View of the center building from the parking lot.

About Dogwood Canyon ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Center

Learn about our mission, location, and programs.
View of visitor center upon entering parking area. Photo: Sean Fitzgerald

Our mission is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas, using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Our goal is to connect with our communities through a variety of education programs, hands-on conservation, and special events that inspire our communities to learn about our local ecosystem, which builds interest in protecting our wild spaces.  

Located 16 miles south of downtown Dallas in Cedar Hill, Dogwood Canyon is part of the White Rock Escarpment, a ridge of Austin Chalk limestone that rises 200 feet to over 800 feet in Cedar Hill. One can find a variety of rare species in Dogwood Canyon. Plants and animals from east, west, and central Texas converge here, making the canyon the only place where one can find the Black-chinned Hummingbird of west Texas nesting in the flowering dogwood tree of east Texas.

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ owns or manages over 200 acres of nearly pristine wildlife habitat in the canyon, and because the property neighbors university, county, and state lands, it is part of a nearly 3,000-acre greenbelt in southwest Dallas County.  

Since 2011, Dogwood Canyon ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Center has been welcoming visitors and inviting them to participate in nature education programs. 

 

Urban Getaway

Located 16 miles south of downtown Dallas in Cedar Hill, Dogwood Canyon is part of the White Rock Escarpment, a ridge of Austin Chalk limestone that rises 200 feet to over 800 feet in Cedar Hill. One can find a variety of rare species in Dogwood Canyon. Plants and animals from east, west, and central Texas converge here, making the canyon the only place where one can find the Black-chinned Hummingbird of west Texas nesting in the flowering dogwood tree of east Texas.

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ owns or manages more than 200 acres of nearly pristine wildlife habitat in the canyon, and because the property neighbors university, county, and state lands, it is part of a nearly 3,000-acre greenbelt in southwest Dallas County. 

Nature Education

Since 2011, Dogwood Canyon ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Center has been welcoming visitors and inviting them to participate in nature education programs. We preserve open space not just to protect birds, wildlife, and native habitat, but also to actively engage people in its conservation through learning and exploration.   

Meet Our Team

Julie Collins

Center Director, Dogwood Canyon ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Center

Michaela Kral

Operations Manager

Kiersten Gibizov

Kiersten Gibizov

Center Coordinator, Community Programs

Samantha Quintero

Senior Center Assistant

News Highlights
Golden-cheeked Warblers: Texas Born and Raised
April 10, 2026 — Few Species Are as Tied to the Lone Star State as the Golden cheeked Warbler
Texas Takes Flight: Cities and Campuses Uniting for Bird‑Friendly Buildings 
February 20, 2026 — A dedicated group of students turned their passion into data-driven advocacy.
Can You Have Too Many Native Plants in Your Landscape?
February 20, 2026 — A landscape rich with native plants becomes more than a pretty yard; it becomes an oasis.