The National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) selected Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center as the best park and recreation facility in the country. Click here for more information.
Facility Information
The Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center is a state-of-the-art science and educational facility that connects people with nature. It features educational exhibits, fully equipped high-tech classrooms, an astronomical observatory, a biology/ biotechnology lab and a weather station.
Located on approximately 250 acres of beautiful and ecologically diverse open space rich in both cultural and natural history, Big Creek and Jordan Creek are protected on this property. Students, educators and residents of Northeast Ohio will benefit from the unique partnerships, programs and projects that are and will continue to be developed at this facility.
A partnership with the Lake County Educational Service Center relocated the award-winning Porter Program for Science and Mathematics to the Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center. Future partnerships with educational institutions will expand learning opportunities for grades pre-K through 12 along with college level classes, internships and professional development for educators.
This facility is open for pre-registered programs only.
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Through its affiliation with the WeatherBug® Schools Network, Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center now has its own online weather page called the Online Weather Center. This page is similar to the WeatherBug desktop with live conditions, forecasts and links to other information on one page.
Live Conditions are links to daily or monthly weather observations and a graphing link that can show the temperature over 1 day, or 2 days, or 7 days. The graph’s left and right axis have drop-down boxes that can be changed to show humidity, wind speed or other recorded weather data for the time period. Above the live camera picture you can also change tabs to maps or look at other WeatherBug® weather stations. And finally at the bottom is a 7-day or hourly forecast which has links to more forecast information. Weather alerts are also posted on this page.
The WeatherBug® Schools Network is the largest weather network in the world. More than 8,000 schools across the U. S. operate WeatherBug Tracking Stations to integrate live, local weather data and technology into classroom learning.
Hours: Open for scheduled classes, pre-registered programs, or by appointment only
Education programs: Click here to view Lake Metroparks’ education brochure or call 440-256-3800 or 800-366-3276 to request a copy.
Directions: From I-90, take State Route 44 south to Auburn Road; turn left and proceed .3 mile; turn right onto Concord-Hambden Road. Continue one mile to stop sign at Ravenna Road. Continue straight on Concord-Hambden for .4 mile to Alexander Road and turn left; drive .3 mile to park entrance (on the left).
The National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) recently selected Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center as the best park and recreation facility in the country. This unique project is acknowledged as a national model that will be studied and likely duplicated elsewhere in America. The award will be presented at the NACPRO annual conference on Sunday, July 26 in Nashville, Tennessee.
"It is an honor for Lake Metroparks to earn national recognition for its initiative and accomplishments - the Environmental Learning Center demonstrates regional partnerships and is part of the No Child Left Inside movement that is sweeping the country," explained Interim Executive Director Stephen W. Madewell. He continued, "Researchers continue to find correlations between exposure to nature and academic achievement, increased creativity, cooperation, social skills, problem-solving and self-esteem."
The Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center demonstrates, teaches, encourages and reinforces the national No Child Left Inside initiative.
Opened in fall 2008, the building and surrounding land are a laboratory for learning and discovery-based education, in both science and local Ohio history. It is an attraction and an inspirational site for traditional, creative and contemporary technical arts.
A partnership with the Lake County Educational Service Center relocated the award-winning Porter Program for Science and Mathematics to the Environmental Learning Center. In its first year at the new facility, Porter Program staff conducted science programs for 19,225 local third, fourth and fifth grade students. Future partnerships with educational institutions will expand learning opportunities for grades pre-K through 12 along with college level classes, internships and professional development for educators.
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The Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center is home to the 
Located on approximately 250 acres of beautiful and ecologically diverse open space rich in both cultural and natural history, Big Creek and Jordan Creek are protected on this property. Students, educators and residents of Northeast Ohio will benefit from the unique partnerships, programs and projects that are and will continue to be developed at this facility. 
