User:Twininglight/Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
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Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is an urban [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_center nature center] located in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxborough,_Philadelphia Roxbourough] neighborhood of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia Philadelphia], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania Pennsylvania]. The center's mission is "to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature."[http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/aboutus/]Overview Programming at the center falls into four areas: education, land restoration, wildlife rehabilitation, and environmental art.
History
The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education (originally named Schuylkill Valley Nature Center) was incorporated in July 1965. As a not-for-profit institution, the Center began operation as one of the first environmental education facilities located within the limits of a major metropolitan area in the United States.[http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/aboutus/history.html]History
The organization's grounds, located on agricultural land that was farmed until the mid-1960's, has grown from the 11 acres originally gifted by the Center's Founders: Lawrence M. C. Smith, Mrs. Lawrence M. C. Smith, Mrs. Robert R. Meigs, and Henry H. H. Meigs. Under the direction of Richard James, the organization's founding Executive Director; the Center grew to encompass 340 acres of land including a variety of habitats including woodlands, meadows, five teaching ponds and wetlands.
In 2000, the Center adopted its Facilities Master Plan. This document was developed by Andropogon Associates, Ltd. and provides a framework for translating the Center's mission into a coherent physical plan in order to enhance the organization's educational programming.
Nature Preschool
In fall 2013, the Schuylkill Center started the Nature Preschool. This program enrolls children ages 3-5. Students go outside every day unless weather conditions are deemed hazardous. [http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/roxborough-feature/51370-schuylkill-center-nature-preschool-]Newsworks.
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