The Story Behind the Enchanted Woods

The Enchanted Woods project began with a vision introduced by former Executive Director Henry Owen, who imagined a renewed, research-informed nature play area that would better meet the needs of today’s families. The Nature Discovery Center is collaborating with TBG Partners and StudioRed Architects to design a play environment rooted in child development, nature education, and joyful exploration. With design now nearly complete, the Board of Directors is working with Forney Construction to bring this vision to life, marking a major step as the project moves toward construction later this fall.

A Reimagined Nature Play Experience

The Enchanted Woods will transform our current nature play area into an immersive, dynamic landscape where children can climb, dig, splash, build, imagine, and discover the natural world. The new design centers around three signature zones:

Discovery Creek – A fanciful water zone that celebrates the movement of water. Kids can get wet and playfully squirt water from boulders or play in the canoe. A water runnel and pump invites problem solving and learning experiences.
Imagination Meadow – A hands-on, all-ages space filled with loose natural materials, Elf Hut, footbridges, boulders and found objects that invite endless building, creating, and experimenting.
The Nature Workshop – A high-energy zone for older explorers featuring the Treetop Tower, bridges, spider net climber, wood steppers, and a sequence of challenge-based play elements that promote strength, balance, and confidence.

Anchoring the play scape is the Cottage classroom -- A welcoming hub perched on stilts, serving as the launch point for nature programs, camps, school groups, and community learning experiences. Additional features throughout the play area—including the Overlook Deck, sensory bins, tunnel, parent seating areas, and the beloved cypress pond—create a rich landscape full of movement, discovery, and connection to nature.

Why Nature Play Matters

Nature play helps children grow in ways traditional playgrounds can’t. It sparks creativity, builds confidence, strengthens coordination, and supports emotional well-being. Most of all, it nurtures a lifelong love of the natural world. The Enchanted Woods is designed to give every child access to these powerful, research-backed benefits.

Help Us Build Something Magical

This $2.5 million project will serve the thousands of families who rely on the Nature Discovery Center each year—and we have already raised 75% of our goal. With your support, we can bring the Enchanted Woods to life for our entire community. Your gift today helps build a place where children can run, climb, splash, explore, and discover the magic of nature.

Nature Discovery Center - Enchanted Woods

Help us bring the Enchanted Woods Nature Play Area to the Nature Discovery Center. A place to climb, splash, explore and get closer to nature.

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