Our Mission

The Sibley Environmental Learning Center Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) 3, dba Sibley Nature Center, grew out of a concern of two Midland teachers that children were not being adequately exposed to the area’s environment and its unique flora, fauna, and history. The City of Midland contracted a local naturalist, to build a trail at the current Center site. In the early 1980s, the Potts-Sibley Foundation of Ft. Stockton, Texas, provided a $50,000 challenge grant which was eventually matched by the Midland Soil and Water Conservation District officers who were, at that time, the governing board of the Center. In 2005, the Sibley Nature Center became an independent entity, receiving a 501(c)(3) designation under the legal name the Sibley Environmental Learning Center Foundation, Inc., though it retained its more familiar Sibley Nature Center business name.

Since 2005, the Center has continued to develop by celebrating the nature and history of our region through a broad range of educational programs and personal experience. Over 35,000 people visit the center annually and untold numbers enjoy the Center’s Nature Trail, which requires no admission fee or registration. Each year, topical experts of varying degrees deliver talks and workshops on the regional environment and history. Sibley houses informational exhibits, an extensive research library, and rotating displays and “learning modules” for students and the general public to enjoy. The Center is also home to the Sibley Camera Club, which meets monthly to exchange tips and information on producing professional and inspiring images. It is an opportunity for nature photographers to engage with others of all skill levels – from beginner to professional.