Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center

3188 Sunset Peak Road, Boise

The Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center (JHFLC) is situated in the heart of the Boise foothills, surrounded by native sagebrush steppe ecosystem and a diverse assortment of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and amphibians.

Annually, the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center serves over 10,000 students and community members, offering environmental education programs designed to ignite interest in natural resources, science, and Idaho's cultural and ecological heritage.

In addition to education programs, JHFLC houses the City of Boise's Foothills Open Space Division and the Ridge to Rivers Program. Together, all of these programs are working to protect our foothills and keep them accessible to the community.

The JHFLC site offers a Native Plant Garden, self-led story trail and a picnic area, while the building has two classrooms used for field trips, community programs and facility rentals.

Boise Outdoor Preschool

Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center (FLC) is a great place to connect with nature and immerse your preschooler in the outdoors. Explore all of our options for ages 2-5.

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Lessons & Tours

Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center provides environmental lessons and programs to schools and groups of all ages. The unique lessons and learning experiences can be utilized by schools and community groups.

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Activity Registration

We offer seasonally themed classes for youth, families and adults all year. Register for upcoming classes and activities may be completed online, over the phone at (208) 608-7680 or in-person at Fort Boise Community Center, 700 Robbins Road.

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Special Events + Upcoming Classes

FLC Homeschool Kids

This is a drop-off program for ages 6-12. Come dressed for the weather as we’re mostly exploring outdoors!

Sept 14 (Foothills Ecology), Oct 12 (Sustainability & Stewardship), Nov 9 (Winter Adaptations)

Cost: $12 per person

FLC Homeschool Families

Our standard Homeschool sessions get supersized to allow adults to join children in learning about seasonal topics. Children and adults will meet separately to learn and then come together to share. Price is per person.

Sept 21 (Foothills Ecology), Oct 19 (Sustainability & Stewardship), Nov 16 (Winter Adaptations)

Cost: $12 per person

Explore Nature Together Adult/Child

Foster an appreciation of the natural world and increased family connections! We provide an hour of themed activities and stories with time for explorations of our facility and foothills environment. Children should dress for the weather and be accompanied by an adult.

Sept 11 & 25, Oct 9 & 23

Ages 2.5-4 + Adult

Cost: $10 (child + adult)

Boise Birding

Listen to a presentation by local bird expert Terry Rich and then walk the trails looking for birds. Binoculars available to borrow.

June 5 at 8 AM; July 3 at 8 AM at Bogus Basin; Sept 11 at 9 AM; Oct 2 at 9 AM; Nov 6 at 9 AM; Dec 4 at 9 AM

Folk Art Series

Folk Art sessions meet weekly to provide a deeper dive into various folk-art skills over the course of a month. The standard series is for ages 15+ and the Family series bring families (ages 7-12 + adult) together to learn various folk-art skills. Topics include Wood Carving, Basket Weaving, and Fire Starting. Check the registration guide for full details on dates and prices.

Group hiking in the boise foothills on a fall day

Tour of the Reserves

Get to know your backyard as the Foothills Learning Center and Idaho Conservation League team up to offer short hiking “tours” of the city-owned natural reserves.

June 25 at Military Reserve

July 16 at Hillside to Hollow Reserve

Sept 17 at Hawkins Range Reserve

Oct 15 at Mesa Reserve