What is Churchville Nature Center?

Updated

Churchville Nature Center is an environmental education facility of the Bucks County Department of Parks & Recreation, located on a 65-acre nature preserve next to the Churchville Reservoir in Northampton Township, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1964, it was the first nature center in Bucks County. It suits anyone looking for a free-form outdoor visit — trails are open dawn to dusk — or a structured program such as a school field trip, scout badge session, summer camp, or birthday party.

What you can do on a visit

The center combines self-guided outdoor time with indoor exhibits and seasonal programming:

  • Trails: Two miles of walking trails, open dawn to dusk.
  • Wildlife gardens: Native plant gardens on the grounds, including the Marlin D. Corn Wildlife Gardens.
  • Visitor center: An exhibit-filled building, open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am–5pm.
  • Seasonal features: A Native Butterfly House and Botanical Gardens, plus an annual wildflower sale.
  • Programs: Themed events, weekend programs and nature walks, campfire programs, and summer camps.

Note the split hours: the grounds stay open from dawn to dusk, but the visitor center keeps limited hours (Tue–Sun, 10am–5pm). Plan indoor time inside that window.

Programs for groups and families

If you want a guided or scheduled experience rather than a casual walk, the center runs several bookable formats:

Program Who it's for
K–12 environmental education School classes
Lenape Village programs Groups learning about the site's Lenape Village
Scout programming Scout troops working on badges
Summer camps Children (seasonal)
Birthday parties Families
Private group visits Organized groups

The center also publishes a seasonal activity guide (a Fall 2026 guide is listed) that collects upcoming programs in one place — check it before planning, since individual sessions can fill up. One current example: the Fall Knee High Naturalist sessions are full and registration is closed, so popular programs do sell out.

Practical details before you go

  • Location: Northampton Township, Bucks County, adjacent to the Churchville Reservoir.
  • Cost: The site does not state admission pricing on the pages reviewed; check the Plan Your Visit page before assuming a visit is free.
  • Registration: Programs, memberships, and donations are handled through the site's online registration and join/donate links.
  • Gift shop: Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm, inside the nature center. Current merchandise includes 2026 Butterfly House and Botanical Gardens T-shirts in various sizes, colors, and prices while supplies last, with proceeds supporting the Butterfly House and gardens.

When it's the right choice

Choose Churchville Nature Center if you want a short, easy outdoor outing (two miles of trails is manageable for most families), a seasonal garden or butterfly house visit, or an organized environmental education program for a school, scout, or private group. If you need long backcountry hiking or a full-day indoor museum, this isn't that kind of site — its strength is compact trails plus staffed programming. Start with the Plan Your Visit page for current hours and visitor details, and the program calendar to confirm what's running during your dates.