Hidden behind a line of majestic oaks located on the banks of Big Escambia Creek, a surprise awaits you! Turtle Point Environmental Science Center , a division of the Escambia County Alabama School System shines as a lighthouse for nature lovers of all kinds.

The Center is located adjacent to the small town of Flomaton , Alabama due north of Pensacola . The three thousand square foot facility offers a touch tank for children and other hands-on exhibits. It boasts an extensive collection of wildlife specimens including many Alabama birds, nests, and eggs; a butterfly and living bee exhibit; live alligators, turtles, snakes, amphibians, and fish of the East Gulf Coastal Plain geophysical region. Also, plant lovers will find six teaching gardens and a glorious wetland nature trail.

Bird watchers are encouraged to hike the nature trail boardwalk and enjoy the red-tailed hawk, great blue heron, great egret, pileated woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, yellow-shafted flicker, yellow bellied sap sucker, eastern bluebird, wren, killdeer, green heron, barred owl, screech owl, and many other native birds and wildlife.

In an effort to meet the goal of providing hands-on environmental education to students and adults in the South Alabama and Northwest Florida areas, Turtle Point offers many types of programs. Formal classes are available to students grades pre-K through 6. Topics include everything from plants and animals of Turtle Point to water quality to rocks, fossils & minerals. We offer tours to classes, senior groups, church groups and other civic organizations as well as teacher workshops and community educational events.

The staff of Turtle Point has organized and hosted “Celebrate the Environment Day” in May 2001 and again in May 2003. This community environmental festival involved recycling contests among the schools, art contests, and a day of environmental education. Guest speakers and presenters from the Montgomery Zoo, the SouthEastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center , the Hummer/Bird Study Group, Steve Trash “Eco-Illusionist”, and many others entertained and educated more than 1,500 children and adults.

Turtle Point has also organized school day programs including “Bat Day” and “Earth Day is for the Birds.” Bat Day was organized to celebrate the dedication of our Hayne's Bat House – one of the largest bat houses in Alabama . Over 200 third grade students, teachers and volunteers were treated to a presentation by Dr. Troy Best, Mammalogist and bat expert from Auburn University ; and Jo Lewis with “Marvin” the Big Brown Bat from the Alabama Lands Division.

Since we opened in 1999, we have seen an average of 5,000 students per school year. These students visit us for programs on water quality, insects, herpetology, ornithology, hands-on science education, and many other topics.

Turtle Point, a lighthouse for environmental education, is a wonderful, award-winning facility located in your backyard. Turtle Point's three person staff has organized, created, and implemented world-class programs on a shoestring budget. We are very proud of our facility and our accomplishments and would love to share them with you. If you are interested in visiting the facility or becoming a volunteer, please call or email our office. Turtle Point is a 501(c)3 organization so if you would like to support us financially, your contribution is tax deductible. You can reach us by phone (251) 296-3401, fax (251) 296-3402, email turtlepoint@escambiak12.net , or mail
20959 Highway 31, Flomaton , Alabama 36441 .