West Virginia Success Story

McMechen Outdoor Learning Center

Program: Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)

Overview:
The McMechen USDA Service Center is located on a five acre tract of land overlooking and parallel to the Ohio River. When the Northern Panhandle Conservation District purchased this land, to build the Service Center, the idea of a collocated Outdoor Learning Center was a consideration in selection of the site.

Planning for the Center began with former District Conservationist Greg Stone and was continued with the current District Conservationist Nicole Viars. Assistance was also provided by Barbara McWhorter, NRCS State Forester and Casey Shrader, NRCS State Biologist, and specialists from WVU Extension Service.

Estimated cost for the Center is estimated to be around $40,000. When completed, the Center will have a “surfaced” walkway, wetland, butterfly and hummingbird garden, various plantings of native grasses, trees, and shrubs, a weather station, and an educational shelter.

Accomplishments: Initially, financing for the Center appeared to be a major obstacle to its construction. However, in the past year, over $25,000 in grants and donations have been secured from: WV Department of Natural Resources OWLS Program, WV Conservation Agency, Northern Panhandle RC&D Council, Northern Panhandle Conservation District, Marshall County Commission, Colombia Gas Transmission Company, and private individuals. Several other grant proposals are “in-the –works”. In-kind services (labor and administrative services) have been provided by the Northern Panhandle Conservation District. Local groups have been contacted to solicit their help (labor) in putting in the plantings and maintenance of the Center.

Development of the Learning Center began this summer with the installation of a 1,500 asphalt walkway. The educational shelter, a gazebo style building, is currently under construction by the Conservation District. Work on the plantings, butterfly garden and wetland will start in the spring of ‘07.

Program Benefits to Community: Nature Centers benefit communities educationally by the inclusion of outdoor education curriculums that helps students with graduation standards in science, environmental education.

Contact:
James Ali, RC&D Coordinator
(304) 262-0576 ext. 110
James.Ali@wv.usda.gov

Northern Panhandle RC&D
132 Peters Run Road
Wheeling, WV 26003
http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/north_rec.html

When completed, the Center will have a “surfaced” walkway, wetland, butterfly and hummingbird garden, various plantings of native grasses, trees, and shrubs, a weather station, and an educational shelter.

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