COLUMBUS, Ga. - Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center features more than 4 miles of nature trails and lists 27 animal species in its Adopt-A-Critter program, along with a honey bee hive. The Columbus attraction has welcomed visitors since 1995, offering wildlife exhibits, educational programs and outdoor activities at the southern end of the Columbus RiverWalk. Admission carries a suggested $5 donation, and the center offers free activities every Saturday.

Operated as an outreach program of Columbus State University in association with Columbus Water Works and the City of Columbus, Oxbow Meadows combines environmental education with opportunities to explore local habitats. Its facilities include a classroom-laboratory, an auditorium, a Natural History Discovery Center, live animal exhibits and trails. Here is a look at the center by the numbers, including visiting information, program costs and upcoming activities.

1995: The Year Oxbow Meadows Opened

Oxbow Meadows opened in 1995 through a collaboration among Columbus Water Works, Columbus State University and the City of Columbus. That makes 31 years since it opened, counting from 1995 to 2026. Today it is an outreach program of Columbus State University, operated in association with Columbus Water Works and the City of Columbus.

The center says it is "dedicated to educating, inspiring and empowering all people, including those with minimal access to nature, to engage actively with their environment for continued learning." The Chattahoochee Valley Beekeeping Association, founded in 1971, also counts among its partners. Community partners include the Columbus Audubon Society, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley.

3535 South Lumpkin Road: Where to Find the Center

Oxbow Meadows is located at 3535 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus, GA 31903. Drivers approaching from Victory Drive can turn onto South Lumpkin Road and travel south approximately 3 miles. Stone pillars and a sign mark the entrance near the National Infantry Museum.

The center sits at the southern end of the 22-mile Chattahoochee RiverWalk. The RiverWalk's second phase extended the walking and biking route from the Columbus Convention and Trade Center to Oxbow Meadows. Visitors can contact the center at (706) 506-8550 or [email protected].

More Than 4 Miles: The Birding Trail System

The Walt & Frank Chambers Birding Trail system includes more than 4 miles of trails, according to Oxbow Meadows. Visitors can choose between a paved trail connecting with the RiverWalk and natural off-road trails. The paved 0.8-mile Discovery Trail is open to bicycles, strollers and wheelchairs, leads down to Wrens Pond and connects to Historic Westville.

The center's website lists eight named trails with their lengths. Added together, those eight routes come to 3.37 miles, while the center describes its overall trail system as "over 4 miles of trails." The named trails and their listed lengths appear in the table below.

The Audubon Bird Garden behind the center includes a small pavilion with benches beside a running stream. Oxbow Meadows developed the garden with the Columbus Audubon Society. Visitors may bring leashed pets onto the trails, but only service dogs may enter the buildings.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Five Days of Weekly Hours

Oxbow Meadows operates Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Its published hours are subject to change, and its building, exhibits and restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

The center also lists several upcoming closures. It will close Nov. 26-28 and Dec. 25-31, 2026, followed by Jan. 1-2, 2027. Visitors can confirm schedules through the center's phone number or website.

$5: Suggested Admission Donation

Oxbow Meadows requests a suggested $5 donation for admission. Visitors can explore its Natural History Discovery Center, indoor and outdoor exhibits, and environmental education features. The facilities include a classroom-laboratory and an auditorium seating about 85 people.

Additional features include live reptiles and fish, a stream habitat, pollinator garden, bee hives and environmental art. Rules prohibit fishing, hunting, trapping and feeding wildlife. Picnics are permitted in designated areas, while alcohol, fireworks and smoking are prohibited.

27 Species: Animals in the Adopt-A-Critter Program

Oxbow Meadows lists 27 animal species and one honey bee hive in its Adopt-A-Critter program. By Columbus Times count, the list includes seven snakes, four lizards and an alligator, six turtles, four tortoises and five fish and amphibians. The adoption roster identifies animals supported by the program rather than guaranteeing that every species will be visible during a visit.

The listed snakes include a reticulated python, ball python, corn snake, kingsnake, rat snake, Dumeril's boa and indigo snake. Other animals include an American alligator, Chinese water dragon, bearded dragon, leopard gecko, glass lizard, alligator snapping turtle and gopher tortoise. The roster also includes channel catfish, alligator gar, tree frog, tiger salamander and South American horned frog.

The center offers four annual adoption sponsorship levels. Friend costs $30, Guardian costs $60, Ambassador costs $100, and Classroom or Group costs $150. Oxbow Meadows is not a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center and refers injured wildlife cases to Animal Help Now at ahnow.org.

$6 to $15: Field Trips for Students

Oxbow Meadows offers school field trips Tuesday through Friday from August through May. Programs accommodate up to 120 K-12 students or 60 preschool students, with a minimum group size of 10. Muscogee County School District classes in grades two through five qualify for fully funded field trip transportation.

The programs offer different durations and prices for student groups. Pre-K & Headstart is the shortest option, while Science to the MAX runs four hours. Schools can contact Oxbow Meadows for field trip arrangements.

2 Free Saturday Programs: Nature Play and Discovery Time

Oxbow Meadows schedules two free activities every Saturday, according to its calendar of events. Nature Play runs from 10 a.m. until noon, and Discovery Time runs from 2 to 4 p.m. on the same day. Both programs provide recurring opportunities to visit the center without paying a program fee.

The calendar also lists free activities during November. Wildlife Detectives is scheduled for Nov. 14, while Forest Finders is scheduled for Nov. 21. Other November activities carry separate fees.

Nov. 7 and Nov. 14: Water Monitoring and Nature Activities

River Rendezvous, a water-quality monitoring event, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center. Participation is free with registration. Lunch is included for those who sign up.

On Nov. 14, Oxbow Meadows lists Nature Babies for $5, Wildlife Detectives for free and Nature Suncatchers for $5 per child. The following Saturday, Nov. 21, brings Little Naturalist for ages 3-6 at $5, Forest Finders for free and Wild Pages nature journaling for $5 per child. The Chattahoochee Valley Beekeeping Association also meets at the center, and its next listed meeting is Monday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m., free of charge.

$300: Birthday Parties and Other Facility Rentals

Oxbow Meadows offers a Saturday birthday party package starting at $300 for up to 36 guests. The package requires a $50 nonrefundable deposit. The center also rents indoor and outdoor spaces for other gatherings.

The White Oak Room accommodates 36 people banquet-style, while the auditorium seats approximately 85. Both rent for $150 an hour, while Discovery Forest and the amphitheater each accommodate 50 people at $50 an hour. Full-facility evening rentals accommodate 100 people at $300 an hour.

18 Years: Minimum Age for Year-Round Volunteers

Oxbow Meadows accepts volunteer applications throughout the year. Year-round volunteers must be at least 18 years old, while special-event volunteers may participate beginning at age 16. Volunteer details are on the center's website at oxbow.columbusstate.edu.

The facility also supports environmental monitoring through technology. Equipment includes an automated bird-call recorder, an on-site weather station and a Motus Wildlife Tracking Network station. The Motus station tracks tagged birds, bats and insects.

## How we did this Columbus Times compiled this guide from Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center information published at oxbow.columbusstate.edu, including visitor details, trails, programs, facility rentals and its event calendar, with information reviewed Oct. 28, 2026. We also used Wikipedia's Chattahoochee RiverWalk article for the RiverWalk's 22-mile length and second phase, and Wikipedia's South Columbus article for background on the area. Columbus Times calculated the center's 31 years of operation, the 3.37-mile total of the eight named trails and the 27 species listed in the Adopt-A-Critter program; the center separately describes its full trail system as more than 4 miles.