SHAKER LAKES REGIONAL NATURE CENTER
2600 SOUTH PARK BOULEVARD, SHAKER HTS, OH 44120 shakerlakes.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF THE NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES IS TO CONSERVE A NATURAL AREA, CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE, AND INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. TO MEET THIS MISSION, THE NATURE CENTER ENGAGES IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

THE NATURE CENTER HAS LONG BEEN A LEADER IN PROVIDING EXCELLENT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. PARTICULARLY WELL- KNOWN FOR ITS EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULA FOR HEAD STARTS AND OTHER PRESCHOOLS IN THE AREA, THE NATURE CENTER PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND CAMPS FOR OVER 13,000 CHILDREN PER YEAR IN ITS CLASSROOMS AS WELL AS ON ITS TRAILS AND HABITATS WHICH SERVE AS ITS OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. THE CENTER REGULARLY EVALUATES AND MODIFIES ITS CURRICULA TO ENSURE THAT IT FULLY MEETS ALL OHIO ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS. THIS YEAR THE CENTER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS SIXTH FULL YEAR OF THE APPLIED SCIENCE FOR KIDS (ASK) PROGRAM FOR THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, DESIGNED AT THE DISTRICT'S REQUEST TO PROVIDE SCIENCE EDUCATION AND UNIQUE HANDS-ON FIELD EXPERIENCES FOR ALL PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, AND 1ST GRADE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. THIS YEAR, THE NATURE CENTER SERVED 5,241 CHILDREN WITH THE ASK PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF THE PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WAS PROVIDED TO 98 TEACHERS. THE NATURE CENTER ALSO SERVED MORE THAN 300 HEAD START STUDENTS AND 23 HEAD START TEACHERS. IN ADDITION, THE NATURE CENTER SERVED OVER 6,300 STUDENTS FROM THE CLEVELAND HEIGHTS-UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS AND SHAKER HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS OTHER LOCAL SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. THE VALUE OF THE NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES TO THE NORTHEAST OHIO COMMUNITY CONTINUED TO BE AFFIRMED THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR THROUGH ATTENDANCE AT EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, PROGRAMMATIC SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. OUR FISCAL STRENGTH WAS ALSO AFFIRMED AS THE NATURE CENTER COMPLETED ANOTHER YEAR WITH A SURPLUS, SUSTAINING A PERIOD OF FINANCIAL STABILITY AND REVENUE GROWTH, EVEN AS THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ITS SECOND YEAR OF A MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE ITS OUTDOOR CLASSROOM - THE COLLECTION OF TRAILS, HABITATS AND OUTDOOR FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE -APPROXIMATELY 40,000 VISITORS TO THE NATURE CENTER ENJOYED THE TRAILS, EXHIBIT SPACE, EVENTS AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING 18,013 VISITORS WHO ACTUALLY CAME INTO THE CENTER BUILDING. -SERVED 3,225 PEOPLE THROUGH FAMILY AND ADULT PROGRAMMING. -SUMMER CAMP AND SPRING BREAK CAMP HAD 601 ATTENDEES. -SPECIAL EVENTS WERE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. THE ANNUAL SUMMER BENEFIT HAD OVER 500 ATTENDEES AND GENERATED 103,846 IN NET REVENUES FOR THE ORGANIZATION. -OVER 565 VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS AND SERVICE LEARNING GROUPS PROVIDED MORE THAN 7,838 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE IN LAND MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION, EVENTS AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF NEARLY 4 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, OR MORE THAN 191,792 WORTH OF SERVICE. -VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AT THE NATURE CENTER CONTRIBUTED TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (JOB SKILLS) AND SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST THE NATURE CENTER IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF CONSERVING THE LAND, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE AND INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME AT ALL LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE INVOLVED IN PULLING INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES, DEMONSTRATION GARDEN MAINTENANCE, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMPS, EDUCATION CLASSES, WELCOME DESK ASSISTANCE, SPECIAL EVENTS ASSISTANCE, AND OFFICE WORK. THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WORKS WITH ADULT INDIVIDUALS, YOUTH (13 AND OLDER), HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PROJECT CANDIDATES, SCHOOL GROUPS BOTH COLLEGE AND YOUNGER, AND CORPORATE GROUPS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES AT THE NATURE CENTER. -IN SEPTEMBER 2018, THE NATURE CENTER COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW LAVELLE FAMILY AMPHITHEATER BEHIND THE BUILDING, OVERLOOKING THE STEARNS WOODLAND TRAIL. THIS WAS THE FIRST PROJECT OF THE MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. THE SECOND PROJECT, CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ALL PEOPLE'S TRAIL BOARDWALK, BEGAN IN SPRING 2019 AND WAS COMPLETED IN FALL 2019. BY ANY MEASURE, FISCAL YEAR 2019 WAS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN FURTHERING OUR MISSION TO CONSERVE A NATURAL AREA, CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE, AND INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

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