About Us

This facility serves as the physical and virtual “home” of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where the history and heritage of the Service are preserved and shared. NCTC is a walking campus on a 533-acre property. The instructional classrooms, commons, and housing are situated within the rural setting of both forest and grasslands. The architectural design demonstrates the buildings and walkways are blended with the landscape to entice guests to shed their metropolis pressures. Outdoor patios, walkways, and break areas are situated to easily view the Mid-Atlantic area wildlife throughout the four seasons. Birds, white-tailed deer, fox, and other critters are frequently seen skittering up nearby trees or moving along a grassland culvert.

NCTC can support over 40,000 room nights annually and at the end of scheduling our own sessions, we open all remaining space to outside hosts. In addition to NCTC-sponsored courses, our facilities are available for contract rental to conservation agencies and organizations for independent training, workshops, meetings, and other conservation-related functions.

We encourage other conservation groups and partners to consider their next venue here and contact the NCTC Scheduling and Events Management (SEM) for cost and availability.

NCTC accommodations include 226 onsite lodging rooms and function rooms.

There are 12 full size classrooms and several adjacent seminar/break-out rooms in the Turner Building (I-East), Lemon Building (I-West), and the Commons buildings. Classrooms can be setup in several styles such as traditional classroom style or a variety of configurations. Typical sizes include 24-seat, 36-seat, 45-seat, and 60-seat. Included also are 8-seat breakout rooms, and 14-seat conference rooms. The Entry Auditorium building has a 250-seat state-of-the-art auditorium. Large venues and workshops that rent multiple rooms and areas also setup tables, posters, and panels throughout the hallways, corridors, and break areas to connect their venue area.

NCTC offers three science laboratories and three computer labs for specialized sessions. Onsite staff provide technical support and assistance for all classrooms and laboratories.

Each room is equipped with a touch screen command system that controls the supplied computer system, overhead screen, projector, lighting, audio, and other peripheral equipment. Instructors can focus on the materials they are presenting and without having to bend, stoop, stretch, or cross the room, they can change the equipment, view, and lighting from their presentation location.

To better serve technical flexibility, NCTC offers public wireless service throughout the campus.

 Careful planning and research were conducted on the best environment for learning and retaining information when designing the classrooms. A couple of points are the multiple overhead lighting options to meet a variety of presentations, the windows that open and offer wide daylight views and the fully adjustable 8-hour ergonomic chairs.

Other Facilities in this Complex

The Children's Treehouse

NCTC has an on-site day care center for children up to kindergarten age. You will need to register at least 2 weeks in advance. Spaces are first come first serve. For additional information, contact the Children's Tree House Director Nickie Weller via email nickie@childrenstreehouse.org or by calling at 304-876-7354.