By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Buckeye Central Outdoor Learning Center took one step closer to being complete Saturday by the hard work and effort put forth by community members.
An estimated 45 to 50 people showed up at Buckeye Central for the third Community Day to help clear hiking paths in the woods, set up bird houses and put together observation stations.
Buckeye Central Middle School science teacher Marianne Williamson explained what the observations stations would be used for.
“We have some observation stations that we are setting up for classrooms to come out and be able to sit in a quiet area and maybe look at math in the woods, or maybe do some artwork in the woods, or maybe sit and reflect and work on their poetry exercises,” Williamson said.
Part of the project was funded through an ODNR Wild School Sites grant which students from Buckeye Central applied, one of the projects for the grant was to build and set bird nesting houses.
“Dave Kurtz just finished building the bird houses for us. My husband cut out all of the materials last night. So we had kits, so it was nice and easy to go together today,” Williamson explained. “So we are ready to take some posts out and drive those into the ground and set the bird houses. So we will have 10 throughout the property for right now.”
Williamson noted that the bird nesting houses were for blue birds and sparrows, but if more nesting houses are put up the school may try to attract a wider variety of birds.