pristine estuary: with Mt. Rainier in the background, Medicine Creek flows into Puget Sound in front of the Center and the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge lies a short distance across the water. 

In the 42 years since our founding, the Center has a proud history of reaching thousands of community members in the South Sound each year with our messages of environmental stewardship and conservation. Through the years, our emphasis has expanded from general public outreach to our current focuses on environmental education and community science. Typically, over 1,500 school-age youth  visit the Center with their teachers and parents or are reached by our education staff through a myriad of partnerships annually. Our citizen science program connects volunteers with robust data collection efforts to monitor pigeon guillemots, larval crabs, and water quality.