Plans for Scanlon Creek’s new nature centre, which is set to open in fall 2022, are coming along.
The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) hosted a virtual open house on Thursday to provide an update on the $6-million facility in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
The City of Barrie contributed $150,000 toward the project.
The centre has been a town treasure ever since it was built in the 1980s, providing children the opportunity to interact and connect with nature through its various educational programs and camps.
But the centre, built out of three portables, has reached the end of its life cycle and has become too expensive to maintain.
Fundraising is being done through the Connect Campaign with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Fund to build the new 8,000-square-foot learning facility, featuring three mult-use rooms.
Coun. Peter Ferrgaine, who is vice-chair of the LSRCA, kicked off the meeting by recalling his own memories of growing up in Bradford and visiting the nature centre. Today, he brings his own children there to learn more about the outdoors.
He emphasized the need for such a facility, as “kids are more inside these days” sitting at home and playing on screens.
“It makes me look forward to the nature centre we are looking to put into Scanlon Creek,” he said.
Nicole Hamley, manager of education for the LSRCA, said the existing facility has capacity for 60 guests, but the new space will be able to accommodate up to 250.
She hit on some of the main challenges of the aging 2,800-sq.-ft. centre, including the lack of space for students to eat their lunch or keep their personal belongings.
The new centre will be a green design, equipped with solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, and renewable building materials, leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible.
“It’s not going to be cheap,” said LSCRA chief administrative officer Mike Walter.
The centre will be paid for in partnership with the public and private sector. The plan is to have 50 per cent of the $6-million cost covered through fundraising by the foundation.
In the short term, he noted that COVID-19 is going to be an issue for their fundraising efforts.
As a destination spot, he hopes it will help boost tourism, noting the plan to bring in 15,000 visitors annually.
He said the building is still in the site-plan process and they also still have the transportation study left to do. And once that is complete, will come the final design and tender, and hopefully be opened in time for the school year for fall 2022.
Foundation executive director Cheryl Taylor provided an update on fundraising efforts.
“Taking care of nature is more important than ever,” she said. “Like most charities, the pandemic hit us rather hard.”
Since the pandemic began, they have been able to launch their new website and their special events like their Conservation Dinner has been postponed until September. But they will be hosting an online auction on June 22. On Sept. 24, they are hosting a Celebrity “Roughing it for a Reason” camp-out event.
And for anyone interested in naming the centre, that opportunity is still available for $1 million.
To date, the foundation has raised $1.3 million for the centre, which is almost half of its $3-million goal.
