Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center is a regional, hands-on nature center in Columbus, Georgia dedicated to providing quality educational programs and resources that promote environmental awareness and citizen science and to inspire individuals to conserve, protect and restore the natural environment.

Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9AM until 5PM.

Have you been missing the reptiles?  How about a nature walk on a crisp, Saturday morning?  Why not share your bird counting experiences with the entire country?  Oxbow Meadows is the place in February.

Click here for more information.

Please do NOT bring wildlife to the Center.  For a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators, please click here.  If you find an injured wild animal, call Animal Control (706-561-8602) or the Georgia Department of Natural Resouces  (478-751-6415).

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center sits in a bend of the Chattahoochee River in south Columbus - across the street from the new National Infantry Museum at Ft. Benning. Our two "easy walking" nature trails bring visitors close to wetland plants and wildlife - birds and butterflies, reptiles and amphibians, and if you're really lucky - wild bobcats.

Spend some time in the Center watching the wildlife at our feeding stations.  Then head out to the trails to see the wading birds, herons, waterfowl and songbirds.   You can spot otters, beaver and deer early in the morning from the paths by the ponds.

Bring your binoculars, or ask us for loaners.  We provide Leupold 6x30 Yosemite binoculars.

Please park in designated areas only in the parking lot at the entrance to the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center.  Call ahead for directions and access to our handicapped accessible lot.

The gates to the Environmental Learning Center  are locked every day from 5:30pm until 7am.

Please, no dogs (other than seeing-eye dogs), no smoking, no boats and no fishing on the Environmental Learning Center grounds and trails.

Oxbow Meadows is an outreach program of Columbus State University operated in association with Columbus Water Works