Save This For Later
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
The Urban Ecology Center at Riverside Park is an absolute gem in the middle of the city. You can spend an entire day here with your children exploring the building, nearby trails, and fun outdoor features. This guide brings together everything families can see and do — indoors and out — using your original tips, fun finds, and kid-approved highlights.
Below you’ll find must-see features, hidden spots, outdoor adventures, and fun facts to share with your kids during your visit.
👉 If you’re looking for more ways to explore nature with kids around Milwaukee, check out our full guide to nature centers around Milwaukee.
Quick List: Best Things To Do at the Urban Ecology Center With Kids
- Find the secret entrance to the two blue slides
- Visit turtles, snakes & frogs in the Native Wisconsin Animal Room
- Join a public animal feeding (Saturdays at noon)
- Borrow a board game with wooden leaves
- Play the fiddles
- Complete the giant floor puzzle
- Explore children’s books, blocks & drawing materials
- Look for the hidden classroom with four murals
- Search for 80 camouflaged animals in the murals
- Walk the green roof garden
- Climb the observation tower
- Discover the rainwater pond
- Play on the Habitat Playgarden
- Find the iron & steel archway
- Locate the three “Walk Like a River” sculptures
- Explore the forest behind the footbridge
- See the huge stone archway at the Arboretum
- Walk the “3 Billion Years” geological path
Know Before You Go: Parking, Bathrooms & Tips
- The building and outdoor spaces are family-friendly and easy to explore at your own pace.
- The best flow is to start inside, then move outdoors to the trails and Arboretum.
- Staff at the front desk are helpful and can answer questions about programs and activities.
Inside the Urban Ecology Center: Kid Favorites
Main Floor
- Find the secret entrance that leads to the two blue slides. (Hint: you have to go outside to access it!)
- Visit the turtles, snake, and frogs in the Native Wisconsin Animal Room. You can join a public animal feeding every Saturday at noon.
- Check out a board game at the front desk using the wooden leaves hanging by the entrance.
- Play the fiddles (ask staff for assistance).
- Complete the giant floor puzzle of Southeastern Wisconsin.
- Read nature-based children’s books and explore the blocks, drawing supplies, and other children’s activities available on this level.
Upper Level
- Find the hidden classroom.
- Look closely at the four large murals — they each have 80 animals camouflaged within them.
- Explore the green roof garden.
- Climb the observation tower for a fun view of the surrounding park.
Outdoor Fun at Riverside Park
Rainwater Pond
Discover the wildlife living in the shallow pond just outside the building.
Habitat Playgarden
Kids love this outdoor play area featuring a sandbox, spider web, and otter slides.
(Located on the northeast corner of Riverside Park.)
Iron & Steel Archway
Find the unique archway made entirely of found iron and steel.
(Located on the northwest corner of the building.)
“Walk Like a River” Sculptures
There are three sculptures to find in this series.
(Hint: The first one is just behind the UEC building.)
Forest Trails
Explore the forest and walking paths west of the footbridge. It’s an easy and enjoyable area for kids to wander and explore.
Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum
See the huge stone archway marking the entrance to the Arboretum.
(You can spot it from the UEC building entrance — look southwest.)
Walk of 3 Billion Years
This unique walking path is marked with rock sculptures up to seven feet tall that share Wisconsin’s geological past.
Starting at the building:
- Head west until you see the first cairn made of 340-million-year-old stone at the gravel drive leading to the warehouse.
- Follow the winding path until you reach the ninth and final structure, made from rock over 3 billion years old.
Fun Facts to Impress Your Kids
- The wrap-around porch on the second level is made from wood scraps from the construction of the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
- The climbing wall is 40 feet tall.
- An arboretum is known as a “living museum of trees.”
- The Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum next door is home to 70 tree species indigenous to Southeastern Wisconsin.
Family Programs & Activities
Visit the Urban Ecology Center website or stop at the front desk to learn about:
- Early childhood programs
- Family programs
- Seasonal activities
- Special events and educational opportunities
More Local Nature Guides
If your family loves exploring Milwaukee’s outdoor spaces, you might also like:
- Urban Ecology Center Summer Camps
- Gorgeous Hikes Around Milwaukee
- Stroller-Friendly Hikes Around Milwaukee
- Nature Centers Around Milwaukee
- Best Spring Hikes Around Milwaukee
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
