Wildlife Education Center set to expand

ROGERS — Plenty of gold colored shovels manned by local dignitaries turned over some ceremonial sod Sunday afternoon as the Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center (BCWEC) plans to expand. “This has come about thanks to many people, and it also shows that hard work put in by the volunteers has paid off,” Jim Kerr, curator and BCWEC Volunteer Association president, said. Two years ago, the center was the recipient of a $300,000 grant spearheaded by Rep. Linda Bolon and Sen. Jason Wilson. Both Bolon and Wilson attended the Sunday ceremony along with other state, county, township and municipal leaders, center workers and a lot of the volunteers Kerr referred to. The center’s expansion plans include a wildlife display room, a classroom with a nature viewing room and a library. The addition will be 70-by-40 feet in dimension with a 10-by-20 foot entranceway between the original and new building. Handicapped accessible bathrooms, a mechanical room and reception area in the entranceway are also included in the plans. If all goes well, construction will begin in two to three weeks, according to Kerr. It will take about three months to complete the job. “A lot of people have seen and heard about the Wildlife Education Center, so with this expansion, we hope to have a lot more people come to visit,” Kathy Lewis, a BCWEC member said. Due to the space limitations, larger groups that visited had to be split up. One group would explore the trails while another heard the indoor presentation. Now, Lewis said there will be ample room to hold the larger group meetings. The group uses the former park manager’s house off Echo Dell Road. The expansion is adjacent to the home. While the construction is underway, the BCWEC will be forced to conduct programs off site. Group members will visit the local schools giving presentations or will head down to the park itself and work out of the Pioneer Village when needed. Kerr has spearheaded the expansion effort and was instrumental in getting the BCWEC moved in to its current location 10 years ago. In 2000, and after 30 years, Kerr stepped aside as a Beaver Local High School biology teacher. He gathered a unique collection of items he thought should go on display. Kerr asked about a place to house the material in the park, but the former park manager told him the park manager home was available. Since that time, the BCWEC has looked to expand, and the $300,000 grant gave that opportunity. Kerr said since its opening, the BCWEC and its volunteers have provided approximately 1,000 hours of educational programming, and some 57,000 people have visited the center or attended programs sponsored by the center. Kerr recognized the elected officials, architects, contractors and many volunteers that have made the expansion possible. “I look forward to returning to help cut the ribbon on this beautiful facility which will help our children and our future children learn about the outdoors,” Bolon said. For the volunteers who help run the center, it’s all about making a difference and getting people interested in the park and in nature. “We are looking forward to providing more types of programs, and now we will have a place to display a lot of the items we get donated to us,” Lewis said. Kerr said the center is always looking for volunteers. “This is a wonderful way to move forward, and I hope we can get more people interested in the Wildlife Center,” he said. Those looking to schedule an event or to volunteer can contact BCWEC member Darlene Naukam at 330-385-6250.