LAKE ERIE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER
28728 WOLF ROAD, BAY VILLAGE, OH 44140 www.lensc.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF LAKE ERIE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER (THE CENTER) IS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR NATURAL WORLD. THE CENTER'S VISION IS TO GIVE EVERY CHILD AND ADULT FIRST-HAND LEARNING EXPERIENCES WITH NATURE AND SCIENCE AND TO PROMOTE A LIFELONG INTEREST IN DISCOVERY OF OUR NATURAL WORLD.

THE MISSION OF THE LAKE ERIE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER IS TO PROVIDE INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION.

STUDENT PROGRAMS AND NATURE-BASED PRESCHOOL:THE CENTER PROVIDES YOUNG CHILDREN AND STUDENTS WITH HANDS ON EXPERIENCES TO DISCOVER THE NATURAL WORLD WITH A DISTINCT BLEND OF RESOURCES ENCOMPASSING WILDLIFE, EXHIBITS, PLANETARIUM AND PARK SETTING NEAR THE SHORES OF LAKE ERIE. ANNUALLY, THE CENTER SERVES MORE THAN 23,000 PRESCHOOLERS AND THEIR PARENTS THROUGH OUR NATURE-BASED PRESCHOOL CLASSES AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, MORE THAN 4,500 GIRL, CUB AND BOY SCOUTS, AND MORE THAN 14,000 STUDENTS FROM PRE-K TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS, INVOLVING PHYSICAL, LIFE, EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE CONCEPTS. THE CENTER WORKS WITH TEACHERS AND CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS TO ENSURE THAT FIELD TRIPS ARE ALIGNED TO OHIO ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS. PROJECT WILDLIFE IS A YOUTH SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HANDS-ON LEARNING WITH NATIVE ANIMALS, WHICH IS AN EXPERIENCE UNIQUE TO THE CENTER. THE CENTER'S WILDLIFE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM GIVES COLLEGE STUDENTS REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH ITS LIVE ANIMAL COLLECTION AND WILDLIFE REHABILITATION PATIENTS.

SPACE SCIENCE EDUCATION:THE CENTER'S WALTER R. SCHUELE PLANETARIUM IS ONE OF ONLY TWO IN THE CLEVELAND AREA THAT ARE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE. THE NEWLY TRANSFORMED PLANETARIUM TOURS VISITORS THROUGH THE NIGHT SKY AND TO THE FARTHEST REACHES OF SPACE WITH DUAL PROJECTION AND FULL DOME TECHNOLOGY. SPACE SCIENCE AND PHYSICS CONCEPTS COME TO LIFE FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES WITH A DIGITAL PROJECTION SYSTEM. AN OPTICAL PROJECTOR DISPLAYS THOUSANDS OF STARS AND PLANETS IN THE NIGHT SKY WITH SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY. ANNUALLY, THE CENTER WELCOMES MORE THAN 20,000 CHILDREN TO THE PLANETARIUM WITH WEEKLY SHOWS AND PUBLIC ASTRONOMY PROGRAMS, SCOUT PROGRAMS, AND CURRICULUM BASED FIELD TRIPS. FOR ADVANCED AUDIENCES, THE CENTER PROVIDES EVENING SKYQUEST PROGRAMS, TELESCOPE NIGHTS, A NEW ASTRONOMY CLUB, AND HOSTS A COLLEGE LEVEL ASTRONOMY COURSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WILDLIFE EXHIBITS, REHABILITATION AND PROGRAMS:LAKE ERIE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER IS THE ONLY FACILITY OF ITS KIND IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY THAT PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH WILDLIFE REHABILITATION SERVICES. ANNUALLY, EXPERT STAFF RESPOND TO MORE THAN 4,200 PUBLIC INQUIRIES ABOUT WILDLIFE AND RECEIVE FROM THE PUBLIC MORE THAN 1,500 ILL OR INJURED ANIMALS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 120 SPECIES. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PERMITS ALLOW TRAINED PROFESSIONALS TO DISPLAY A LIVE ANIMAL COLLECTION FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, AND TO TREAT INJURED WILDLIFE IN A CUSTOMIZED ON-SITE FACILITY. THE GOAL OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATION IS THE RELEASE OF THE ANIMAL AFTER PROPER AND SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT. THIS YEAR, ENROLLMENT FOR PROJECT WILDLIFE TOTALED 18 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THIS UNIQUE YOUTH SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM. FIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE IN THE WILDLIFE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THE CENTER PROVIDED PUBLIC ENJOYMENT OF WILDLIFE WITH MORE THAN 150 LIVE ANIMALS IN OUTDOOR AND INDOOR EXHIBITS. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ON EXHIBITS WERE RECENTLY IMPROVED TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF NATIVE SPECIES.

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