Blackland Prairie Raptor Center — Local services in Lucas

Our Girl Scout troop (2nd Grade/Brownies) rented the park for a single Friday/overnight campout in early May 2025. This was the first time a few in our group of 6 girls and their mothers had tent camped. The park was a great space for us to safely explore the sights and sounds of nature, including squeals of surprise from the girls at spiders and a garter snake! We enjoyed seeing raptors flying overhead, frogs & crickets singing & lighting bugs glowing as we readied our campfire in the well-kept fire circle. There are a few good spots to set up tents and we chose the grassy area closest to the gravel parking lot to simplify unloading/loading. The campsite grills were in the process of being replaced but that wasn't an issue for us as we were not planning on using them this trip. We felt secure within the gated park during the night and slept well despite some road noise (bring earplugs!). We only wish we could have stayed longer to go fishing & take in a raptor show. We would definitely...

We had Blackland Prairie Raptor Center out to provide a Live Raptor Program for a summer camp. The presenters were incredibly knowledgeable, adaptable, and personable with both the students and instructors. About half the students in our program were campers with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and the presenters were wonderful working with those students and being flexible with their needs. The program lasted about 45 minutes and involved three live birds from their rehabilitation center. BPRC also brought touch items (real raptor feathers, talons, etc.) for the students to engage in hands-on learning and questioning following the presentation portion. All in all, it was a wonderful educational experience, and we can't wait to have them back again...

I can't say enough good things about the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. The staff and volunteers are absolutely wonderful—so knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about their mission. The entire site is a beautiful natural setting, with lovely walking trails and serene lakefront views. I especially recommend their monthly education program on the first Saturday of each month. It's a fantastic, family-friendly event where you get to learn about different raptors and see them up close. The educational talks are both fun and informative, giving you fascinating insight into the center's important work of rehabilitation and conservation. It's a truly amazing experience and a great way to support this...