Making Sense of Sustainability

Our Mission is to promote the sustainable use of the earth's resources
through education, demonstration and research.

Our Vision is to inspire and challenge individuals and communities to achieve ecologically
sustainable lifestyles to secure a sustainable future for all life on earth.

There will not be a Sustainable Living Demo Home Tour in December or January.  Hope to see you at a tour in 2012!

 

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Quick Tips!


 

Stay in touch with CEC!

 

Watch "Environmentally Speaking" episodes!

 

Join CEC as a Participant in the Children & Nature Network!


 

Thanks to our
Corporate Sustainers
and Educational Partners!

First Bank Richmond

Reid Hospital and Health Care Services

West End Bank

Earlham College

Meijer

Richmond Baking Company

Stagg Safety Equipment

Stamm Koechlein Family Fdn.

AutoCar

Wayne Co. Prosecutor's Office

Whitewater Valley REMC Operation Round Up

Tri Kappa

Wayne County Foundation

LWC Inc.

Richmond Power and Light

Kicks 96

Warm Glow Candle Company

Smith Dairy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  SPONSORS  TOURS   |  SCHOOL PROGRAMS  |   SUMMER ADVENTURE PROGRAMS  |   GET ON THE BUS FUND APPLICATION   UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS

 

Programs & Events
"...I liked the hike, too.  It was the best thing I ever did in the forest."  
                                                                                       -School Program Participant


  Program Partners

           

         

 

Want to join these community leaders in supporting school, summer, and sustainability programs? 

 Email Alison for more information! 

  Monthly Tours

Sustainable Living Demo Home Tours:  Tours of the Sustainable Living Demonstration Home will be led by Facility and Grounds Director, Jeremy Mussoni, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 4:00. The fee for these tours is $5.00 per person.

Please note that tours are subject to change and cancellation.  Call CEC at 765-855-3188 to reserve your place! 

School Programs

CEC 2011-2012 Teacher Guide (downloadable PDF)

Program Confirmation Form

Teacher Evaluation

New Teacher Fund Application

CEC Field Trips:  Field trips are a vital part of every child’s learning experience.  CEC field trips allow children to experience nature and the environment first hand.  Repeated experiences outdoors are vital to children as they grow and learn.  All field trips are aligned to Indiana State Standards and can easily be formatted to fit Ohio State Standards.  Field trips include games, hikes, and activities to provide a positive outdoor experience for all students.  Although specific field trips have been created for each grade level, it is possible to adapt any of the current field trips to any grade level.  New field trips may also be created to fit a teacher’s needs with enough preparation time.  Please contact CEC Program Director Aubrey Blue for details.  Click on the picture to the left to see a slideshow of school programs!

Classroom Memberships:  Classroom memberships were created to encourage repeated classroom visits to Cope Environmental Center.  Repeat visits increase information retention and allow for a better understanding of our natural world.  The Classroom Membership has many benefits to ensure a great year of experiences for your classroom!  Some of these benefits include:

  • Two field trip visits to CEC- one fall and one spring (Maple Syrup trips are an additional $1 per student)

  • A copy of our quarterly Evergreen newsletter will be sent to you via email

  • A $10 discount on outreach programs (discount only to applies to first program if you schedule a series in one day)

  • CLICK HERE FOR A CLASSROOM MEMBERSHIP FORM!

Outreach Programs:  Bring CEC to your classroom!  The CEC program staff is available to visit your school to conduct quality education programs on a variety of topics including: bats, owls, nocturnal animals, reptiles and amphibians, recycling, bugs, ants, snakes, "Let's Adapt!" and "Mammal Showcase."  This is a sampling of available topics.  Programs can be developed to fit your needs.

Multiple Visits, Special Field Trips: Special field trips, such as multiple visit wetland or habitat studies and all-day programs are also possible at Cope Environmental Center.  Program ideas that may be facilitated at CEC include, but are not limited to: Native Americans and Surviving the Wild, Eco-Challenges, and Habitat Studies.  Full-day field trips and multiple visits require at least one month advance notice.  Fees are dependant upon the content and materials required for the program.  Please call for details.

