Fenner Conservancy announced today the naming donors for the capital construction project slated to begin in the spring of 2019 at Fenner Nature Center. Long-time members and supporters Susan and Jack Davis have contributed $175,000 towards this valuable community initiative. In recognition of their support, the structure will be named the Susan and Jack Davis Nature Pavilion.
“We recognize that we need to invest in our children's understanding and appreciation of the environment and donating to this project was one way we could help make that happen.” Susan Davis said.
“This building will quadruple the number of environmental education programs and volunteer trainings that Fenner Nature Center is able to offer, while equipping the next generation with the environmental ethic they will need to face the complex environmental challenges in the future,” Fenner Conservancy executive director Liz Roxberry said.
The additional building will provide more than 2,500 square feet of four-season, teachable space. The universally-accessible space is being designed to engage community members with the outdoors, even inside. The drafted design includes vaulted ceilings and numerous sets of French doors leading to covered patios overlooking 19 acres of restored native prairie.
“Here at Fenner, we emphasize place-based, immersive learning,” Roxberry said. “Our mission is to connect people to nature through conservation, education, and stewardship. The way we form these connections is by experiencing the natural world first hand, learning by seeing, touching, even tasting. This additional building will help us meet our community’s demand for those learning and service opportunities, and we are so fortunate to have individuals like Susan and Jack Davis in our community who support us.”
The Davises are long-time supporters of Fenner Conservancy, Roxberry said, sponsoring the Maple Syrup Festival, the Apple Butter Festival and the Davis Donor Patio. Susan Davis credits her family and upbringing with instilling in her a love and appreciation of nature. This has led to the Davis’ support of this important new venue, the Davis Nature Pavilion.
“We’re in a race to conserve our natural world,” Susan Davis said. “We are thrilled to lend our support to this new facility, which will be dedicated to fulfilling Fenner Conservancy’s mission of conservation, education and stewardship.”
About Fenner Nature Center
Fenner Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that hosts more than 60,000 visitors annually. The grounds contain over four miles of trails for visitors to explore and view live native reptiles, amphibians, songbirds, deer and wild turkeys. Fenner’s signature event is the annual Apple Butter Festival, which draws thousands of visitors every fall.
Fenner Nature Center is located at 2020 E. Mount Hope Ave., Lansing. Visitor Center hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 12 noon-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, please visit mynaturecenter.org or call 517-483-4224.
