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Learning Is Second Nature

Tribune photo by KATHY MOORE

Students from Young Middle Magnet School gather for lunch under a pavillion at Nature's Classroom in Thonotosassa. The shelters are among the renovations at the outdoor facility.

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

THONOTOSASSA - For three days, Young Middle Magnet students had a chance to experience nature in all forms.

The sixth-graders handled snakes and mammals, including a bunny and an opossum, took water samples, learned about survival in the wild and followed a compass course.

Last week was their school's visit to Nature's Classroom, a 365-acre environmental education center on the Hillsborough River. It was rededicated Feb. 17 following a $4 million renovation, funded by donations through a capital campaign begun in 2000.

Philip Li, 12, a Young Middle student from Riverview, said his favorite part was visiting the new animal compounds, which provide natural habitats for bears, a fox squirrel, whitetail deer, a bobcat and other creatures.

"It's hard to get to see them anywhere else anymore," said Li, as his class focused on a discussion of the difference in wetlands, hardwood forests and other terrain. A resident peacock strolled by their outdoor classroom as lead teacher Karen Folsom gave a lecture before taking students on a hike.

Nature's Classroom, 13100 Verges Road, was founded in 1968 as a partnership between the Hillsborough County school district and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. However, because of budget cuts in the late 1990s, it appeared the center would close. A committee of community members and the Hillsborough Education Foundation stepped up to save it. They began the capital campaign Students First for renovations.

Former Gov. Bob Martinez and community activist Amy Shimberg chaired the committee. The money resulted in new habitats for the animals, new and renovated classrooms, three river shelters, additional boat docks, a welcome center, an interpretive center, restrooms and sidewalks throughout.

Martinez, a member of the foundation's board, said, "We felt we need a good facility to go with a good program. We did it at the right time with the right board."

The animals' previous habitats were large cages close to the flood area from the river. Now the animals have been moved to higher ground with native plants, grass perches and other amenities in their enclosures.

Jill Fox, a teacher at the classroom, said, "The natural environment is a great way to teach about camouflage and adoptions."

Fox said she shows students how the panthers blend into the brown foliage and how the deer can lie in leaves and hardly be seen.

Young Middle Magnet student Brian Roque, 11, said learning what brought the animals to the compound was the most interesting thing he heard. Some had been shot, some had been hurt in accidents, others had been abandoned, and some had been pets.

Habitat classrooms are located throughout the animal compounds so student groups can stop and have a discussion of what they have seen.

The complex now includes an interpretive center that can be used for lectures. It is rented for special events and served as the site for the rededication ceremony.

Martinez said the center is a big asset "because with the threat of rain, the students had to go back to their schools." Now they can have lectures and demonstrations.

In the 40 years, more than 350,000 students have experienced the facility. Before spending three days at the classroom, two weeks of environment curriculum is covered at the students' school.

For some children, particularly those in the inner city, it is their first experience in nature, Martinez told about 100 guests gathered for the rededication.

"Sadly, some see only sidewalks and streets," Martinez said.

The center is normally open only to the school groups. However, it will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a free open house and nature festival, Woods, Water and Wildlife, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18 to 19.

For information about Nature's Classroom, call (813) 987-6969 or visit www.natures classroom.net.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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