Working on a special unit in your classroom?  Let CEC develop the perfect field trip to meet your specific needs!  We will work with you to develop one or more field trips to enhance your classroom curriculum.  Typical fees for special programs of 2-3 hours range between $4.00 to $ 7.00 per student. 

Nature Appreciation Hikes:  Interested in just getting your students outside to appreciate the outdoor world?  General nature hikes may last from 1-2 hours depending on your needs.  The fee is $ 3.50 per student.  Hikes may also be focused on specific topics such as wildflower identification, tree identification, or bird behavior and identification.

Self-Guided Field Trips:  We welcome teachers who are comfortable leading their class on a hike with self-led activities.  There is no charge for this option.  All self-led trips must be scheduled 2 weeks in advance and will be worked into the program schedule when possible.  Teachers must schedule their program time with the Program Director prior to the field trip.  This option is limited to our program schedule. 

Get on the Bus Fund:  This fund was developed to help off set transportation fees for schools that have a population of 50% or more participating in the free or reduced lunch program. If your school fits in this category, CEC has a limited amount of funding each year to help off set a portion or all of your transportation fees. This is a “first come, first served” fund.  CLICK HERE for an application.

Note: Classrooms that receive Get on the Bus Funds are still responsible for paying the program fee. CEC only grants 15 applications each semester and will pay up to $ 50 towards your transportation/bus costs. Each bus counts as one GOTB grant.

NEW to CEC Fund:  This fund was developed to help teachers get acquainted with CEC!  Never been to the Center with your classroom?  Now's the time to try us out!  This fund will pay for 50% of your field trip fees or 50% of your Classroom Membership.  Ask Aubrey Blue about this option when you call.   

  Summer Programs

Click here for the 2012 Summer Program Flyer!

2012 Registration
Registration begins March 1st. Members of CEC are able to sign up February 1st! Space is limited, but registration is open until the classes are full. Call CEC at 765-855-3188 to request a registration form (temporarily reserves your child’s spot in the class). Reservation forms must be returned with program fee within two weeks of receiving the form to secure your child’s spot in the program.

Program Fees
The program fee for each five day program of three hours is $70 for members and $80 for non-members. Conservation Camp and Eco Camp fees are $140 for members and $160 for non-members. Lunch Bunch programs are an additional $12.00 for the whole week.

Scholarships
Camp scholarships are limited and need-based. Please call 765-855-3188 for more information.

Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch is available if your child is enrolled in back to back programs (am & pm sessions). It is $12 for the week and requires your camper to bring his/her lunch in a reusable container to limit trash. It is supervised time to eat and play.

If your child brings his/her lunch to camp, please work with your child to pack a lunch that is as "trash-free" as possible!

 Spring Programs and Beyond!

Please pre-register for all programs by calling 765-855-3188.

Rosa's E-waste Recycling Program
Cope Environmental Center and Rosa’s Office Plus will be partnering with Asset Recovery & Recycling and Shred Monkey to offer Monthly E-Waste Recycling.  Bring your e-waste, used toner cartridges, old cell phones, and documents to shred and recycle them at Rosa’s. This will be a monthly event taking place on the third Saturday of every month. Click on the image  at left for more information. This event is open to everyone!
Date:  Every third Saturday of the month
Time:  9am-12pm
Place:  Rosa's Office Supplies Plus- 20 S. 11th St, Richmond
Fee:  FREE!
Sustainable Living Demo Home Tours
Tour this work-in-progress and learn about ways to make your home more sustainable!  Alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal are featured along with a variety of building products and methods.  Please call to pre-register at 765-855-3188. 

