Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center
N 42° 19.349 W 084° 05.197
16T E 740067 N 4689693
The Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center, at the Waterloo Recreation Area near Chelsea, introduces visitors to the fascinating world of geology and to the diverse natural habitats that are found today within Waterloo's 20,000-plus acres.
Waymark Code: WM41KR
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 06/24/2008
Views: 45
The center's main exhibit room has a large, interactive map of the Waterloo area and features exhibits of the prominent habitats found within easy walking distance of the center, including the beech-maple forest, hardwood swamp and bog. Other exhibits feature descriptions of the prominent habitat types and plant communities that were prevalent at prior to European settlement including the oak barrens and the prairie fen, which are extremely rare today. A special display case holds a large collection of fluted spear points used by the Paleo-Indian hunters, and other cultural history artifacts, including a dugout canoe, are on display as well.
In the geology room, kids and families can discover that geology is fun! Visitors can enter a model ice cave to see themselves standing next to a giant beaver or Jefferson mammoth, or get the latest Ice Age "weather report." Youngsters will enjoy conducting experiments in the "Mad Scientist Lab" and the "Fossil Graveyard" features lift-a-rock models of fossilized bones and teeth. Touch-screen computer games will test your geology knowledge and you can view a large collection of rocks and minerals from throughout the state.
The center's auditorium features a dramatic multi-image program about Waterloo and step into the atrium to see an active honeybee colony. It's also a good spot for bird watching. Test your knowledge of birds by playing a fun touch-screen computer game.
Fifteen miles of hiking trails fan out from the discovery center. The trails include the Old Field Trail, which loops around an open area that gradually is being overtaken by shrubs. The Lowland Trail loops through a forested wetland, with a long boardwalk traversing the mucky area. The Spring Pond Trail loops around a shrubby swamp; the area attracts numerous wildlife species, especially during spring. The Bog Trail, Waterloo's best-known trail, offers an opportunity for hikers to view the bog's unique flora and fauna firsthand from a boardwalk that extends well into the bog. Oak Woods Trail is great for seeing geologic features and a nice view of Mill Lake before retreating back into a forested area. Lakeview Trail circles around a field as well as a young forested area. Farthest from the center and accessed at the park headquarters, the Hickory Hills Trail travels through a mature oak-hickory forest. This very hilly trail has a number of steep inclines, but offers a spectacular view of Crooked Lake.
Hours: From: 10:00 AM To: 5:00 PM
Open Year Round?: yes
Interpretive Programs?: yes
Live Animal Displays: Not Listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Visitors should visit the Nature Center and post a photo of themselves (or GPS unit) either inside or outside of the nature center visited. Logs without photos WILL be allowed if a lenghty description of one's visit and a mention of what they learned is included.