Ecology Center

The Evanston Ecology Center, a facility operated by the City of Evanston, was built on the grounds of the Ladd Arboretum in 1974 and serves as a focal point for environmental education and volunteerism in Evanston and the surrounding community. The Evanston Environmental Association is its non-profit partner, supporting the Center with fundraising, volunteer, and programming efforts.

The EEA's current fundraising initiative is to bring an accessible non-motorized boat launch back to the North Shore Channel at the Evanston Ecology Center in the Ladd Arboretum. Learn more about the Canoe Launch and support our work. 

Programs

The Ecology Center's mission is to offer educational programs to local residents that will foster a greater appreciation, awareness and knowledge of the environment. The offerings of the Center range from introductory natural history classes covering areas such as plant identification and animal study, to popular summer camps that engage kids in environmentally focused outdoor activities. For more information on Ecology Center programs, visit the City of Evanston Ecology Center Website. 

The Evanston Ecology Center offers a wide variety of environmental education programs to the local community.  Some of these unique offerings are highlighted below. Additional details are on the City of Evanston website linked above. 

Camps

Every summer the Evanston Ecology Center offers  innovative, nature focused summer camps to encourage children and middle-schoolers to understand the world around them in a fun environment. Additionally, there is a counselor-in-training program for those aspiring to be future camp counselors.  For more information, visit the Camps page on the City of Evanston Ecology Center website.

Additionally Winter Break, Spring Break and Individual Day-Off School Camps are available. 

Classroom Field Trips 

The Ecology Center offers a variety of in-school programs and field trip programs to foster a greater appreciation, awareness and knowledge of the natural environment and our interdependence with it.   To find out more about these outstanding programs, their costs, locations, and who to contact for additional information, visit the Field Trips page on the City of Evanston Ecology Center website.

Scout Programs

The Ecology Center offers educational and interactive programs for scout troops. To find out more about these scout programs, visit the Scout Program page on the City of Evanston Ecology Center website. 

Seasonal Programs

The Ecology Center is pleased to offer a wide variety of seasonal programs to Evanston residents and people in the surrounding communities of all ages. Visit the Seasonal Special Events page on the City of Evanston Ecology Center website for more details.

Staff

A dedicated City of Evanston staff is responsible for the Center's educational programs and day-to-day operations.

Facilities

The Ecology Center houses a large multi-purpose room, a classroom, and a staff office. The large multi-purpose room and classroom are used by the Ecology Center staff for environmental programming but can also be rented out by the public for meetings, functions and other events.

Ecology Center Contact Info

• Email: ecologycenter@cityofevanston.org
• Phone: (847) 448-8256
• Address: 2024 McCormick Blvd, Evanston, IL 60201

NOTE: The Ecology Center is closed for renovation until Fall 2025. Click here for more information.