1000 acre private preserve with 20+ miles of trails, educational public programs & events, residential environmental education, & raptor rehabilitation.
Glen Helen is a Living Sanctuary, forever protected in the memory of Helen Birch Bartlett. It is a Natural Classroom, where students and the public can learn about the environment and how to live with Earth in mind. It is an Outdoor Laboratory, where ecological and environmental research helps us better understand the world around us.
Glen Helen is open to the public from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. Nature programs, guided hikes, and other interpretative experiences are offered for families and individuals throughout the year. Many guided hikes and events are offered free or at a discounted rate for Glen Helen Members, with card. Pre-registration is required for all programs/most events, see our Event Calendar for details.
Naturalist Programs
The Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center hosts ten new interns every school year to participate in the Glen Helen Outdoor School program. The Naturalist Internship Program at Glen Helen is unique in that it is truly a training ground for those wishing to pursue a career in the field of outdoor environmental education, and for those wishing to hone and perfect their skills.
The Trailside Museum is the weekend welcome center for Glen Helen Nature Preserve. Visitors to are encouraged to stop by before exploring the trails. The museum features hands-on displays and exhibits that are designed to offer visitors an up-close experience with nature. Visitors also have an opportunity to meet our resident ambassador animals, investigate the trail map, and purchase Glen Helen gear.
The Outdoor Education Center is dedicated to providing programs for children and adults seeking to develop an appreciation for the natural world, an awareness of environmental problems and the ecological principles that influence them. The Outdoor Education Center is committed to helping students develop improved self-concepts and to refine their interpersonal relationship skills through the Outdoor School Program, EcoCamp, and After School Program as well as other community outreach programming.
The Glen Helen Raptor Center began in 1970 as part of Antioch College's Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center. The Raptor Center includes a classroom area for bird study lessons, an intensive care room, outdoor cages for display of permanently handicapped birds, and flight cages for recuperating birds. The Raptor Center hosts regular programs to encourage a greater understanding, appreciation, and concern for raptors and other wildlife. Presentations are available that cover the special adaptations of birds of prey, general wildlife needs, how humans affect wildlife, and what we can all do to help.
Atrium Gallery Exhibitions are open daily throughout the year, Monday through Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Located in the Vernet Building, Atrium, at 405 Corry Street and hosted by dedicated volunteers, the lovely limestone and yellow pine Atrium is adjacent to the Nature Shop.
Many buildings and spaces are available for rent throughout the 1000 acre nature preserve. From open meadows for your perfect outdoor ceremony to a historic mansion home, and woodland meeting space, the Glen has the perfect space for your next event.
