1 / 2Center for Science Teaching and Learning @ Tanglewood Preserve
📍 Rockville Centre, NY
A science education center on 17 acres featuring live animal encounters, dinosaur exhibits, and nature programs. Perfect for families with young children who love hands-on learning.
We love it here! Great educational programs, fun dinosaur museum/exhibit and the staff is so knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoy coming to picnic and taking a walk around the little pond to see the ducks, turtles and other wildlife. They have Spookyfest in October which we went to this year and my 4 year old had such an incredible time! The non-scary walk was perfect for his age. There were crafts, dancing, face painting and fortune telling. I appreciated how friendly the volunteers were; they made my son (who can be quite shy) feel safe and comfortable. It was a great experience! Highly recommend
🏆 Family Action Verdict
This is an ideal destination for families with young children (ages 2-6) who love animals and nature. The hands-on experiences with reptiles, fossil digging, and animal feeding make it especially engaging for preschoolers. While the exhibits aren't large and admission feels pricey to some, the exceptional staff and interactive experiences make it worthwhile for a special educational outing.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →474 Google reviews
Caroline Garcia
3 years ago
“We love it here! Great educational programs, fun dinosaur museum/exhibit and the staff is so knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoy coming to picnic and taking a walk around the little pond to see the ducks, turtles and other wildlife. They have Spookyfest in October which we went to this year and my 4 year old had such an incredible time! The non-scary walk was perfect for his age. There were crafts, dancing, face painting and fortune telling. I appreciated how friendly the volunteers were; they made my son (who can be quite shy) feel safe and comfortable. It was a great experience! Highly recommend”
The Wong Lady
5 years ago
“Like the friendly service that the staffs provide here! They made me feel so relax and welcome! The exhibit here are not big, but good enough for my kids to take a look and learn about animals! One thing I like the most is the natural wood area! It’s so big and pretty! Feel really relax for a walk!!! I felt like I was in the world of storybook!”
oscthewizard
2 months ago
“A cool place for the kids to visit. The staff seems very fiendly, knowledgeable about the animals and dinosaurs, are always willing to interact and explain things to the kids. The nature walk is a bit short but perfect for the young ones.”
Shannon Marchese
4 months ago
“Excellent staff. Everyone makes sure every child can see and touch the reptiles, turtles, snakes etc. Dinosaur animatronics are incredible. Fun, educational outing.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Center for Science Teaching and Learning offers interactive science programs on a 17-acre nature preserve. Families can enjoy dinosaur exhibits with animatronics, hands-on encounters with reptiles and other live animals, fossil digging activities, guided nature hikes around the pond, and special events like night hikes and seasonal festivals.
