A great reason to set your alarm early! Wake up for this casual hike with local birders Jim Seaney and Ron William on Monday mornings from April 19, 2010 through May 24, 2010. Watch the spring migration and enjoy the early morning beauty of CEC.
FREE!

The Palladium-Item in Richmond published an article today about taking advantage of locally grown food:

1,500 miles. That is how far the average food item travels before reaching your plate. Imagine a cross-country trip with your family. The cost to fuel your vehicle, keep your family cool, and the wear and tear it takes on your vehicle and your family. This is the typical journey of a large variety of food items. For items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, 1,500 miles can do a number on the quality and freshness of those items. The amount of fuel burned and pollution emitted from the journey of out-of-season bananas from Costa Rica consume a great deal of fuel and other natural resources.

You can read the full article, or view the local food directory (hosted here at ProgressiveWayneCounty.org) mentioned in the paper. Thanks to Stephanie Hays-Mussoni for putting this article together!

Cope Environmental Center will offer yoga classes every Wednesday May 6 – August 26 from 5:30 – 6:30. Classes will be taught by Stephen Johnson. Stephen has been involved in sports and fitness training throughout his whole life. He completed his Yoga teacher training through CITYOGA in Indianapolis. The class is open to all levels of yoga experience. Classes will be held in tranquil outdoor settings. In the event of rain, classes will be held inside the education center. Yoga is a wonderful practice to invite peace to the mind, body and spirit. Come reconnect with nature and yourself. Reap the benefits of balance, calmness, and wellness. Pre-registration is requested, but walk-ins are welcome.  continue reading »

We’re up and running! CEC was recently granted a FuelMeister II which converts ordinary used cooking oil (aka: french fry grease) to useable, clean biodiesel! Stop by to see the new equipment, learn about the process and get the latest about ways we are using it to “green” our daily operations.

Date: Wednesday, May 20th
Time: 5:00-6:00pm
Place: CEC, 4910 Shoemaker Road, Centerville

Toddler Time: "Grover's Top 10 to Help the Earth!" Join us for some exciting hikes, fun songs, and cool crafts! All toddlers are welcome! Please call CEC at 765-855-3188 or email Aubrey at a.blue@copeenvironmental.org by the Tuesday before each class to reserve your spot. Please dress for the weather! This program takes place on April 15th from 10am to 11am and is $3.00 per child.

As a part of Earlham College's free forums on Sustainability in the Community, Phil Seybold will give a talk entitled "Green Building Construction and Renovation". Phil Seybold is owner of Advanced Construction Technology and Sustainability Educator for Cope Environmental Center. Held on the campus of Earlham College, the Richmond Room, Landrum Bolling Center, Thursday March 26th.

7:30 a.m. - Breakfast Buffet, Richmond Room
Make your $5.00 reservation for breakfast by calling (765) 983-1393 or email leama@earlham.edu.

8:00 a.m. - Presentation
Free Admission – no ticket required

CEC to put used cooking oil to work! Will run tractors and mowers on biodiesel produced on the property!

Centerville, Indiana - Cope Environmental Center was recently awarded a grant from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation to purchase a FuelMeister II. This piece of equipment will convert used cooking oil (from restaurant fryers) to biodiesel suitable for use in tractors, lawn mowers, and even vehicles. CEC will be partnering with the local Elks Lodge and Country Club to make this long-awaited effort a reality. “I’m really looking forward to this project and partnership. Hopefully, this will help us both and do something good for the environment at the same time,” said Glen Alexander, General Manager at Elks.  continue reading »

The Cope Environmental Center is pleased to once again participate in the Wayne County Alternative Gift Fair held on December 6th from 1-4pm at the New Reid Hospital in Richmond!

At the Fair, “shoppers” can purchase donations to area agencies in honor of loved ones in lieu of buying physical presents. The shopper will walk away with certificates wrapped elegantly in reusable boxes with beautiful ribbon. More importantly, they will walk away with a sense of satisfaction that they completed their holiday list while helping the community. This year, we are fortunate to have the support of the Wayne County Foundation, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Summersault, LLC. All three organizations will match a portion of the funds raised that day based on attendance, so don’t forget to stop by Reid Hospital on December 6th for this great community-based event! Enjoy a sustainable shopping experience while you relax to music, free chair massages, refreshments, and free childcare!

Take a tour of an organic dairy farm right here in Wayne County! This is the opportunity to become acquainted with a local organic farmer and understand the value of organic farming and the impact it has on you as a consumer. Learn what it really means to be an organic farm from raising and feeding and milking the cows to transporting and packaging the milk as an organic product. You will hear about the certification requirements and what it takes to earn and retain organic certification. The dairy is a member of the Organic Valley cooperative. The milk produced on this farm is purchased by Organic Valley and processed locally at Smith Dairy.  continue reading »

The Indiana Master Naturalist classes are a beginner's program of nature discovery and service learning for adults. It is being hosted by the Cope Environmental Center on Wednesdays from September 3rd through November 5th, 6-9 PM. The cost is $150 per person, and registration is limited.

The Master Naturalist Program is designed to provide hands on opportunities to learn about Indiana’s natural resources for beginning naturalists or those who are looking for a refresher course. It also provides a way for you to share that knowledge through volunteer service.  continue reading »