The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes keeps finding new ways for more people to enjoy nature. Not only has it recently opened its building to visitors (its trails remained open throughout the pandemic) but it’s finishing up a series of projects to expand access and connections to nature.
It has just finished Jimmy’s Treehouse, which opened to the public on July 17. The treehouse, which is open to people of all ages and abilities during regular Nature Center hours, will give campers, school groups, families and individual visitors another outdoor location to explore and another way to look at the surroundings. Unless there’s a class going on, anyone can go into the treehouse for a bird’s eye view.
Jimmy’s Treehouse is just one phase of its $6.1 million capital campaign, which aims to restore habitats and enhance visitor experience with new features and interpretative elements. It already opened its ADA-accessible All People’s Nature Trail in 2019. New features in the pipeline include enhanced neighborhood entrances and a children’s nature play area, intended to be finished this fall.
“Each of our new features, including Jimmy’s Treehouse, are transforming the Nature Center into a local destination, says Nature Center president/CEO Kay Carlson. “It is yet another example of many new, engaging trail features that will help adults and children spend more time outdoors while gaining a deeper appreciation and connection to nature.”
Find out more about the work being done to rejuvenate the center at shakerlakes.org/outdoorclassroom.