A nature center is an outdoor education area; a parcel of natural land where people, particularly the young, and nature can meet. It can be an educational section of a state or national forest or park set aside specifically to serve the people of one or several nearby communities. These centers usually include an educational or interpretive building with appropriate displays and teaching aids, nature and conservation education trails, managed ponds, lakes or streams, plantations, demonstrations of soil and water conservation practices, wildlife food plantings, observation towers, weather station, habitat study areas, and many other educational features. Three principal elements make up a nature center--(1) land, (2) buildings and other man-made features, and (3) people. A nature center can be established through a process of logical development, phases being individual or group interest, formation of steering committees, organized community groups, planning committees of land use and building construction, acquisition of land, staffing, developing educational facilities, and educational use of the area by the people or certain interested groups in the community. (RH)