The board has decided to postpone plans to redo the back room. I have been told it was never their intention to take every sensory item out. The proposal that I had was the first "general idea" and it was rejected by the board. Of course, continue to send in your comments and voice your opinions because there will be changes in the future, but they will not be as drastic as previously thought. Thank you everyone for all your care for Shipley Nature Center and I hope you continue to enjoy its unique beauty ❤️

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UPDATE:

Letter from the president of the board:

The Friends of Shipley Nature Center are developing a plan to renovate the small back area of the interpretative center inside the building at Shipley Nature Center. This renovation is an opportunity to upgrade the level of interpretative displays, as well as refresh the room for our visitors.

We have engaged the services of The Acorn Group to provide interpretative planning services for California's Next Generation Science Standards. The Friends Board and its Education Committee had worked with Acorn through various meetings and a brainstorming workshop to formulate best practices for interpretation for its target audience.

Interpretative panels and exhibits that could provide enjoyable, relevant and interactive experiences in cohesive, organized themes for all ages in relation to the outdoor habitats within the 18 acres of the Center.

We welcome your comments. Please send your comments to news@shipleynature.org. In the meantime, please enjoy the same level of services that SNC has been known for many years.

Upon completion of our modernization, we will offer expanded education experiences, such a "citizen science" without a decrease in those unique experiences which the nature center have been known.

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The new proposal for the Interpretive Center at Shipley Nature Center includes removal of all sensory experience for your children. They will remove the children's corner (puppets, books, toys, puzzles, puppet show), the diorama (taxidermy animals in a simulated real-life environment), fur wall (several furs tacked to the wall so the children may feel real-life animals) the egg case (a case filled with different real eggs with the respective birds listed), the nest case (several real-life nests with the respective birds listed), and much more. They want to replace everything with PLASTIC replicas, take it out completely or put it under glass. There will be NO sensory experience for your children. We propose the center still be updated while keeping these important learning tools for our children