OSKALOOSA, Iowa — A place for learning and enjoying nature in Mahaska County is about to become even more special.

The Environmental Learning Center in Oskaloosa offers a place for people of all ages to learn and explore.

Entering the building, visitors will be greeted by large deer and bison heads. Just around the corner is what some consider to be the crown jewel of the Environmental Learning Center — a woolly mammoth replica. Surrounding the mammoth are fossils like teeth, horns, and a giant femur bone found just miles away in Mahaska County. Kids also have the chance to dig for their own mammoth fossils in a sandbox nearby.

Elsewhere in the Learning Center is a discovery area for kids. Programs are held here for all age ranges, from releasing monarch butterflies to classes for seniors. There’s also a large fish tank and an area with other critters found in the region, like an ornate box turtle and snakes.

Behind the Environmental Learning Center is Caldwell Park. The park is home to trails and an 18-hole disc golf course. There are also ongoing efforts to construct oxbow wetlands to improve water quality and drainage.

An exciting addition to Caldwell Park is underway. Later this fall, an outdoor playscape will be completed for kids. The playscape will have sensory-friendly features and places for kids to explore, play, and learn. Outdoor programs and workshops will also be conducted in areas at the playscape.