McCloud Nature Center Gets a Facelift
After extensive exterior work last summer , the Nature Center ’ s interior was renovated over the winter .
It ’ s been a long time coming , but the McCloud Nature Center is finally being updated . Immediately after Senior Park Naturalist Amber Gideon ( see page 4 ) began her employment with us , she and our other naturalists began orchestrating a redesign to bring in new exhibits , new technology , and new experiences for our park guests .
Ralph Wilkinson and Scott Hawkins of our maintenance crew got things started by tearing up the carpet in the library and installing new flooring , and the room then received a new coat of paint before being converted from a library to a nature nook . New exhibits and a unique reading space now fill the room .
Ralph and Scott made a bunch of changes to the main area of the Nature Center that will become immediately apparent to visitors , and then they made way for the naturalists to take the project to the finish line .
With the help of some volunteers from Sycamore Services , the naturalists repainted the interior . They created and built a new exhibit that was funded by the Robert A . Wood Environmental Education Fund of the Parks Foundation of Hendricks County , and they installed a large-screen TV that can be used with a new video game system with fun and educational nature-themed games .
Interpretive signage has been added to the Nature Center , there is a new play area underneath a new tree , and a new spot to compare your wingspan to those of a variety of birds can also be found .
Meanwhile , Park Manager Jim Holtsclaw designed a turtle to be hung on the wall to showcase the Nature Center ’ s adventure backpacks that are available to borrow . Jim and Scott joined forces to create the turtle out of wood from a fallen walnut tree at McCloud Nature Park .
The entire maintenance crew came in for a couple of days to put some finishing touches on the project , including installing new mirrors and hardware in the restrooms , and after one final flurry of activity , the Nature Center reopened just in time for Maple Syrup Days .
The renovations aren ’ t done , however ! More
remodeling will take place as time allows during the warmer months , and next winter , there will be even more changes inside !
Our goal is to make the Nature Center a warm and inviting place where people can learn and enjoy new things visit after visit . We look forward to seeing you there !
Summer 2024 • 5