Students experience nature at Stokes’ center
The Allen and Alice Stokes Nature Center provides Cache Valley with a place to experience nature education through learning, teaching and service.
The non-profit Stokes Nature Center (SNC) was established on Nov. 1, 1997 in honor of Allen and Alice Stokes. According to the center’s 2000 Annual Report, “The Stokes never sought public recognition, preferring to work outside the public eye. However, the Nature Center is the culmination of their life’s work – to teach, to excite and to support our community.”
Jen Levy, executive director of SNC, said the center offers a variety of programs from astronomy to wildlife. The majority of these programs focus on youth, but SNC has something for every generation.
“We’re about nature education and introducing the canyon and valley to the people,” she said.
SNC’s mission is to help all ages explore and learn about the natural environment. Run by a permanent staff, board members, volunteer teachers and community volunteers, SNC also hopes to instill a sense of stewardship for the natural systems which sustain us, Levy said.
The SNC gives students at Utah State University the opportunity to volunteer or intern while working on the programs, she said.
“We encourage USU students to help us. We’re a nice distraction from campus,” Levy said.
According to the report, the “USU environmental education students gained hands-on experience teaching our geology program as part of their class requirement. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, teaching-practicum students developed program displays and assisted with curriculum development.”
Volunteers can expect to help out in such programs as “Amazing Adaptation,” “Soil Scientists” and “Wetlands.” Their program called “Nature Tales and Trails” for 6- to 8-year-olds involves combining stories with games and activities.
According to the report, students hopped, waddled and bounded like animals, turned fellow students into insects and created camouflaged butterflies to hide around the Nature Center.
One of the major projects SNC is participating in is, “A River Runs Through Us: The Bear River Watershed Education Project.” This project involves approximately 600 students from elementary, middle and high schools. According to the center’s annual report, participating students are given the opportunity to view and analyze data across the entire watershed.
“We are committed to reaching all of the children in Cache Valley and sharing with them not only information about the natural world in which we live, but the sense of awe and excitement that we feel when we experience it,” said Nathan Hult, chair of the center’s board of trustees.
The Stokes Nature Center is located at 2696 E. Highway 89 approximately one-half mile up Logan Canyon. For more information on activities offered and volunteer opportunities call 755-3239 or check out the center’s Web site at www.logannature.org.