Designed by studioMLA Architects to connect children of all ages with the outdoors, the "Nature Nook" is nearly one acre of natural play area at the Boston Nature Center. Located just beyond downtown Boston, the Center is an urban sanctuary and part of the Mass Audubon Society. The Nature Nook is a destination for outdoor play and learning for their nature pre-school, school-age programs and summer camp, and for hundreds of visitors.

The Boston Nature Center incorporated the Nature Explore framework for providing exploratory activities into a nature play setting. With that vision, studioMLA worked with the staff, contractor and site to ensure a safe, inclusive space that introduced children to natural elements and open-ended play activities. Natural discovery experiences include gardening opportunities, dirt digging area, sand play area, ornamental grass maze, streambed, boardwalk through a native sumac grove, fallen tree climbing log, stage, and a building area with natural materials. The Nature Nook is one of 30 national projects developed through and endorsed by the National Forum on Children and Nature.