Our Profile

Overlooking the dunes and ocean, the Biscayne Nature Center is a beautiful facility on the north end of Crandon Park on Key Biscayne. In this pristine setting, our multifunctional Center serves our visitors with a reception area, exhibit space, gift shop, an audio visual presentation room and demonstration lab classroom facilities.
And right outside our doors, we are fortunate to have Mother Nature's spectacular classroom, which we proudly care for and share with our visitors.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, Inc. is a not-for-profit Florida corporation whose interest is in the conservation of our local irreplaceable natural resources.

We are a cooperative project of three partners: Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Department, and our not-for-profit community support group, The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, Inc.

Our U-shaped building is raised off the ground, featuring wide wrap around covered porches and a central amphitheater courtyard. The center is a venue suitable for a wide variety of activities and events. We utilize alternative technologies such as solar power, water and energy conservation and passive solar design, and recycled materials as is fitting a center dedicated to harmony with nature.

Mission

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization
dedicated to protecting the natural environment. This is accomplished through a two-fold effort:

1. Offering environmental educational programs to private and public school systems.
These programs include laboratory and field study about the Biscayne Bay area and its vast
precious resources, including mangroves, sea grasses, the fossil rock reef, sand dunes and
hammocks. We actively promote and encourage integration of environmental studies in the
school system.

2. Reaching out to encourage greater citizen awareness and participation in the protection of our natural environment.

Various events hosted by the Biscayne Nature Center, such as our rotating art exhibits and
"3rd. Fridays," are geared to introducing the center, and therefore our mission, to those visitors
new to our center. We enjoy our environment, yet "leave no trace."

The Biscayne Nature Center facilitates appreciation of our marine environment and humanity.

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Location
All roads lead to the Biscayne Nature Center if you take I-95 or US 1 to the Key Biscayne Exit. Follow signs to Rickenbacker Causeway. Continuing straight ahead, you will see a sign announcing that you are now in Crandon Park. We are opposite the golf course entrance, 4.5 miles in from the Rickenbacker toll booth. You will turn left at the North Beach Entrance. (there is a small Nature Center sign at the turn) Just beyond the toll booth, make a sharp left and you will see the Nature Center at the northern end of the parking lot. (just beyond that baseball diamond)

If you find yourself in the Village of Key Biscayne, oh my, you just missed the North Beach Entrance. A good U-turn will have you headed back toward the Nature Center.
And, just in case, our number is 305-361-6767.



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Board of Trustees

  • James Kushlan - President
  • Paul Naron, Vice President
  • Steve Sorkin - Secretary
  • Steven Henriquez - Treasurer
  • Thorn Grafton
  • Quinton Hedgepeth
  • Charles Morrison
  • Eileen Smith
  • James Tilghman
  • Fred Truby

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Staff

Naturalists

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