Eco Wing Visits the Ecology Center

All semester long, I’ve felt a little like Sherlock Holmes investing a crime scene: the case of the missing pro-environmental attitude. (Or something.) So many of the people we’ve run across have mentioned or taken part in the Ecology Center—all of our clues lead us that way. So, finally, after a great deal of scheduling and re-scheduling, the eco wing girls and I took a tour of the Ecology Center at San Juan Capistrano today. So, here's my take on what we learned today, and perhaps the other girls will want to share some of their thoughts in a post as well.

            The Ecology Center, now in its fifth year of operations, is an old farmhouse (Victorian details) surrounded on three sides by an unaffiliated farm. The front yard is not a lawn but instead native plants, succulents, and other drought-resistant plants.

            Inside the house is a small gift shop, but the center’s main focus is children’s education and workshops. Around the site they have multiple displays and interactive activities (scavenger hunts, workshops) under the themes of water, food, waste management, shelter, and energy. For example, they have a traveling watershed-mobile, which is a trailer (painted with whales and water) that opens up to an interactive game where children choose how to spend their “water allowance” and see the effects their choices make. Sarah and I want to invite the watershed-mobile on campus for International Festival next year through Environmental Department.

            Overall, I think my favorite thing about the Ecology Center was the crisp, simple design of all the art and layouts. They were iconic, replicable, and easy to spot in the foliage. The pretty, thoughtful design made me want to be there and made me want to try making my own… everything!

            The day after graduation, the Ecology Center is hosting a beekeeping workshop, and I am determined to go. I’ve tried twice this semester to go to two other beekeeping workshops, but have been thwarted by bad weather or lack of a car. Maybe the third attempt will be the charm!

Blue bins for recyclables - color coding + examples

A rainwater catchment cistern

The inside of the greenhouse - designed like a beehive to use the least amount of materials and remain strong

A sink that helps monitor water usage