The hoot of a barred owl.
The blue wings of waterfowl.
The majesty of a bald eagle.
Seeing animals is a treasured experience for people of all ages at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. Families and groups enjoy up close encounters with native wildlife free of charge, 7 days a week. Students work alongside our specialists to learn first-hand how we care for our resident animals and rehabilitation patients. Visitors find assistance for injured animals to the Center to be rehabilitated and released back to the wild.
Covering 20,000 square feet behind Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, the Wildlife Gardens are beloved by people of all ages for the up close encounters with our many resident animals including skunks, hawks, a bald eagle, crows, owls, and falcons. The Wildlife Gardens also house some wildlife patients, out of view of the public, in special structures to help them regain strength before release to the wild. Last renovated in 2000, the Wildlife Gardens are well-used and effected by weather and time. To improve experiences for visitors, the Board of Directors has launched the Wildlife Gardens Education and Renovation Project after several years of planning and fundraising.
The Wildlife Gardens Education and Renovation Project will create more engaging learning experiences about native animals, provide ample space for students to learn alongside our wildlife specialists, and raise visibility of wildlife rehabilitation efforts.
The Project will:
- Remove and replace exhibits and structures
- Improve the quality of animal habitats
- Widen pathways to provide space for school and community groups
- Replace the protective perimeter fence
- Increase sustainability
The Project will be supported by a $1,500,000 fundraising effort, which will be the Center’s largest capital investment in our free offerings for the public.
As an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization, the Center relies on donations and grants to support day-to-day operations in addition to capital improvements. Renovations will be funded entirely by private donations from our visitors, foundation grants, and corporate contributions. Designing and planning has been underway during spring and summer, and we anticipate to break ground for the Wildlife Gardens Project by year end.
People increasingly need ways to connect with and learn about nature, and to find professional assistance for injured animals. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center helps to meet their needs by providing wildlife rehabilitation services, information for the public, engaging nature programs for all ages, and live animal exhibits indoors and outdoors in the Wildlife Gardens. These informal experiences, all of which will be enriched by the Wildlife Gardens Education and Renovation Project, help people develop connections with wildlife, and gain an awareness of their existence in our surrounding landscapes.
For more information about the Wildlife Gardens Project, please contact Morgan Paskert Haines at morganp@lensc.org or 440-471-8359.
How to make a donation:
Online:
Click here.
By Mail:
Send a donation in the mail to:
Lake Erie Nature & Science Center
28728 Wolf Road
Bay Village, OH 44140
Matching Gifts:
Ask your employer about matching your donation. Obtain a matching gift form from your employer and send it to the Center with your donation.
Donor-Advised Funds:
Lake Erie Nature & Science Center accepts grants from donor-advised funds. The Center is a nonprofit organization, Tax ID #34-0845030.
Stock/Appreciated Securities:
Donations of stock may be arranged by calling 440-871-2900 x201 to request transfer instructions.
Donation with an Individual Retirement Account (IRA):
You can make a distribution from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) as a “qualified charitable distribution”. This may be of interest to people 70 ½ years of age or older. Provide instructions for a charitable rollover to your IRA custodian. The Center is a nonprofit organization, Tax ID #34-0845030.
Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is a nonprofit organization. Tax ID #34-0845030