Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center

THE MISSION OF THE NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES IS TO CONSERVE A NATURAL AREA, CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE, AND INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. TO MEET THIS MISSION, THE NATURE CENTER ENGAGES IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

THE NATURE CENTER HAS LONG BEEN A LEADER IN PROVIDING EXCELLENT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. PARTICULARLY WELL- KNOWN FOR ITS EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULA FOR HEAD STARTS AND OTHER PRESCHOOLS IN THE AREA, THE NATURE CENTER PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND CAMPS FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN PER YEAR IN ITS CLASSROOMS AS WELL AS ON ITS TRAILS AND HABITATS WHICH SERVE AS ITS OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. THE CENTER REGULARLY EVALUATES AND MODIFIES ITS CURRICULA TO ENSURE THAT IT FULLY MEETS ALL OHIO ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS. THIS YEAR THE CENTER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS EIGHTH YEAR OF THE APPLIED SCIENCE FOR KIDS (ASK) PROGRAM FOR THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, DESIGNED AT THE DISTRICT'S REQUEST TO PROVIDE SCIENCE EDUCATION AND UNIQUE HANDS-ON FIELD EXPERIENCES FOR ALL PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, AND 1ST GRADE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. THIS YEAR, THE NATURE CENTER SERVED 2,323 CHILDREN WITH THE ASK PROGRAM. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WAS PROVIDED TO 178 TEACHERS. THE NATURE CENTER ALSO SERVED 177 HEAD START STUDENTS AND 14 HEAD START TEACHERS. ATTENDANCE IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE THE HEAD START SITES DID NOT ALLOW VISITORS INTO THE CLASSROOM UNTIL SUMMER, 2021. IN ADDITION, THE NATURE CENTER SERVED OVER 3,500 STUDENTS FROM THE CLEVELAND HEIGHTS-UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS AND SHAKER HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS OTHER LOCAL SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. IN ADDITION TO VISITING STUDENTS AND PROGRAM ATTENDEES, WE HAD OVER 140,000 ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL VISITS TO OUR TRAILS. THE NATURE CENTER STAFF AND TRAINED VOLUNTEER TRAIL AMBASSADORS INTERACTED WITH JUST UNDER 5,000 VISITORS THROUGHOUT OUR BUILDING, TRAILS, AND HABITATS, WHICH IS ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF USUAL DUE TO COVID LIMITING OUR PERSON TO PERSON INTERACTIONS. -SERVED 1,350 PEOPLE THROUGH FAMILY AND ADULT PROGRAMMING. -SERVED 421 CAMPERS THROUGH OUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMP PROGRAM. -SPECIAL EVENTS WERE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. THE ANNUAL SUMMER BENEFIT, WHICH WAS HELD IN-PERSON, HAD OVER 350 ATTENDEES AND GENERATED OVER 112,500 IN NET REVENUE FOR THE ORGANIZATION. -OVER 353 VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS AND SERVICE LEARNING GROUPS PROVIDED MORE THAN 5,065 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE IN LAND MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION, EVENTS AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF NEARLY 2.5 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, OR MORE THAN 129,025 WORTH OF SERVICE. -VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AT THE NATURE CENTER CONTRIBUTED TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (JOB SKILLS) AND SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST THE NATURE CENTER IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF CONSERVING THE LAND, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE AND INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME AT ALL LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE INVOLVED IN PULLING INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES, DEMONSTRATION GARDEN MAINTENANCE, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMPS, EDUCATION CLASSES, WELCOME DESK ASSISTANCE, SPECIAL EVENTS ASSISTANCE, AND OFFICE WORK. THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WORKS WITH ADULT INDIVIDUALS, YOUTH (13 AND OLDER), HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PROJECT CANDIDATES, SCHOOL GROUPS BOTH COLLEGE AND YOUNGER, AND CORPORATE GROUPS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES AT THE NATURE CENTER. -IN SEPTEMBER 2018, THE NATURE CENTER COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF ITS FIRST RENOVATION PROJECT FOR THE ENHANCING YOUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM CAMPAIGN, THE NEW LAVELLE FAMILY OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER, LOCATED BEHIND THE VISITOR CENTER AND OVERLOOKING THE STEARNS WOODLAND TRAIL. THIS ADA-ACCESSIBLE EDUCATIONAL VENUE CONNECTS TO OUR TRAILS AND OUR PARKING LOT AND WAS THE FIRST PROJECT OF THE MULTI-YEAR, 6.1 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. THE SECOND PROJECT, CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ALL PEOPLE'S TRAIL BOARDWALK, BEGAN IN SPRING 2019 AND WAS COMPLETED IN FALL 2019. THIS NEW UNIVERSALLY-DESIGNED, ELEVATED BOARDWALK INCLUDES THE ROSE FOUNDATION GAZEBO AND OTHER EXPANDED GATHERING SPACES THAT ALLOW CLASSES TO SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS AND IN DISCUSSION AND OBSERVATION OF NATURE. IN NOVEMBER 2020, THE FIRST PHASE OF THE STEARNS WOODLAND TRAIL RENOVATIONS WERE COMPLETED, INCLUDING RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BOARDWALKS, TWO BRIDGES, AND THE ADDITION OF AN ADA-ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE AND NATURE PLAY AREA, AS WELL AS A NEW WETLAND OBSERVATION DECK. THE FINAL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED IN FALL 2021, INCLUDING THE SECOND PHASE OF THE STEARNS TRAIL, AN ADA-ACCESSIBLE TREEHOUSE, COMMUNITY TRAILHEAD ENTRANCES, PARKING LOT RENOVATIONS, AND A NEW SUSTAINABILITY HUB TO HOUSE OUR LAND MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN A COMPREHENSIVE RESTORATION INITIATIVE TO REMOVE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES AND FOSTER BIODIVERSITY ON OUR SITE. WE HAVE NOW CLEARED 5 ACRES OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANTED 6,300 NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS, AND ERECTED EXTENSIVE DEER FENCING TO HELP PROTECT THIS INVESTMENT IN OUR NATURAL HISTORY AND FUTURE. BY ANY MEASURE, FISCAL YEAR 2021 WAS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN FURTHERING OUR MISSION TO CONSERVE A NATURAL AREA, CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE, AND INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.