# Hickory Knolls Discovery Center — St. Charles Nature Center

> Place to go for families in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area (IL / IN). Times are Central Time.

- When: Grounds open daily dawn to dusk; building Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; holiday…
- Where: Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, 3795 Campton Hills Rd., St. Charles, IL 60175
- Ages: Check age guidance
- Price: No admission fee listed
- Schedule: Grounds open daily dawn to dusk; building Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; holiday closures per St. Charles Park District holiday hours
- Organizer: St. Charles Park District
- Official page: https://www.stcnature.org/
- Last checked: Sat, Oct 24

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 32 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/hickory-knolls-discovery-center-st-charles-nature-center--listing-3c510dfa18988738dce8a18b

## About

Hickory Knolls Discovery Center is the St. Charles Park District's nature center on the west side of St. Charles, home to a collection of resident animals that greet visitors and help teach local school groups about nature. Families can walk the grounds any day from dawn to dusk, and the building, where the animal ambassadors live, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (weekday evening and weekend hours depend on facility rentals). Through the holiday season the center runs Christmas for the Critters: visitors pick an ornament for a favorite animal from the tree to see that critter's wish list and can drop donated care items at the guest services desk or vestibule, an easy way for children to give back while visiting. Check the park district's holiday-hours table before going around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

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