11-06-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS Wargo Nature Center currently has several successful partnerships with the University of Minnesota, Connexus Energy, the YMCA, Anoka County Libraries, Forest Lake Family Center, and Oneka and Linwood Elementary School Forests. Two important partnerships are highlighted below. University of Minnesota Partnership The University of Minnesota School of Design - Architecture Program, will be partnering with the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department in the design and installation of a variety of structures and enhancements at the Wargo t Nature Center. There are several exciting initiatives outlined in the new Nature Center Master Plan that are well suited to this endeavor. Starting in the spring of 2016, graduate level students will be engaged in a design/build program focusing on "real life" projects at the Nature Center. This will be followed with hands on production during the summer months. It is anticipated that the program could last for several years. The new collaboration will also include the development of strategies for securing matching funds to advance the projects from alumni and enthusiasts of the University of Minnesota Architecture Program. The County will also be seeking grants to be combined with the Edith Wargo Fund to underwrite the cost of these projects. Connexus Energy Partnership Connexus Energy has been an outstanding support organization for the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department for over 20 years. Connexus Energy, a local customer -owned utility, has provided financial support of over $500,000 for two award-winning programs. Thanks to Connexus's generous continuing financial support, over 600,000 students in Anoka County have been able to participate in the Wildlife Outreach and Heritage Lab programs. The Wildlife Outreach program is provided free to local schools and provides presentations on Minnesota animals in an informal and fun manner.The Wildlife Outreach Program is conducted by staff naturalists at various school sites in the northern metro area. School groups choose a topic from a list of eight possible MN animals to augment their curriculum. The presentations are about 45 minutes each and focus on the animal's habitat, adaptations and conservation issues. Artifacts such as furs, bones, mounts, and costumes are used to bring the animals to life. Each student takes home a brochure that covers key points of the presentation. Participants to the Heritage Lab travel through a daylong living history program that focuses on different time periods of MN history. Heritage Lab is a full day, out -door environmental and historical program. Students come for the entire day and participate in hands-on activities that typify an historical period such as: theVoyageur Era, Minnesota Milling, Mining, & Lumbering, Native Americans and the Civil War Era. Students fully engage in the time period as the area is transformed into a specific time period and staff members take on the persona of individuals from various walks of life in a given time period. Without the tremendous financial assistance of Connexus Energy, these programs would not happen. Wah 1 1 4� 1 ill in Wargo's Wildlife Outreach program is supported by Connexus Energy Heritage Lab day camps are also supported by an annual grant from Connexus Energy Wargo Nature Center Master Plan - March 2015 Chapter 5: Implementation 53