At PEEC, we believe that nature should be accessible to everyone. We strive to provide an accessible experience for all guests. If there are things we could do better, or if you have any suggestions, we’d love to hear from you.
Parking
Two wheelchair-accessible parking spots are located near the front entrance of the Los Alamos Nature Center.
Museum Entry
As you enter the Los Alamos Nature Center, the doors on the right-hand side are equipped with activation push buttons.
Museum Access
Our entire facility is wheelchair accessible and is one-story. At this time, we do not have wheelchairs or strollers available for guest use.
Restrooms
Both the women’s and men’s restrooms have wheelchair- and stroller-accessible stalls. Both of these stalls are equipped with changing tables. The Los Alamos Nature Center does not have an all-gender, single-occupancy restroom.
Service Animals
Service animals — animals that have been individually trained to work or perform tasks for people with disabilities — are always welcome at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Visitors are not permitted to bring other animals into the building.
Planetarium Events
Our in-person nature and astronomy talks all take place in our planetarium. Seating is unassigned and guests select chairs on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors using the front row of chairs can lay the chairs back all the way. The planetarium is a large, dark room with a dome ceiling. Our astronomy talks and movies utilize the entire 360° of the dome theater. Other presenters generally use a standard projector to display their presentations on the front of the screen. Events in the planetarium are presented at a high volume.
We do not have designated wheelchair-accessible seating in the planetarium, but chairs can be reconfigured to meet guest needs. Please ask the docent at the front desk for assistance or call the nature center at 505-662-0460 in advance so we can best assist you.
We have an assisted listening device available in the planetarium. Please ask the docent at the front desk for assistance, or call the nature center at 505-662-0460 in advance so we can best assist you.
Sensory Considerations
Noise and crowd levels vary greatly at the Los Alamos Nature Center. You are welcome to call in advance to inquire about the current conditions at the nature center to help you plan your visit, though conditions are subject to change. Generally, the nature center is busiest during its first two hours of being open. We do have a variety of live animals at the nature center, including snakes, scorpions, spiders, lizards, and insects.
Quiet Spaces
The wildlife observation room at the back of our exhibits hall is a quiet space to watch birds and contains comfortable chairs and a small couch. Visitors can close the door to this area if they so wish. If you or someone in your party needs a separate quiet spot, please ask for assistance, and a staff member can help you to access our classroom if it is not in use.
Our garden area hosts a variety of garden beds, picnic tables, and benches that guests can enjoy. This is often a quiet space to relax, though activity can vary depending on outdoor programming or visitors playing outside.