Archived Story
OUS seeking funding for nature center
Published 9:14am Monday, March 11, 2013Amphitheater, walking trail planned
HECLA — A mile-long nature trail winding through green forest, laboratories to conduct scientific experiments and an astronomy observatory to give Lawrence County residents a closer look at the stars are just a few of the things planned by Ohio University Southern for its future outdoor education center.
The center is to be built on a 46.3-acre lot of land in Hecla that was donated to the university by Wanda Howard. Bob Culp, OUS professor, said the center will be unique and a wonderful educational tool for university and area grade school students, teachers and the entire community.
“We have been doing this at the Wayne National Forest since 1999,” Culp said. “But with this we get to expand and work with less restriction. We want to focus on (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and alternative energy programs. We will also have recreational activities, such as a partially handicap-accessible walking trail and a rock climbing wall.”
The center will also include an amphitheater that will seat about 200, Culp said. He added the venue could be used for a large number of things, from science and nature demonstrations to community events seeking a certain atmosphere.
Matt Ward, OUS director of development, said not only will the center be an educational tool for the community, it will also serve as a beacon for industry and innovation. He said the center is a key component of the university’s The Promise Lives campaign, a multi-year fundraising effort to provide the funding necessary to implement university programs such as this one.
“When businesses and industry look to relocate, the type of programs we will have out there is what attracts them to a location,” Ward said. “They are looking for an educated workforce, a community that is innovated. It helps not only with educational development but also with economic development.”
On top of future funds from campaign, OUS is in the middle of an aggressive grant proposal phase. Culp said he has looked into various funding opportunities, including Ohio Environmental Education Fund grants.
The center will be available for public use, but exact hours of operations are still unknown at this phase of the planning.
Anyone interested in learning more about the outdoor education center or The Promise Lives Campaign can contact Matt Ward at (740) 547-3792.
Larger cities have many opportunities for educating students beyond a classroom environment. They have museums, science centers, observatories, planetariums, metro parks, conservatories, a multitude of events around their city and much more. Students in southern Ohio have very few opportunities to learn outside the classroom unless schools see the benefits to students. Few, if any, schools in the area have outdoor learning labs or outdoor learning centers on school property. What OUS proposes is a way for students to focus on science related learning in a hands-on, out of the classroom environment – in my opinion, there is no better way to educate and get students excited about science.
Bravo to OUS for seeing the need and for addressing science education! If I were a local business supporting the growth and education of our young people, I would be clamoring to donate and have the nature center facility named after my corporation or the amphitheater or observatory named for my relative. What an opportunity for the village of Hecla too! I’m certain Hecla Water will want to be involved in this project, what an opportunity for them.
I hope the Ironton Tribune keeps citizens apprised at the progress, and particularly the local companies and individuals that participate in this university and community partnership.
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