Children's outdoor learning area spring clean up set for Monday

The annual volunteer spring clean-up day for the Children’s Outdoor Learning Area of the BigHorn Basin Nature & Discovery Center will be held Monday, May 6 beginning at 3 p.m. The public, friends, and neighbors are invited to help with seasonal refurbishment, clean-up, and installation of new learning/children’s activity equipment on the site at the entrance to Hot Springs State Park (the old Rio Drive-in Theater site adjacent to the existing Disc Golf Course). Bring your families, bring your friends, bring your gloves and join the fun.

This year’s event holds added excitement and interest. Groundbreaking for Phase One infrastructure for the long anticipated Nature and Discovery Center is looking like a reality and members of the Joint Powers Board are eager to discuss progress, plans, and upcoming community involvement in finalizing concepts and designs for the subsequent phases.

Joint Powers Board member Toddi Darlington said, “The future Nature and Discovery Center and the existing Outdoor Learning Area will show the importance of preserving our folk arts and sharing these arts with future generations. The Outdoor Learning Area provides educational and recreational opportunities for our community’s children and adults, including our special needs families. It’s a fun place. Come be a part of the Spring cleanup.”

Efforts in continuing to develop the Children’s Learning Area is helping draw the attention of area educators and visitors (particularly families and grandparents traveling with grandchildren). Hands-on learning activities and instruction will be strong components of the Learning Area and Discovery Center as we advance, we need your input and ideas.

Darlington added, “Let’s chat and spruce the place up, play some tunes on our musical installations as we replace winter damaged apparatus. Bonk, Toot, Boing!”

Donations and grant funds are providing for the purchase of new learning equipment, and the installation of future utility lines. Hot Springs County has sponsored a Wyo Transportation Department TAP Grant application for the construction of trailhead parking and sidewalks connecting the Outdoor Learning Area (future Nature and Discovery Center Site) to trails, disk golf, dog park, and easy, safe pedestrian access to Hot Springs State Park and into town. A previous TAP Grant provided the engineering and drawings to help develop the site.

The Joint Powers Board has received funding from Hot Springs County, Wyoming Community Foundation, Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, Rocky Mountain Power and a legacy donation from Hot Springs County Centennial Committee.

Volunteer for the afternoon, get some exercise, reacquaint yourself with neighbors and learn how your desires for the community can become a part of the BigHorn Basin Nature and Discovery Center.

For more information, contact Paul Berry at (720) 329-0301.