Date:  Third Wednesday of each month
Time:  4pm
Place: CEC Demo Home - 1792 Airport Road, Centerville
Fee: $5 per person
Turkey Fryer Oil Collection
Frying your bird this year?  Don't toss the oil!  We'll recycle it into biodiesel for use in our vehicles.  Bring sealed containers to CEC and place them under the "Recycling Depot" shelter (follow the signs).  Thanks for helping us reduce waste and produce local energy!

Date:  Beginning November 24th-January 31st.
Time:  Dawn-dusk
Place: Cope Environmental Center
Christmas Tree Collection
Don't kick your tree to the curb!  Let us recycle into mulch instead!  RP&L will chip collected trees in February for use on our trail system.  Please remove all decorations and place tree in designated area (follow signs).  Thanks for giving these trees a second life through CEC!
Date:  Beginning December 25th-January 31st.
Time:  Dawn-dusk
Place: Cope Environmental Center
Summer Program Registration
Don't miss out on our great line-up of Summer Adventure Programs!  These day camps are for children entering grades pre-k through 6th and offer a variety of experiences for your young explorer!  Download the flyer for descriptions!  
Date:  February 1st for members and March 1st for non-members
Time:  Call during office hours (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday) and ask for Aubrey!
Place:  Cope Environmental Center
Fee:  Program fee vary according to length. 
Volunteer Orientation
Think you have to love bugs to volunteer at Cope Environmental Center? No way! Come find out about all of the exciting volunteer opportunities available at CEC this winter and spring and get a good start on your New Year's resolutions! Check out a list of volunteer job descriptions here!

Date:  Saturday, February 4th
Time:  9:30-10:30
Place:  Cope Environmental Center
Fee:  FREE!

Family Maple Syrup Program
There's nothing like the real thing!  Join us for a program that takes
you through the history and process of making REAL maple syrup! 
Families will venture outside to the maple trees after a brief indoor
program.  Then, travel to the sap house to see the evaporator in
action.  Finish the morning with a pancake breakfast! Program fills
quickly--call soon to register!

Date:  Saturday, March 3rd
Time:  10am-12pm
Place:  Cope Environmental Center
Fee:  $5 for members, $8 for non-members, $4 for children

Girl Scout Maple Syrup Program Try-It
Travel back in time to discover how maple syrup was made by Native Americans and early settlers. Next, make your way to the sap house (constructed of reclaimed materials) for a lesson in maple syrup production in today's world. All participants will finish the morning with a pancake brunch and get to use local maple syrup! Girl price includes an earned Maple Syrup Try-It.   Class limit is 30 people.  THIS CLASS HAS FILLED. 

Date:  Saturday, March 10th
Time:  10am-12pm
Place:  Cope Environmental Center
Fee: 
$9 per girl; $5 per adult

Spring Toddler Times
Come and join the fun at CEC!  This popular program includes reading a story, making a crafts, singing songs and hiking outdoors.  The theme for each month correlates and with a children's story/picture book.  Limited space.  Please pre-register by the Tuesday before each program.
Date:  Third Wednesday of the month beginning March 21st
Time:  10-11am
Place:  Cope Environmental Center
Fee:  $3
Monthly Night Hikes with Hayes Arboretum
CEC joins Hayes each month to bring you a nighttime experience you won't forget!  Search for nocturnal critters and explore the night without flashlights!  Appropriate for all ages (just remember, it's dark!)- especially fun for families.  Pre-register by calling CEC at 765-855-3188 or Hayes at 765-962-3745.

Dates/Times: 
March 23rd at CEC at 8pm
APril 20th at Hayes at 8:30pm
May 25th at CEC at 9pm
June 22nd at Hayes at 9pm
July 20th at CEC at 9pm
August 24th at Hayes at 8:30pm
September 21st at CEC at 8pm
October 19th at Hayes at 8pm
Fee:  FREE for CEC and/or Arboretum members; $3 for all participants

Cope Environmental Center ~ 4910 Shoemaker Road, Centerville, IN 47330  ~  765-855-3188