Stanley W Hayes Research Foundation Incorporated

OPERATED HAYES ARBORETUM, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC JANUARY DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR. IN FY 2024, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FULLY RESTORE OUR OPERATIONS TO PRE-2020 LEVELS AND WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE GROUNDS OPEN FOR HIKING AND BUILDINGS OPEN FOR NORMAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. WE MANAGE BUILDINGS IN THE NATURE CENTER COMPLEX (NATURE CENTER, ANNEX, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING LIBRARY AND HAYES MUSEUM) AS WELL AS THE HERB GARDEN, BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND BUTTERFLY COTTAGE AS PART OF THE NATURE PLAYSCAPE. WE MOW ABOUT 60 ACRES PER WEEK DURING THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH. WE SUPPORT AND SERVICE THE BRICE E. HAYES MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN, WOODLAND CHAPEL, PAUL C. MCCLURE NATIVE WOODY PLANT PRESERVE AND A 3 MILE AUTO TOUR PLUS 5.5 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS ON THE WEST SIDE OF OUR PROPERTY AS WELL AS HELP MAINTAIN 7.5 MILES OF MULTI-USE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS ON THE EAST SIDE OF OUR PROPERTY.

OUR NATURALIST/PROGRAM COORDINATOR WAS EMPLOYED ON A FULL-TIME BASIS AND, COUPLED WITH AMPLE VOLUNTEER HELP WAS ABLE TO EXPERTLY MANAGE AN INCREASED ACTIVITY IN EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. FOR THE 2024 FY, WE TALLIED A TOTAL OF 3,089 CHILDREN IN ON-SITE PROGRAMS, 1,314 ADULTS IN ON-SITE PROGRAMS, TOTAL ON-SITE PROGRAM VISITATION OF 4,403 PEOPLE AND A TOTAL OF 2,487 PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OFF-SITE HAYES ARBORETUM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. AT LEAST 16 OF THE ON-SITE VISITS INVOLVED FIELD TRIPS FROM VARIOUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITHIN OUR 25 MILE RADIUS MARKET AREA. MAJOR OFF-SITE INVOLVEMENT BY THE NATURALIST WAS AT WAYNE COUNTY CONSERVATION DAYS (1,100 STUDENTS) AND JOSEPH MOORE MUSEUM (350 PEOPLE) AND FAMILY EARTH DAY CELEBRATION (250 PEOPLE). WE ALSO SERVE AS A HOST SITE ON A NO COST/LOW COST BASIS FOR EASTERN INDIANA BEEKEEPERS CLUB, PETAL & STEM GARDEN CLUB, WAYNE COUNTY PURDUE EXTENSION EVENING MASTER NATURALIST CLASSES (ONE NIGHT PER WEEK SEPTEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER).

OUR LOCATION WAS IN THE MAXIMUM PATH OF TOTALITY FOR THE APRIL SOLAR ECLIPSE AND WE ENJOYED A CLASSIC EVENT. JOSEPH MOORE MUSEUM OF EARLHAM COLLEGE CONTRIBUTED ECLIPSE CRAFTS FOR OUR VISITORS AND THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY BROUGHT TELESCOPES FOR ENHANCED VIEWING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES. PERFECT WEATHER ENCOURAGED 350 PEOPLE TO ATTEND AND WE TALLIED VISITORS FROM 29 STATES AND 4 COUNTRIES OVER THE WEEKEND PRECEDING THE ECLIPSE. WE HAVE JUST BEEN SELECTED AS A MOON TREE SITE (ONE OF 50 IN THE U.S. IN 2024 BY NASA AND USDA AND THE SWEET GUM TREE HAS BEEN PLANTED, AFTER TWO YEARS OF GERMINATION AFTER THEIR SEEDS SPENT 25.5 DAYS IN SPACE IN THE ARTEMIS PROJECT. WE ARE DOING A TEN TREE PHENOLGY RESEARCH PROJECT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE FACTORS ON THE GROWTH OF THESE TREES. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DELIVERED A SEGMENT ON HAYES ARBORETUM FOR A DOCUMENTARY CREATED BY PBS BALL STATE ENTITLED "NOW ENTERING RICHMOND".