Museum’s Green Education Center takes root with $300,000 grant

March 12, 2003
For Immediate Release
For education and metro editors
Contacts: Karen Kemp (919) 733-7450, ext. 304 or Marjorie Terry 919/733-7450, ext. 358

(RALEIGH)--The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Green Education Center in west Raleigh is moving closer to reality, with the recent receipt of a $300,000 federal planning grant.

U.S. Rep. David Price, who worked to secure the funding for the Museum’s environmental education center, will make a formal announcement about the project March 15 at 2 p.m. in the Museum’s WRAL Digital Theater.

Located on 24 acres off Blue Ridge Road in west Raleigh, the Green Education Center will demonstrate to children and adults strategies, practices and tools that they can use to tackle environmental issues in their communities. The $2 million project will include a demonstration center for “green” or environmentally friendly living methods, along with on-site education facilities for researchers, teachers and school groups and dormitory-style sleeping accommodations for overnight stay.

“It will be a demonstration site on how to enhance your own schoolyard or back yard for wildlife and learning,” said Mary Ann Brittain, Museum director of school programs. The center will incorporate an overnight field station with classroom labs for workshops, year-round programs and summer camp programs. The surrounding acreage will be enhanced with wildlife gardens, mini-ponds, nesting boxes, bird blinds and succession meadows to provide on-site opportunities for hands-on programming.

The center will address the high demand for overnight accommodations for educators from distant counties, said Dr. Betsy Bennett, Museum director. Teachers and administrators often cite the lack of affordable overnight accommodations as a severe limitation for outlying schools to take advantage of the Museum’s weekend and multi-day environmental education programs.

Through careful planning and construction, the Green Education Center will have reduced impact on the natural environment. “By taking advantage of the latest in energy-efficient technology, we hope to show others how to tread more lightly on the earth,” continued Bennett.

To reduce its impact on the environment, the center will employ new construction techniques and recycled materials. On-site treatment of gray water, composting toilets and collection of rainwater in cisterns and ponds will reduce water consumption.

Daylighting and use of solar and geothermal systems will minimize use of fossil fuel energy sources. Site impact will be minimized through the reduction of impervious surfaces, including building footprints, and careful management and reuse of stormwater from roofs and paved areas.

The Museum has identified the Green Education Center as a keystone in a major effort to support environmental education and research projects and build an endowment for education and research initiatives.

The $300,000 in planning funds was provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences account within the Labor, Health and Human Services portion of the 2003 federal budget. Planning grant funds will be used to design and develop construction drawings for the residential center, as well as to construct a pavilion for use by teacher workshops and summer camp programs. Initial funds also will be used implement outdoor features for the site, including mini-ponds and composting toilets.

Some outdoor elements could be in place as soon as fall 2003. Construction funds for the residential facility are being sought through public and private donations.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the web at www.naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.

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