News : Nature Center progress: Outdoor classroom, bird sanctuary take shape

Les Van Fossen tries out one of the benches he and NCCC members built Saturday at the Nature Center.

The Ikes Red Cedar Chapter donated $1,000 toward a bird sanctuary at the Nature Center.

A wall of large logs will form an area for children to explore and learn about nature.

Thanks to efforts by AmeriCorps NCCC members, Benton County Conservation Board members and a couple of volunteers, more places for for area residents to enjoy nature are in progress outside the Benton County Nature Center.

Those people met on Saturday outside the nature center, where they made significant progress on several projects.

The Red Cedar Chapter of the Izaak Walton League donated $1,000 to build and equip a bird sanctuary in an effort to provide a sanctuary and feeding places for birds, as well as a chance for students to learn more about birds and for bird lovers to have a place to see them.

NCCC members worked with Conservation Department staff members to build an area with a wall of logs. Inside this area will be an outdoor learning classroom for children. Others transplanted flowers and built benches.

Conservation Director Matthew Purdy said the project is part of a long-term effort to add to the educational opportunities the Nature Center provides, both inside and outside. The center is located west of Rodgers Park, northwest of Vinton, on 20th Avenue Drive north of Highway 218.