Kemper Outdoor Education Center & the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure

Kemper Outdoor Education Center

8201 Jasper BellBlue Springs, Missouri 64015816.229.8980Driving Directions to the Kemper Outdoor Education Center


Hours of Operation

April 1 - August 31: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Also Open 2nd Sunday of each month May - November, from noon - 4:00 p.m.

On a quest to enjoy the great outdoors and beauty of nature, the girls and I have been exploring great trails and local nature centers recently. We love to get outside, go for a hike, and discover new things!

One recent adventure found us at the Kemper Outdoor Education Center. One of the lesser known nature centers in Kansas City, the Kemper Outdoor Education Center located in Fleming Park (along with Lake Jacomo, Missouri Town 1855, the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure, and more), specializes in educational programs and classes.

Our family rates local nature centers based on three things: Quality of the Exhibits and displays in the Center, Beauty and Variety of Trails, and Education offered through classes and programs. Our favorite for all three will always be Burr Oak Woods Nature Center with other centers competing respectably in 2 out of the 3 categories.

The Kemper Outdoor Education Center exhibits were small and limited in comparison to other centers in the region, but the girls enjoyed the rock and fossil exhibits, and the children's room with puppets and hands-on nature to explore (photographed below). We have yet to participate in a program at the center (leaving the third category YTBD).

Outside the center, the grounds are the masterpiece of the site. The trails were beautiful. The girls enjoyed the koi poind, butterfly and water gardens, large pond, and hiking through the woods. The trails were our favorite part of the trip for sure.

Tips for a Visit to the Kemper Outdoor Education Center:

• Self-guided tours are FREE.
• Pair the trip with a visit to nearby Missouri Town 1855, the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure (shown below), Paradise Park, or other nearby attractions. I would not recommend making a trip only for the center.
• We spent less than 30 minutes in the nature center, but we spent almost an hour hiking and exploring. The trails take as much time as you like.
• The water gardens are paved and the beginning of the nature trail is a wood platform. That is followed by wood chip and the wooded trails are natural terrain. That said, most of the trails are not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
• Bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray as appropriate.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Don't forget the camera!

A Few Photos from our Day at the Kemper Outdoor Education Center:

Kemper Outdoor Education Center

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Children's Classroom

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Children's Classroom

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Exhibit

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Exhibit

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Garden

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Koi Pond

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Garden

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Nature Trail

Kemper Outdoor Education Center - Hiking

Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure:

Just down the road from the Kemper Outdoor Education Center (signs throughout the park) you will find the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure.  Stare a buffalo in the eye. Bring your family to enjoy watching a family of elk playing in a pasture.  This 110-acre fenced enclosure inside Fleming Park on East Park Road is home to bison, elk and white-tailed deer. 

Elk at the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure

Rules to follow at the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure