“I think (the farm center) is going to be a great asset to Aullwood and the community,” said Aullwood President Cindy Garner. “Aullwood is such a treasure anyhow. This is just going make it a better destination for people, and ... a terrific draw.”
The educational sanctuary annually attracts more than 110,000 visitors. Since 1962, its focus is on preserving and raising awareness of the environment.
Though Aullwood is still about $2 million short of the campaign goal, officials said the amount raised to date is remarkable considering the struggling economy. “This is the toughest fund raising climate I’ve experienced,” said Charity Krueger, center executive director since 1982. “It took us a little longer to reach our goals, but people donate to what they care about. Some people told us we’d have to wait awhile (for donations); but come back to them, and we did.”
The Farm Discovery Center will become the country’s only farm-based Head Start preschool as part of the new building that will showcase green practices.
“We have been doing field trips there, and the children love it,” said Diana Foreman, director of early childhood development for the federally funded Head Start program in Montgomery, Clark and Madison counties, which services more than 2,700 students. “This will be a classroom where children (ages 3-5) can see the nature they would not see normally.”
Krueger said the center is in the final phase of a seven-year project to renovate and upgrade the 200-acre sanctuary.
The new farm center building will be used for students to study water, soil and plant sciences, house the Head Start program (between 20 and 40 students) and serve as a community gathering place.
Last year, more than 59,000 children (and nearly as many adults) from 13 counties and 28 school districts visited Aullwood.
“The Head Start program, a nature-based preschool, that’s really going to be a model,” said Garner. “It will give children experience in nature beyond just walking in the woods.”
With money already raised, Aullwood renovated 12 farm buildings, upgraded its livestock, added $1.6 million to its endowment and has the money to start building the center, which begins phase two, which will add operating funds and money for programs.
“No one else is doing this in the area,” Krueger said. “When I was growing up, I knew lots of people on farms. Children don’t visit farms anymore. There’s a segment of the population who don’t know where our food comes from.”
LWC Inc., Dayton’s oldest architectural firm, and Brumbaugh Construction in Arcanum are among the lead contractors working on the new center.
Aullwood’s staffing of 13 full-time and 20 part-time or seasonal personnel as well as about 900 volunteers, is not expected to change.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157.
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