Velma Morrison Interpretive Center

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Velma Morrison Interpretive Center
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The Velma Morrison Interpretive Center is waiting to welcome you into the exciting world of birds of prey!

Explore and discover the amazing world of raptors eye to eye.  Come experience our courtyard full of native and non-native birds.  Continue your experience inside with daily raptor presentations, interactive exhibits, and tours of the Archives of Falconry.

Call 208-362-8687 for information.

Our exhibits

  • The Courtyard is a shady lawn with four bird chambers on the north and west sides.
  • Condor Cliffs is our newest exhibit, completed in 2010.
  • Indoor Birds: Several of our avian ambassadors can be viewed in their chambers indoors
  • Education Rooms: Six rooms are dedicated to different aspects of education about birds of prey.
  • Art Gallery: Take a close look at an impressive original art collection. Complete with oil on canvas originals and numerous bronzes, this raptor art collection is one of a kind.

Planning a group trip

All education programs at the Velma Morrison Visitor Center are designed to:

  • Be developmentally appropriate
  • Meet state required standards and curricular objectives
  • Emphasize active participation of students
  • Feature our fascinating raptors as a "lens for learning"

If you are planning on bringing a group of 15 or more, call to reserve a spot at least two weeks in advance. Your group will be scheduled with a personal tour guide, and receive a discounted admission.

School Groups

Students and school personnel for all school groups of 15 or more that schedule in advance are FREE. Parent chaperones are $5, and grandparent chaperones are $4. We require each class to bring no more than 2 chaperones per class. We do not provide a venue for school groups to eat their lunch on site.

Homeschool Groups

Homeschool groups have the option of self-touring the facility with a scavenger hunt or receiving a guided tour. Scavenger hunt groups must consist of no more than 35 children and no fewer than 10 adults. Groups that do not meet these requirements may break into smaller groups that visit on different days or at different times of the same day.

For scavenger hunt groups that schedule in advance, all students and teaching adults are admitted for FREE. One teaching adult per family. In online/virtual homeschool groups, only the actual teachers will receive free admission. All additional guests will receive $2 off our regular admission prices.

 

A homeschool group that prefers to receive a guided tour and schedules in advance will be admitted at $1 off our regular admission prices.

Attenders of a homeschool group tour or scavenger hunt must arrive at the scheduled time for the above prices to apply.

Non-school Groups

For a non-school group of 15 or more scheduling at least two weeks in advance with a paid $30 deposit, prices are $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (62+); and $4 for youth ages 4-16.

Submit a Group Visit Inquiry

Behind the scenes tours

Behind the scenes tours

Secret Lives of Raptors Tours – Behind the Scenes at the World Center for Birds of Prey Interpretive Center

Cost: $45 /per person for members, $75 /per person for non-members (includes a $25 membership to The Peregrine Fund). Limit 5 people per tour, ages 8 and up.

When: Wednesday – Saturday: Tours must be booked 2 wks in advance. To schedule a tour, call Trish @ 208-362-8258 or Genny @ 208-362-8260.

Time: Tours last 1 to 1 1/2 hrs Please check in at the Gift Store/Admission area and mention that you are scheduled for a behind the scenes tour. If you would like to tour the public areas before your tour, arrive an hour or two ahead of time. From March –August, behind the scenes tours begin promptly at 3:30pm. From Nov.- Feb. tours begin promptly at 2:30pm.

“Secret Lives of Raptors” tours provide a rarely-seen glimpse at husbandry techniques implemented by our trainers to keep our education birds healthy and performing. What most audiences see is the tip of the iceberg. Diet, enrichment, positive reinforcements, falconry techniques, and clean, safe chambers all play an integral part in the maintenance of our raptor ambassadors. You will accompany our expert staff as they feed our birds at the end of the workday, discovering what they eat, how diets are planned, how the food is obtained, how it’s prepared. Enter several raptor chambers to meet the occupants eye to eye and have your photo taken with one of our avian ambassadors.

Wear comfortable shoes, casual clothes and bring your camera for great photo ops!

Each of our birds, from the 5 oz. American Kestrels to the 20 pound California Condors, have unique histories and specific niches in the wild. Your guide will tell you the intimate details about our birds, and answer any questions you may have in a user-friendly, easy to understand manner. We’re passionate about raptors and eager to share our knowledge!

Interpretive Center links

Hours

September – May:
10 am – 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday
(closed Mondays)

June – August :
10 am – 5 pm daily

Last admittance at 4:15 pm

Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Admissions

Contact the Interpretive Center

  • 208-362-8687
  • tpf@peregrinefund.org

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