Welcome to the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center! I am honored to serve as the director of this excellent facility that allows everyone to access the outdoor world free of charge. Thanks to the generous gift from Dr. John D. Brumbaugh, who donated his family’s historic farm and an endowment to maintain it, we all can experience the local environment and learn more about sustaining it. Currently, we manage 162 acres and nearly five miles of trails through forest, field, and farm habitats plus ponds, gardens, and other land uses. University-owned nature centers are rare, so we are very lucky to offer an amazing combination of educational, community outreach, and research opportunities to the staff, faculty, and students of Mount Union as well as other school groups and the general public.
Take a look at our website and newsletter and you will notice that our programs range from simply enjoying the gifts of nature, such as flower arranging; to experiencing the outdoor world first-hand, such as guided hikes; to contributing to our knowledge of the environment through research activities, such as bird banding. I highly encourage you to become involved in our work and community by participating as a guest, volunteer, educator, citizen scientist, or any other role you would like to play. The Nature Center staff is an exceptional group of friendly professionals with which to collaborate.
We are always looking for ways to improve our offerings and the experience of visiting our facilities. If you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns, please contact me at any time. I hope to see you on the trails soon!
Sincerely,
Chris Stanton,
Director of the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center
Professor of Biology