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MARBLE SPRINGS OUTDOOR EDUCATION
AREA (MSOEA)
 Mission Statement:
"The Marble
Springs Outdoor Education Area provides an active learning environment
dedicated to conserving the natural history and cultural heritage of the
community."
HRWC
is helping to facilitate the development of an outdoor environmental
education area
on
property
adjacent to the Marble Elementary School in Cherokee County, NC.
The property,
which is being donated by NC Rep. Roger West, contains the
original Marble Springs, Hyatt Creek (which is a designated trout
stream), a wetland area, and an area of native pine forest.
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aerial map
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conceptual
master
plan |
HRWC staff recruited
Mary Jo Deck with the Region A Partnership for Children and began
working with Cherokee County native, Col. Howard Lovingood to bring
together stakeholders. A committee formed and, at HRWC's
recommendation, enlisted the services of NC State University's Natural
Learning Initiative (NLI). The NLI is a research and extension
program of the College of Design and the Initiative's mission is to help
communities create places for learning, environmental education
and play.
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In January
2006, a public planning workshop was facilitated by staff of
NLI; 23 people participated representing many
interests (see below).
Design plans for the MSOEA
will be completed this summer. |
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Andrews
High School
Andrews
Recreation Department
Andrews
Valley Initiative,
Trails Committee
Appalachian
Heritage Alliance
Cherokee
County Christian School
Cherokee
County Cooperative Extension
Cherokee
County Government
Cherokee
County School Board
Cherokee
County Schools
Hiwassee
River Watershed Coalition, Inc.
Homeschoolers 4-H
Marble
Elementary School
Marble Elem. Parent/Teacher Organization
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Southwestern
NC RC&D Council
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In March, workers
from the BRIDGE program, the NC Forest Service and local inmates began
removing non-native, invasive plants from the MSOEA site. BRIDGE
stands for Building, Rehabilitating, Instructing, Developing, Growing
and Employing and is a cooperative effort of the NC Division of Prisons
and the NC Division of Forest Resources. The program trains
non-violent youthful offenders ages 18-21.
A
logo contest for the Area was held in May; all Cherokee County students
were invited to submit a
design. The winner was announced at the Coalition's
3rd Annual Trout Dinner. The winning design was created by Joey Macaluso who
recently graduated from
Hiwassee Dam High School.
(Click on the thumbnail image
to the right to enlarge the winning
image.)
In July, additional
non-native, invasive plant removal took place by a group of 28 students required to serve
six volunteer hours as part of their participation in the "Upward Bound"
program at Western Carolina University.
Many
partnerships have been formed in order to make so much progress on this
project; these community partnerships continue to grow around the
momentum of the MSOEA.
If you would like to
become involved or help provide input on this project, contact the
Coalition office at
info@hrwc.net.
Click here
for pictures of the
MSOEA activities!
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