Happy Isles Nature Center
add photos5 Reviews for Happy Isles Nature Center
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'10, '11, '12
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"Great Spot to Cool Off & Learn About Yosemite Flora & Fauna"
There aren’t too many places where you can visit a Nature Center nestled along a river in the forest beneath the face of sheer granite. Welcome to the Nature Center at Happy Isles.
The Nature Center is designed with families in mind. Many of the displays are interactive and there is plenty to see and touch. What’s especially wonderful is that displays are kept at kid eye-level. There are even stools in places where littler ones might need an extra boost.
Another perk is the small size of the Nature Center. It’s perfect for little kids – it basically consists of one large room divided into a few separate areas. Added bonus is that this place is air conditioned, providing a wonderful spot to cool off the kids on a hot summer day.
While we were there, my 5-year-old enjoyed reading all about the different trees in the park. Each tree includes a sample of both its bark and branches – and you can touch the bark! He also liked a table that displayed several different pinecones and the names of the trees they came from.
My 2-year-old loved the “After Dark” zone – an area showcasing the creatures in the park that only come out at night.
Before you leave, don’t forget to check out the flora and fauna you’ve just learned about inside outside. You can walk to the river and a fen (a grassy wetland) just a stone’s throw from the Center. The short trail to the Nature Center (and surrounding offshoots) are flat and stroller-friendly.
A small book store and gift shop are located just inside the main entrance to the Center. Restrooms are available next to the shuttle stop, just a short walk from the Center.
A snack stand is also located next to the shuttle stop but there are no picnic facilities set up within close proximity to the Nature Center.
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"Good little stop off to beat the heat."
This is a small interpretive center where you can learn about the inhabitants of Yosemite national Park. The kids enjoy seeing the dioramas with animals. There are a few small live critters. It's a nice little air conditioned break during the summer.
1 family found this helpful
"Outside the nature center"
Another favorite place for us to explore!
My whole family loves exploring the bridges and islands that give this place the name "isles" There are rocks to climb on, pools of water to play in (icy cold!), and a fen to learn about. A fen is like a swamp area for water to spread out in, be filtered and seep into the ground. The air coming off the fen is cool and sweet. Last summer we saw 2 young brown bears tumbling and wrestling playfully together near the trail. We watched from afar, quite safe, and enjoyed seeing them play.
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"Fun with the Family"
Films, puppet shows, exhibits, and wildlife programs designed for kids. Here and at Tuolumne Meadows, a Junior Ranger Program is conducted for 8 to 12-year-olds. To earn a Junior Ranger patch, the children listen to interpretive talks on ecology, Native Americans, and wildlife and go on ranger-guided treks.
At the Happy Isles bookstore, consider checking out an Explorer Pack, a daypack filled with a guidebook and activity suggestions. Each pack has a theme, such as Featuring Feathers, a bird identification kit, and Rocking in Yosemite, for rock and mineral discoveries. For children ages 3 to 6, purchase the Little Cub Handbook here or online at www.yosemitestore.com. A fun teaching tool, the book is about matching animals with their homes, taking a hike, learning about bears, and more. When they have attended a ranger program and completed the book, kids receive a Little Cub button.
You can leave children at Happy Isles for free one-hour walks and talks on nature, birds, and forest lore. This area of the park is full of streams perfect for wading and scattered with mossy boulders. The open forest calls for a game of hide-and-seek.
Happy Isles is the start of several trails, including the Mist Trail.
1 family found this helpful
"Nice center...needs a little fixing"
This was an interactive nature center that we rode our bikes to. It had several hands-on activities for kids (ages 3 and up) as well as some exhibits of wildlife and trees from the area. There was a short movie on floods, forest fires and rockslides. The kids (5 and 7) enjoyed seeing footprints of forest animals and hearing the sounds they make. We also really liked the nightime forest exhibit as it showed the many predators who hunt while we sleep! Some of the interactive exhibits were broken and will hopefully be repaired soon!
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