Host your next event at
Leslie Science & Nature Center.
Looking for a unique location for your next party, meeting, or baby shower?* Our indoor and outdoor spaces might be the perfect fit! Read more about each of our available facilities below.
*If you’re interested in having a children’s birthday party with educational programming, check out our birthday party packages!
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The DTE Energy House
Launched in 2000, the Energy House features sustainable building techniques and solar panels, and has capacity for 50 people seated or 75 people standing. This space offers:
A large, open central room with panoramic windows
A full kitchen with a stove, oven, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and dishwasher
Two bathrooms with composting toilets
A projector and screen (available for an additional fee)
Tables and chairs
Pricing: $150 for 1.5 hours, plus $45 per additional hour. (Example: a 3.5-hour Energy House rental would be $240.)
For an additional $25, you can rent a fire pit for the duration of your Energy House rental.
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The Leslie House
Built around 1917, the Leslie House is the historic home of Eugene and Emily Leslie, and has capacity for 25 people seated or 30 people standing. When you rent this space, you will have access to:
A central room with charming built-ins and windows that offer a view of the great outdoors
A kitchenette with a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and toaster oven
A bathroom
A front porch with porch swing
Tables and chairs
Pricing: $125 for 1.5 hours, plus $35 per additional hour. (Example: a 3.5-hour Leslie House rental would be $195.)
For an additional $25, you can rent a fire pit for the duration of your Leslie House rental.
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Upper and Lower Fire Pits
The Upper Fire Pit is situated at the top of a hill near the Nature Playscape, overlooking the raptor loop. The Lower Fire Pit is next to the Critter House, with easy access to our buildings. These outdoor spaces are perfect for a cozy fall gathering or a fun summer s’mores fest! When you rent one of our fire pits, we provide:
A roaring fire—our staff will bring firewood and offer to start the campfire for you
Marshmallow-roasting sticks
Benches and additional seating if needed
Indoor bathroom access
Pricing: $85 for 1.5 hours, plus $25 per additional hour. (Example: a 3.5-hour fire pit rental would be $135.)
Exterior of the Energy House
The front of the Energy House
The Energy House in the summer
The Energy House in the winter
Interior of the Energy House
Interior of the Energy House
The Leslie House in the summer
The Leslie House in the winter
Kitchen in the Leslie House
Fireplace in the Leslie House
Interior of the Leslie House
Interior of the Leslie House
Interior of the Leslie House
The Upper Fire Pit
The Lower Fire Pit
Leslie in the spring
The big field at Leslie
Leslie in the summer
Leslie in the fall
To move forward with the rental process, please review our rental policy and fill out our rental request form. Note that submission of an application is not a guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your rental.
Once your application is received, our scheduling team will determine availability. This may take a few days, and we will contact you when we have an update regarding the status of your rental request. If your request is accepted, you will be prompted to sign a copy of our rental policy. When all details have been finalized, an invoice will be generated and sent to you via email.
A few considerations:
We ask that you make your rental request at least three weeks in advance of the date you are requesting. Rentals are available between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
In your rental application, you may request educational programming. We offer 30-minute Critter House visits and 30-minute wildlife presentations.
If you’re unfamiliar with our site, we highly recommend visiting for a tour of the facilities before your rental is confirmed. To set this up, please contact rentals@unityinlearning.org after submitting your application.
Please account for set-up and clean-up time when deciding on the length of your rental. They must be included in your total rental time. We plan multiple rentals and events in a day and account for your time exactly as it is booked.
Members and non-profits receive a 10% discount off their rental cost.
The Energy House is not available on Sundays due to our birthday party program.
For a fee of $25/hour, you can serve beer and wine at your indoor rental. You may not serve alcohol outdoors on our site. If you have a caterer, they must have an alcohol license to serve alcohol.
Program add-ons are coming soon, and will be posted on this page in the coming weeks.
Large-scale events that require extra staff involvement and planning, such as weddings, may be subject to an additional fee that will be agreed upon by both parties.
For any questions not answered by this page or by our rental policy, contact rentals@unityinlearning.org.