Program areas at The Wilderness Center
The Wilderness Center's protection and conservation programs continued to grow during our fiscal year ended june 30, 2022. Twc currently protects more than 3,388 acres of forest, wetlands, grasslands and farmlands and more than 13 miles of streams throughout a seven-county area. The Center currently owns (in fee) 2,082 acres and holds conservation easements on 1,306 acres. Twc consulting forestry currently maintains management plans for more than 18,000 acres. Twc has introduced a program known as The community watershed conservation partnership (cwcp) which will provide land owners with a plan to enhance or restore wildlife habitat on their property through The use of non-binding agreements.
The Wilderness Center (twc ) education programs consists of formal and informal programming which served over 5,610 participants during our fiscal year ended june 30, 2022. Formal programs include public and private schools, youth groups and adult organizations. The education department served about 4,283 participants in formal programs. Informal programming serves twc members and The general public. Staff, twc clubs, and volunteers served about 1,327 people in informal programs.
The Wilderness Center's facilities include an interpretive building containing classrooms, meeting rooms, exhibits, a wildlife observation room and a bookstore/gift shop. Twc's astronomy education building houses an observatory and The fred f. silk planetarium. Twc offers 10 miles of hiking trails, picnic shelters and an observation tower for The public's enjoyment and enrichment. Twc is also home to a nature playscape and a native plant nursery.