History
The Cayuga Nature Center was originally the Cayuga Preventorium, opened in 1914. When Tuberculosis (TB) was rampant in the country, it was believed that the disease could be prevented if children exposed to TB could be placed in camps with plenty of good fresh air. When TB was no longer a threat in the mid 1900's the Preventorium was used for a multitude of things such as housing for students and children. It wasn't until 1975 that the Preventorium officially opened as a Nature Center. In the 1980s our facility changed its name to the Cayuga Nature Center, offering environmental education to local school districts and the rental of its facilities for groups. In 1981 it became incorporated as an independent, private, non-profit educational organization. In 2013, the Cayuga Nature Center became PRI's newest public venue for education. It cultivates an awareness, appreciation, and responsibility for the natural world through outdoor and environmental education.
Specialties
Discover nature! Climb six stories into the tree branches with the TreeTops. See our live animal collection featuring reptiles, mammals, and birds in both indoor and outdoor enclosures. Enjoy our special toddler playroom. Relax in the WPA-era Lodge after hiking more than five miles of scenic trails traversing 120 acres of natural gorges and native wildlife. Enjoy the Nature Center year round: walk among the butterflies in our summer butterfly garden or take to the trails in winter with snowshoes or skis. In addition, the Cayuga Nature Center offers a wonderfully unique setting for any type of corporate or private event such as children's birthday parties and weddings.