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Nature At Your Doorstep! Campaign for the Guelph Lake Nature Centre
Do you know a Guelph Lake kid - or were you one yourself? Since 1982, the Guelph Lake Nature Centre has offered curriculum-based, hands-on outdoor education programs to more than 600,000 people from Guelph, Wellington County and beyond. These programs are vital to shaping our environmental values and kids' sense of wonder in the world.
The current Centre, located on Conservation Road, was once a single family home. Every year, up to six classes per day visit; with so many people coming through our doors, the building has reached the end of its useable lifespan. Demand for programs is higher than the current Centre can accommodate.
About the New Centre
The new Centre will be located within Guelph Lake Park, less than one kilometer away. It will do more than just provide a purpose-built place for kids to learn: it will offer our entire community a new environmental hub for active living and nature programs. With the City of Guelph expanding rapidly, Guelph Lake is no longer far away - it's at your doorstep!
The Centre will include four purpose-built learning areas which may be expanded to accommodate larger groups, multi-purpose space for park visitors and community groups to gather, a room to care for resident animals and indoor-outdoor learning spaces for people of all ages - all with a beautiful view of Guelph Lake. In addition to 20,000 students per year, about 200,000 park visitors can make use of this unique space. The Centre is anticipated to open in mid-2020.
The Campaign
Our campaign goal is $2.5 million and nearly $2 million has been raised to date. The support of many generous supporters and volunteers is leading us to great success!
"Guelph Lake is such a huge part of our community and our family. It's exciting to see so many community leaders step up and help support the Grand River Conservation Foundation in building this new facility." - Susan Frasson, Honourary Campaign Chair Family
It's a Busy Summer!
-Join us for a special afternoon concert at the Guelph Lake Nature Centre on Sunday August 26 by The Lifers, to wrap up their international Little Dens tour. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy music on the shore of Guelph Lake!
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Proceeds from the tour and album will support the purchase of terrariums, aquariums and other homes for creatures at the new nature centre.
-This year's River Dinners, held on June 25, raised $15,600 for the new Centre. Since 2011, The Neighbourhood Group ( operator of the Wooly, Mijiidaa, Borealis Grille & Bar in Guelph and Borealis Grille & Bar in Kitchener) and GRCF have partnered to protect our rivers and our natural world. To date, the dinners have raised more than $90,000 for the new Centre.
-In May and June, students enrolled in Conestoga's College's Heavy Construction Equipment Operation program got the initial site work underway by grading the road access, bus turnaround and parking lot for the new centre. Watch the video to see the big change on the future nature centre site!
Recent donations include:
-$200,000 from the Estate of Gil Henderson, a passionate conservationist with a 50-year record of support for GRCA outdoor education and forestry programs as well as agencies such as Ducks Unlimited and the Tim Horton's Charitable Foundation. Gil's contributions were profiled in the July 2017 issue of GRCA Grand Actions.
-$50,000 from SC Johnson & Son Canada of Brantford, a longtime GRCA and GRCF supporter and significant contributor to projects throughout the Grand River watershed and beyond.
-$10,000 from the Bishop's Dinner of the Wellington Catholic District School Board, a three-decade program partner at the Centre. This new contribution brings WCDSB's total contributions to $90,000.
-$2,250 from the AO Smith Foundation, bringing their total contributions to more than $15,000.
Make a contribution to the Centre today!
For more information about recognition options, including naming opportunities for donors of $25,000 or more, please contact Sara Wilbur.
Volunteers have played a big role in getting the Centre's learning grounds ready - get involved! Opportunities at other GRCA locations are also available.
Want to Get Outside?
The Guelph Lake Nature Centre offers a wide array of Summer Adventure Day Camps for children and young adults looking to connect with nature in fun and exciting ways. If you're interested in spending a week at the lake this summer, check out our day camps, or visit Guelph Lake Park for camping, swimming and more!
