Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, Wantagh

About Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center

The Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center explores how energy systems and environmental stewardship shape the coastal landscape. Visitors experience permanent and rotating exhibits that explain energy cycles in nature and human impact on the environment. The center offers public programs including monarch tagging, STEAM workshops such as green crab dissection, and storytime hours in English and Spanish. Educational activities engage visitors in citizen science projects and hands-on learning about the barrier island ecosystem. The center's net-zero building itself demonstrates sustainability principles through energy conservation and environmental design. Located at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, the facility opens seven days a week with extended summer hours. The grounds feature exterior exhibits suitable for socially distanced exploration. Most programs require advance registration and charge a per-person fee, payable on site. The center and its grounds are free to enter, though parking fees apply seasonally.