Lower Trent Conservation is celebrating its 50th anniversary! To commemorate this milestone occasion, we have released our ’50 in 50′ historical blog series. This special series features 50 articles highlighting some of the achievements, milestones and events of the past 50 years. We hope you enjoy them!
In July 1978, Lower Trent Conservation was presented with a proposal from a local school board to locate a building at Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area for their Out of School Learning Program. Recognizing the importance to have students get outside to develop a curiosity and love for the outdoors, Lower Trent Conservation was very supportive of the idea. The Outdoor Education Centre was established by the Northumberland Newcastle Board of Education. In the fall, they moved a one room portable onto the site where students from their school board would attend outdoor activities.
Over the years, this building offered many students a home base for amazing outdoor experiences. The Conservation Area offered an exceptional backdrop for outdoor learning utilizing the stream and trails to its full capacity. Though the building had no plumbing and had outhouses for bathrooms, the winter was one of the favourite times of the year for the students to visit this special place.
By the early 1990’s, the busy outdoor education centre was beginning to show signs of age and wear. Unfortunately, with no excess funds available within the Conservation Authority’s small property management budget, a replacement facility seemed very remote.
The hope of continuing the long standing tradition of youth environmental education at Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area was renewed in 1997. A financial windfall of court directed funds from a local environmental spill permitted the building of a new facility on the property.
The official opening for the Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Centre took place in the fall of 1997. The outdoor centre has hosted special interest groups, day camps and students of all ages. The Conservation Authority entered into an agreement with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board to offer outdoor education at the Conservation Centre and this arrangement continues today.
