Sibley Nature Center

"The mission of the Sibley Nature Center is to increase awareness of the natural and historical environment of the southern Llano Estacado through a broad range of interpretive programs and personal experience."

The Sibley Nature Center is first and foremost a place for people to walk and to observe our native landscape.

A number of other services are available. Among these services are; endangered species surveys of oil company leases, guided ranch tours promoted by the owner, plant and animal surveys for landowners, nature trail design and brochure writing for landowners and schools, nature interpretation planning for landowners, and schoolyard natural space planning. The fees for these services vary, and must be negotiated.

The Sibley Center's non-lending library is also available for individuals and students wishing to research on their own. A herbarium of plants found wild in Midland County is also maintained.

The Sibley Nature Center also answers questions about the above subjects. Over a thousand phone calls a year occur, along with over a thousand drop-in visitors a year, by people seeking information about the region.

Facilities

The Sibley Nature Center is a 5,200 square foot building contains four major rooms.

In the Llano Estacado Room are displays and activities about the 8 major habitats of the region.

In the 70 seat auditorium several cooperative groups (the Gem and Mineral Society, the Midland Archaeological Society, the Llano Estacado chapter of the Master Naturalists, and the Midland Naturalists) provide programs throughout the year. The staff of the Sibley Nature Center also use it for part of a group's visit. Other groups may rent it for $50 for a half day, and $75 for a full day.

Programs

Since 1986 over 5,500 programs to over 350,000 people have been presented to groups throughout the southern Llano Estacado and beyond (from Lajitas to Ozona to Abilene to Amarillo to Carlsbad, New Mexico.) Call 432.684.6827 to schedule a program.

We teach people about our home, the Llano Estacado region of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. We encourage people to become knowledgeable about the region's plants, animals, and history. Knowledge of one's home leads to the love of one's home - and love of one's home is the most basic building block of patriotism.

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