Our Partners
Without our partners, the EcoLab wouldn’t have nearly the impact it does.
The Amos W. Butler Chapter of the National Audubon Society has been a supporter of the EcoLab from the beginning. AWB Audubon members have been active supporters of the EcoLab, providing volunteer assistance for stewardship activities, conducting bird surveys, and helping to publicize the EcoLab. In 2002, the AWB Audubon officially "adopted" the EcoLab as a special project, and plans are under development for the membership to conduct regular bird-watching tours, provide assistance with K-12 field trips, and hold regular stewardship days in the EcoLab.
The National Audubon Society (NAS) also is a partner in the future development of the EcoLab. Recently NAS, with the generous support of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, made a commitment to establish an Important Bird Area (IBA) program in Indiana, using the EcoLab as a model site. The IBA program was launched in early 2004. In addition, NAS has provided part-time programming staff for the EcoLab.
Cold Spring School (CSS), an Indianapolis Public Schools environmental magnet school, is Marian College's neighbor to the north and owns part of the original James A. Allison estate property. CSS frequently utilizes the EcoLab in its environmental education programming and has permitted Marian College and others access to its property for tours and field trips. In recent years, CSS has invested significant resources in removing invasive species, re-vegetating critical habitat areas, and creating trails and outdoor classroom activity stations for its students. Marian and CSS are partnering to share responsibility for K-12 programming and curriculum development, create unified property management plans, and allow seamless access to both properties. CSS also is working closely with Marian to restore and interpret significant portions of Riverdale, the Jens Jensen designed former estate of James A. Allison.
Finally, Marian has begun collaborating with the Life Science Education Center, LLC (LSEC), affiliated with Hook's Discovery & Learning Center, an Indianapolis-based organization that encourages exploration of the life sciences and captivates, motivates, an educates learners. Using interactive and hands-on education techniques, standards-based curriculum, and professional instructors, LSEC provides science education programs that enhance the learning experience for students and visitors to the EcoLab. The Life Science Education Center provides inquiry-based science education at the EcoLab for school groups and other youth groups, Cold Spring School students, and some public programming. |
