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 A
Brief Introduction to Cope Environmental Center:
In
1948, Jim and Helen Cope purchased about 30
acres of farm land between Centerville and
Richmond and began planting a variety of trees,
shrubs, and other plants. They pursued a
sustainable lifestyle which involved the use of
alternative energy, energy conservation,
composting, and organic gardening. During their
years of teaching, Jim at Earlham College and
Helen at Centerville Junior-Senior High School,
the property was the site of many field trips.
Over the years, the collections of deciduous
trees and conifers have matured and achieved
regional significance in size and diversity.
Simultaneously, their knowledge and insight
regarding the many ways to conserve natural
resources and live a sustainable lifestyle grew.
In
1992, Jim and Helen partnered with their friend
Francis Parks, a dedicated botanist,
horticulturist, and conservationist, to create
the Francis Parks Foundation and the Cope
Environmental Center to give permanent
protection to this valuable piece of land and to
teach others what they had learned.
In
1997, the Center tripled in size with the gift
of 70 acres from Gertrude 'Lucky' Ward, a
retired biology professor at Earlham College.
Lucky was dedicated to the conservation of
natural and cultural resources within the
region. With the addition of another parcel of
land in 1999, the Center increased to its
current size of 102 acres.
Many wonderful people have
contributed
to CEC's success in major ways...
Jim &
Helen Cope,
passionate stewards of the environment, created
Cope Environmental Center to teach others about
leading a sustainable life. Their passion was
renewable energy, and east-central Indiana's
first wind turbine was raised on the CEC
property in February of 2005 in honor of Helen's
commitment to alternative energy.
Francis Parks
was a dedicated botanist and Jim & Helen's
partner in starting Cope Environmental Center.
Gertrude "Lucky"
Ward
forever changed the CEC property with her
gift of 70 acres of beautiful land including her
homestead, immediately adjacent to the original
Cope family
property.
Miss
Sally Reahard
left a lasting footprint with her gift of
$416,000 when she passed away in 2003. Sally was
a long-term supporter of CEC and environmental
organizations throughout Indiana.
Helen
Cope |
Jim
Cope |
Sally
Reahard |
Lucky
Ward |
Francis Parks |
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