Nature Center at Shaker Lakes Fact Sheet
2600 South Park Blvd.
Cleveland, Ohio 44120
(216) 321-5935

www.ShakerLakes.org

Overview of the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes was founded in 1966 as the result of a grassroots community effort to preserve the Shaker parklands from becoming the route for a new freeway connecting Cleveland's East Side to downtown. Each year, about 10,000 children participate in more than 30,000 hours of curriculum-related school programs, including a strong early childhood program for several East Side school districts and the Cleveland Public Schools. In addition, an estimated 20,000 walkers, runners, and bird-watchers use the trails and grounds annually for exercise and enjoyment of nature. The Nature Center is home to extensive wildlife and plant species living in six natural habitats in an urban setting, including lake, stream, marsh, field, forest and ravine. 

Mission
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes conserves a natural area, connects people with nature and inspires environmental stewardship.

History
The Nature Center was founded in 1966, within a parkland that had been donated to Cleveland in the late 1800s by several prominent families.  In the mid 1960s, a proposed freeway would have been built directly through the upper portion of the parkland and the Shaker Lakes.  Concerned citizens spearheaded a grassroots effort to protect the urban park and its biodiversity.  Among the strategies was building a nature center directly on the site of a proposed interchange.  In 1972 state support for the freeway was revoked and construction plans withdrawn.

Who the Nature Center Serves
The Nature Center serves much of Cleveland's East Side including the Shaker Square and Buckeye neighborhoods. It also serves eastside suburbs of Cleveland including Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, University Heights, East Cleveland, Beachwood and South Euclid, as well as numerous others. The Nature Center has 1,500 members across northeast Ohio and beyond. The Center reaches more than 10,000 students through school field trips and its Outdoor Adventure Camp and Outdoor Adventure Classes and thousands more through nature events and programs. Several thousand more adults and children come to formal programs.

Nature Center at Shaker Lakes Offerings

Programming
The Nature Center provides a variety of year-round and seasonal programming. Among its offerings are weekly Nature Hikes through the Shaker parklands in addition to a monthly speaker series, photography club and numerous special events throughout the year for both families and adults. Signature events include the annual Celebrate the Earth, Breakfast with the Birds, Hike for Nature, Enchanted Forest and Celebration of Lights events. In addition, the Nature Center offers educational programs for both adults and children, including school field trips and its educational Outdoor Adventure Classes and Outdoor Adventure Camp for children. The Nature Center also has early childhood environmental education programs and nature outreach programs.

Volunteering
The Nature Center offers extensive volunteer opportunities for the public. Additionally, a variety of events are held throughout the year for volunteers to get to know each other and to learn about the Nature Center and the Shaker Parklands, and also for the Nature Center to thank them for their dedication to the environment.

Facilities
The Nature Center has beautiful indoor and outdoor facilities open to the public and is available for rentals. The Nature Center houses classrooms, a meeting room, exhibit areas, the Gorman Family Library, and the Duck Pond Gift Store. In addition to these spaces, the Jean Eakin Bird Observation Station and the Murphy Carfagna Wildlife Balcony overlook the Nature Center's grounds. The indoor facilities are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to its indoor facilities, the Friends Pavilion sits among the trees beside the Center, and the All People's Trail and Stearns Trail wind through the woodlands surrounding the Center. The one-third mile long All People's Trail is a barrier-free, elevated boardwalk, opening the wonders of nature to people of all physical abilities. Trails leading to Lower Lake are accessible by stairs from the All People's Trail. The Stearns Trail is one mile long and begins at the Nature Center's Wildflower Garden. The trail winds through the grounds and along the south branch of the Doan Brook. The Nature Center also manages the Rusty Knight Wildflower Garden and a butterfly garden.

Currently under construction is the Nancy King Smith Stewardship Center. Slated for completion in fall 2007, the Stewardship Center will be gathering place for any citizen wishing to take action in their local environment and will house equipment needed to help restore biodiversity to the Shaker Parklands. Constructed of all natural building materials, the Stewardship Center will also serve as an exhibit, educational site, visitor gathering spot and focal point for an outdoor sustainability area.  

Nature Center at Shaker Lakes Designations

The Nature Center was named a National Environmental Education Landmark in 1971 by the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior, making it one of the first organizations to be recognized as such. The All People's trail received local, state and national Honor Award for Excellence in Landscape Design by the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1984. The Center is also designated as a National Environmental Study Area by the Park Service for the unique educational opportunities offered by the diverse natural habitats found in its urban setting. In 2003, the Audubon Society designated it as a worldwide Important Bird Area. After renovating and expanding its facilities in 2003 using sustainable building practices, the Nature Center received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2004 Energy Star Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency. In 2006, the Nature Center was certified as an official Wildlife Habitat site by the National Wildlife Federation. The Nature Center is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Media Contact

Sara Thorne-Briechle, programs and marketing director, (216) 321-5935 x 237 or thorne@shakerlakes.org

Stefanie Lader, communications specialist, (216) 321-5935 x 228 or lader@shakerlakes.org

2005 Form 990