KENYON
GETS
ENVIRONMENTAL
Current Projects
Our History
The BFEC opened in 1995 as the Kenyon Center for Environmental Study. Its creation was spurred by the college’s desire to preserve the agricultural and natural character of surrounding lands, in addition to securing space for field work and outreach.
A school field trip program for elementary school children was one of the first public programs undertaken at the center. A demonstration garden of native plant species and a 1,000-tree pine forest soon followed. An eight-acre prairie was established in 1997.
Ray Heithaus, Kenyon Professor Emeritus and BFEC founder led a campaign to have the Kokosing River, which runs through the preserve, named as a State Scenic River in in 1998. Near that time, the BFEC planted trees and enrolled significant acreage along the river (within the preserve) in government conservation programs.
In 1999 the center was renamed to recognize a generous gift from the Minigowin Foundation in honor of Robert Bowen Brown (former Kenyon Provost) and family. This gift also allowed staffing to grow to two full-time and one part-time position.
In 2007, a new trail system was established in the northern section of the preserve (north of S.R. 229), more than doubling existing trail mileage. Restoration projects continued, including planting of 3,000 oak trees on the hillside above the prairie, tributary restoration along the corridor trail, and the establishment of Given’s Grove. In total, the BFEC has planted 10,000 trees since 1995.
The BFEC currently manages a diverse array of habitats in our 480 acre preserve to promote natural diversity, teaching and self-guided learning for students and community members of all ages.
Part of our mission is to share the story of Ohio's landscape, which has experienced extraordinary change in the last 200 years. Forests once blanketed the state, but coverage shrank to just 10% in the early 1900's. Forests have now grown back over about one-third of Ohio, and many species of wildlife have returned. What will our surroundings look like in 2100?
The goal of the BFEC is to help the land return to a healthy, self-sustaining ecosystem through strategies ranging from reforestation to education. This vision provides a future for Ohio’s natural diversity, as well as one offering clean air, clean drinking water and a beautiful place for the Knox County residents to call home.
We continue restoration of riparian and old field areas, including a current project of converting eight acres of agricultural land along Laymon Road to forest and prairie. We also continue to monitor and manage invasive plant species in sensitive areas.
The BFEC continues to offer programs that are usually free and open to the public on topics such as wildflowers, stargazing, nature art or medicinal plants. We have also created of regional outdoor recreation program with events like the Earth Day Challenge ½ Marathon and the MudMan Triple Trail Race series. Both Kenyon College students and community members continue to volunteer to bring 1,000 elementary school children to the BFEC on field trips every year.
Given the BFEC’s limited staffing, we have developed a plan to install outdoor signage in key areas to orient visitors and share educational information. A series of panels have been installed near our recourse center, along the Kokosing River Trail, and near Wolf Run (on the corridor trail).
BFEC staff have worked to increase connections to Kenyon academics through classes ranging from art to zoology, offering an opportunity to view nature through a new lens. English classes seek inspiration for haiku poems, while photography classes hone new techniques. Science students conduct research on topics such as bird foraging, bluebird nesting habits or the impacts of invasive species on forests. The BFEC also hosts research teams from a number of other institutions.
We are also pleased to be in the process of coordinating with other 'sustainability' initiatives on campus to create a more cohesive vision of Kenyon's role in community sustainability. Kenyon College currently has outstanding resources in the BFEC, Philander Chase Corporation, Kenyon Farm, and Rural Life Center; all organizations in the process of developing means to integrate as pieces of a larger sustainability picture.
As mentioned above, the BFEC is linked to many other campus organizations through joint sustainability initiatives, including the Rural Life Center, Philander Chase Corporation, and the Kenyon Farm. Many biology faculty members sit on advisory panel and regularly use the facilities for class work and research. Other faculty in English, Anthropology, and Art make use of the facilities.
We have also collaborated extensively with Gund Gallery and the Center for Global Engagement on public and school programs, and at times have worked with the Department of Dance and Drama to host dance performances. We also collaborate with faculty members and the Athletics Department to host the Earth Day Challenge ½ Marathon.
We are proud to provide strong linkages between the college and community. Our field trip program, for example, services all five Knox County school districts. We work with other local conservation organizations, such as the Knox County Park District, Owl Creek Conservancy, and local chapter of Pheasants Forever.
The Earth Day Festival, with a theme of “Healthy People, Healthy World”, provides a great opportunity to link with other organizations, especially health-related organizations that share our interest in the connections between the out-of-doors and mental and physical health. In 2014, we engaged a total of 93 local exhibitors, including health agencies, vendors of green products and services, and farm marketers.
We anticipate working with the college to manage recent acquisitions in the Kokosing River riparian corridor, and continue to restore additional acreage to natural habitats, especially in the River corridor. For example, an aquatic ecology course is helping to develop plans for wetland restoration in an area that is currently leased by the BFEC for row-crop.
We will also continue work to integrate more fully with college academics and student life. We have recently made advances in upgrading our website, and will soon join the 21st century in using social media to continue outreach efforts to the Kenyon and Knox County communities.
Under new leadership, the college will be engaging in strategic planning process that we are excited to be a part of, to continue to take additional advantage of opportunities for growth and linking with other sustainability initiatives on campus.
Links
The Future
Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC)
The Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC) is a 480-acre preserve located in the Kokosing River valley of central Ohio. Our mission: to conserve natural diversity and engage people of all ages with nature. The BFEC also provides opportunities for education and research.
The BFEC serves both Kenyon College and the general public though providing access to natural areas, programming, and academic support. The preserve is open to the public daily from dawn-to-dusk, offering picnic facilities, 8 miles of trail, and a wildlife garden featuring 60 species of native plants and the bees, butterflies, and birds they attract.
Through public programs, outdoor recreation, and school field trips, we engage approximately 5,000 people every year. This does not count the many people enjoy the facilities on their own.
Contact Information
Director of Programming: Heather Doherty (dohertyh@kenyon.edu)
Director of Facilities: David Heithaus (heithausd@kenyon.edu)