Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center

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Children's Museums

Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center

Name: Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center
Address: 1800 Weedon Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702, St. Petersburg, FL, US
Telephone: (727) 453-6500
Rating: 4.8

★★★★☆ 4.8 (449 reviews)

📍 1800 Weedon Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702

📞 (727) 453-6500

🌐 www.weedonislandpreserve.org/programs-classes.htm

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

🕐 Hours

Monday	Closed
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	9 AM–4 PM
Friday	9 AM–4 PM
Saturday	9 AM–4 PM
Sunday	11 AM–4 PM

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About Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center

Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center is a children's museum in St. Petersburg, FL. Herpetology Summer Camp has been running for 18 years, offering a specialized hands-on science day camp for ages 7-11 with limited enrollment capped at 30 campers per session. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by 449 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Nature Center
Best For: Pre-K through teens
Highlights: Insect Zoo Lab, live animal encounters, archaeology lab, naturalist-led tours
Special Programs: Herpetology Summer Camp (18th year), story time, sea turtle talks, craft activities

💡 Did You Know?

⭐Herpetology Summer Camp has been running for 18 years, offering a specialized hands-on science day camp for ages 7-11 with limited enrollment capped at 30 campers per session
⭐The preserve hosts an exceptionally large population of gopher tortoises, with visitors commonly spotting multiple individuals (3-6+) during short visits of 1-2 hours on the trails and roads
⭐The center features a hands-on Insect Zoo Lab with live insects and an interactive archaeology lab where visitors can participate in artifact cleaning and identification activities
⭐The preserve includes an observation tower offering panoramic views and is connected by well-maintained boardwalks through mangrove ecosystems, with 45 mentions of trails in visitor reviews

💬 What Visitors Say

💬Watch carefully for gopher tortoises on roads and trails - visitors report seeing multiple tortoises during short visits. Drive slowly on preserve roads and stay alert while hiking to avoid disturbing these protected animals.
💡Start your visit at the interpretive center to learn from knowledgeable volunteers, then explore the trails and boardwalks. The observation tower provides excellent views of the mangrove ecosystem and is worth the climb.
💡The Herpetology Summer Camp (ages 7-11, $160) is highly popular with only 30 spots available. Register early by contacting George L. Heinrich at (727) 599-1843 for this hands-on science camp running June 15-18.
🕐Plan to spend at least 1.5-2 hours to fully enjoy both the indoor exhibits (Insect Zoo Lab, archaeology lab) and outdoor trails and boardwalks. The center opens at 9am, making early morning visits ideal for avoiding crowds.
💡Participate in hands-on activities like the archaeology dig (donation-based) and naturalist-led tours to maximize your educational experience. These interactive programs provide deeper insight into local ecology and cultural history.