One of the primary goals of this nature center will be to highlight often misunderstood and persecuted species within nature, such as snakes and bats.  These misunderstood animals play a vital role in ecosystems and aid humans in numerous ways.

1) Exhibits:

  This will not be a typical nature center!  Emphasis will be placed on the unique animals, plants, ecosystems and geology of northwest Florida and the northern Gulf Coast. 

Exhibit types:

A) Biodiversity of Northwest Florida and the Northern Gulf Coast.

This exhibit will cover the reasons why this region contains the highest biodiversity of plants and animals in the United States, and why it’s so important to preserve such biodiversity.

B) Native amphibians and reptiles.

1) An amphibian and reptile house (either a single large, or several small buildings).

Exhibits will include alligators, venomous snakes, nonvenomous snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs and salamanders.

2) A Gopher tortoise exhibit explaining the importance and significance of this species.  This exhibit will include a sunken portion to view a tortoise burrow and other burrow commensals (other animal species that use tortoise burrows).  This exhibit will also focus on the unique array of animals and plants found within Sandhill ecosystems and the complexity of this habitat.

C) Native bats.

This exhibit will be similar to a bird aviary in which you walk through a dark bat house.  The walkway will be covered with glass or plexiglass, and lighted with infrared, walkway lights.  The bats will be able to fly and forage freely, while visitors observe them.

D) Native carnivorous plants.

Including bog and seepage slope habitat exhibits in which carnivorous plants are found.  This exhibit will cover the unique and fascinating carnivorous plant species, and their bog associates.  Examples of all 30 species of carnivorous plants, found within the Florida Panhandle, will be on display.  

E) Native dragonflies and damselflies.

This will also be similar to a bird aviary in which you walk through the exhibit.  This walkway will also be covered with screen or hardware cloth.  The dragonflies will be able to fly and forage freely, while visitors observe them.

F) Other Unique FL Panhandle Invertebrates.

            1) Scorpions of nw FL

            2) Crayfish of nw FL

            3) Spiders of nw FL

G) Caves and Springs of the region.

This exhibit will stress the importance, abundance and uniqueness of caves and Springs in northwest Florida.  This exhibit will also stress the unique animals and plants that are found in association with these unique habitats.

H) Rivers, creeks, swamps and wetlands of the region.

These exhibits will stress the abundant rivers, swamps and wetlands of the region and the unique plants and animals found within these habitat types.  This exhibit will also cover cultural history and the importance of the rivers of the region. 

1) Darters of the FL Panhandle (unique freshwater stream fish).

I) Other unique and specialized ecosystems

(Glades & Steepheads).

J) Coastal ecosystems and Gulf of Mexico beaches and dunes.

(Below) The diagram below highlights minimal exhibits at the nature center.