Project Grant DEEE0010686

THE PROJECT WILL REDEVELOP THE 48-ACRE CAMPUS WITH STATE-OF-THE ART FACILITIES TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF NATIVE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION, ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, SCHOOL GROUPS, YOUTH GROUPS, WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS, OTHER UNITS OF GOVERNMENT AND WILDLIFE-NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE CENTERPIECE OF THE NEW CAMPUS IS A 28,500 SF WILDLIFE REHABILITATION MEDICAL CLINIC AND VISITOR CENTER. INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR EXHIBITS WILL CREATE AWARENESS OF HUMAN IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE WHILE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW TO AVOID AND MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS. INSIDE THE NEW CLINIC, A 3,400 SF VISITOR CENTER WILL INCLUDE ONE WAY VIEWING WINDOWS, LIVE AND RECORDED VIDEO FEEDS AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS FOCUSING ON THE BEHIND THE SCENES PROCESSES OF REHABILITATING WILDLIFE WHILE PROVIDING AN UNDERSTANDING OF COMMON NEGATIVE WILDLIFE/HUMAN CONFLICTS. AN EXHIBIT WILL BE DEDICATED TO NET ZERO AND DEMONSTRATE THE CONCEPT OF A CARBON FOOTPRINT, THE CONNECTED ENVIRONMENT THAT CREATES A COMMUNITY (ANIMALS, PLANTS, ECOSYSTEMS, AND PEOPLE), AND HOW NET ZERO HELPS TO REDUCE THE FORMER WHILE IMPROVING THE LATTER. AN 800 SF INDOOR CLASSROOM WITH WET LAB AND CAPACITY FOR 48 PEOPLE WILL ACCOMMODATE INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING, CONFERENCES, AND TRAINING FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS. OUTSIDE, ADDITIONAL 800 SF OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AND ONE-MILE LONG INTERPRETIVE TRAIL WILL ADD EXPANDED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOCUS ON THE REHABILITATION OF THE LAND WHILE PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE WILDLIFE IN THEIR NATURAL HABITATS AND INTERPRETIVE NODES THAT PROMOTE ACTION TO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE CENTER'S EXISTING APPROXIMATELY 10,000 SF OUTDOOR REHABILITATION ENCLOSURES WILL BE EXPANDED TO ALMOST 30,000SF TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SPACE IN ACCORDANCE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION STANDARDS FOR 200+SPECIES OF NATIVE ANIMALS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ENCLOSURE WILL BE A NEW LARGE 10,000 SF RAPTOR BARN.