Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center

This place should be shut down and charged with depressing precarious exhibits that endanger the life of animals.
Unkempt and outdated with disparaged stuffed toys replicating the taxidermy animals in glass cases.
The only living beings are treated as specimens in dingy cramped aquariums. The desperation of the water turtles causes anguish to witness. No natural light to speak of. To think they are a few glass doors away from their natural habitat and they can’t get out.
The lethargy from the staff is equally disturbing as they sit behind the desk with these poor creatures just feet away.
Have we learned nothing from Finding Nemo for goodness sake?
Shut this place down please for the sake of stewardship of all creatures big and small.

This is an amazing jewel of the historic jones beach state park. I have come to jones beach all my life, and it’s so nice to see an interactive center for the public.

Really awesome place. i went to the nature investigators activity. Well put together and fun for the kids. Def recommended

The Nature Center is on a barrier island beach within Jones Beach State Park. An exhibit area depicts a variety of marine habitats including the South Shore Estuary Reserve, the seashore and the dune environment. There are lots of fun things for kids to do. Inside the center, children can see and touch live marine animals, look through a children’s microscope or play in the kid’s activity area. Outside the center, children can dig up whale bones in the Discovery Bone Cove, walk through the butterfly garden or view a shipwreck. Open weekends year round we love this place because it’s free and never busy. They have turtles, horseshoe crabs, fish, snakes and frogs. There are also plenty of tables for playing with all the puzzles, games and books. This place is a really a hidden gem.