Recent grants awarded to Ohio Wildlife Center will be supporting property improvements, animal enclosure renovations, and a Family Night Hike series.
The Finley’s Smile Foundation approved a grant in February to launch Family Night Hikes, a new quarterly program to offer families an outdoor experience to explore the Education Center at night, learn basics about hiking and camping and discover animals that love the dark. The first Night Hike is scheduled for April 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Cook Road and will feature hands-on activities and up-close encounters with nocturnal animal ambassadors. Registration information is available here.
Tyler Hollinger, who with his wife Kristin founded Finley’s Smile Foundation to honor the memory of their late daughter Finley, said he hopes the grant for Ohio Wildlife Center will help inspire families to spend time together. “We are excited about the Family Night Hike program because our family has enjoyed many nights camping and hiking together. We value the memories we made spending this time with our family, especially when Finley was with us.”
The Summerlee Foundation of Texas awarded a grant to Ohio Wildlife Center for improvements and enhancements within the Dempsey Wildlife Display and outdoor enclosures as well as wildlife enrichment materials. “The animal building and outdoor exhibits are the first animals that visitors see when they come to Ohio Wildlife Center, so upgrading their habitats is important for sustaining their well-being, safety and health,” said Education Director Stormy Gibson.
The funding will support renovations to the turkey exhibit, adding a culvert tunnel for the raccoon exhibit and purchasing outdoor shade cloth, heated boxes and mobile raptor cages. “We strive to deliver a safe and caring environment for all our animals in ways that encourage them to increase physical and mental activity levels and demonstrate natural behaviors,” Gibson said. “Key to this goal is renovation of habitats that allows for the best possible sensory, feeding, environmental and behavioral aspects of daily care.”
A comprehensive signage project for the Cook Road Education Center to improve the visitor experience and improve safety and security has been funded by the Montei Foundation of Columbus. Ohio Wildlife Center will be collaborating with the Planning and Design Team of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to focus on informational signage and directional and facility naming signs on the public portions of the Education Center property.
The Rust Foundation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has approved a grant for the “Hooked on Nature” Kyle Miller Pond project to enhance the aquatic outdoor education curriculum at the Education Center. According to Education Director Stormy Gibson, the grant will support staff in continued efforts to incorporate aquatic education for students and visitors with hand-on activities and games to instill stewardship of local waterways.
“New aquatic activities will now be offered to summer camps, scout groups and school field trip students to connect to nature and learn about life in the water and what’s required to preserve these natural resources,” said Gibson, who is certified in Project Wet and Wild Aquatics. When the project is completed, the Center will feature two accessible water habitats on-site with indoor aquatic exhibits as well.
Dusty Lombardi, executive director of Ohio Wildlife Center, noted that these foundation grants provide critical support for programs and facilities. “We are grateful that these supporters recognize the importance of our mission and have become partners in our work to foster awareness and appreciation for Ohio’s native wildlife.”