Dana Brown Overnight Education Center facility rental

The Dana Brown Overnight Education Center is a cluster of historic buildings located on the eastern edge of the Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri. This residential center provides an ideal setting for visitors seeking to strengthen their connection with the natural world. The Center is within walking distance of prairie, woodland, wetland and the Meramec River.

Dana Brown Overnight Education Center

Wilderness Wagon Tour

Shaw Nature Reserve has an open-air wagon (with a canopy roof) which holds a maximum of 28 people. A van pulls the Wilderness Wagon on a three-mile gravel road as a naturalist/guide describes the Nature Reserve's history, what's in bloom, the Pinetum conifer collection, the tallgrass prairie, wildlife and wetlands. The tour takes just under one hour.

Bus Tour

For a group arriving on its own bus, our naturalist/guide can step aboard to give the same tour as the wagon tour described above. It is important that the bus has a microphone. The advantage of the bus tour is that it is not affected by the weather as the wagon tour is, but the wagon tour is an "adventure" and adds a special touch to the tour. 

Group Tours

With the encouragement of professional photographers, Shaw Nature Reserve has developed a policy regarding wedding pictures being taken here. 

To view our policy download Wedding Picture Policy and Wedding Photography reservation form.

For more information, please call (636) 451-3512.

Nature Photography

Nature photography is encouraged at Shaw Nature Reserve. Visitors, including photographers, must remain on paths. To see the images of some of our visitors visit our Flickr page.