The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is proud to announce the grand opening of the new “Nature’s Classroom” building  - a wonderful environmental education facility for all ages!

The grand opening will be Saturday, Sept. 24 from 11 am – 5 pm and Sunday, Sept. 25 from 10 am – 4 pm, with talks, walks, demonstrations, freebies, activities, cookies, and wagon tours!  Special educator event will be held from 9 am – 11 am, with prior registration.  All events are free and open to all – the refuge entrance fee will be waived on Saturday and Sunday also – so please come enjoy your wildlife refuge!

A special ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the entrance to the boardwalk for the “Nature’s Classroom” at 11 am to celebrate this premier public facility paid for with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies ( known as stimulus funds).  The building boasts use of local vendors to build its cabinetry, run its electric, landscape the grounds, paint inside and outside, and complete plumbing, flooring and general contracting. 

It offers many environmentally-friendly features to reduce energy use, recycle rain water, reduce water use in restrooms, and reduce watering and fertilizing for the native plants and grasses.  In addition, special community programming will begin in October with the new “First Sunday at the Refuge” series starting on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 pm, to promote learning and discussions about beautiful Wakulla County and the refuge.

A second ribbon cutting will be held at 11:30 am at the entrance to the 1/3 mile Plum Orchard Pond Trail, adjacent to the center.  The trail has received a total facelift from the refuge staff, including local students John Cooper and Richard Walker and support from the Wakulla Correctional Institute crew.  There are new boardwalks, benches, and refurbished signs – a great place to enjoy birds and the fragrant pinewoods.

Keynote speaker will be renowned birder/entertainer Bill Thompson III from Bird Watcher’s Digest magazine.  He will delight audiences about exploring the wild world of birds and children.  He will speak at 1 pm on Saturday and lead a walk at 3 pm.  On Sunday, Mr. Thompson will speak at noon.

There will be Animal Olympics, youth activities, citizen science projects, microscope and critter demonstrations, plus ways to get involved in our local wildlife monitoring and conservation.  These include our St. Marks NWR Photography Club, the St. Marks Refuge Association, and our refuge volunteer program.  Folks will make a “whooping crane pizza,” plaster wildlife tracks, and bird nests and snack on yummy cookies and meet the staff and volunteers that make St. Marks NWR the best place to learn and recreate outdoors.

Click here to see a complete photo gallery of the outdoor classroom taken by Lou Kellenberger.

For a complete agenda, please see below.  For more information and educator registration, please call 850/925-6121 and see our website, http://www.fws.gov/saintmarks.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service.  For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Agenda for “Nature’s Classroom” Grand Opening
Sat. Sept. 24 and Sun. Sept. 25, 2011

Sat. Sept. 24

9 am – 11 am – Special Educator presentations and demonstrations.  By registration only, 850/925-6121.

11 am – Ribbon-cutting at bottom of Nature’s Classroom boardwalk.  All events and tour wagon tours begin. (wagon tours 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm).  Events include demonstrations in classroom of birds, mammals, microscopes, tots corner, listening station; outside Animal Olympics trail, birding from the deck, nest making, bean bag critter games, plaster track making, sand box and water table games, Gift shop in Visitor Center, hiking the trail, Photography Club, Citizen Science and Refuge Association exhibits and activities.

1 pm –  Bill Thompson III will speak on “The Perils and Pitfalls of Birding”

3 pm – Bill Thompson III will lead walk.

5 pm – Events conclude for Saturday.

Sun. Sept. 25

10 am – All events and tours begin (wagon tours will be 10 am, 1 pm and 2 pm).  See Saturday for list of events/demonstrations and activities.

12 Noon – Bill Thompson III will speak on “No Child Left Inside:  Birds as A Doorway to Nature.”

4 pm – Events conclude for Sunday.

Photos by Lou Kellenberger