Crooked Creek center puts environment to good use
BETHEL -- Go take a hike.
That's what Dennis Hawley, program director of Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center (ELC) wants everyone to do.
The ELC held its second annual open house Saturday. Free to the public, visitors enjoyed taking hikes, bird watching, a visit from Smokey the Bear and the Litterbug, and toured the main buildings.
"We're the best kept secret in Armstrong County," said Hawley. This organization is more than two buildings nestled among forest and meadow on 31 acres. The ELC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting environmental education in Armstrong County. Organized groups can use the ELC for workshops, meetings, classes, and retreats.
We opened in 2002, after the Corps of Engineers had shut this place down due to federal budget cuts in '99. It was vacant for years," said Hawley, "We have a 25-year free lease, with the condition that we complete about $50,000 in repairs and it takes about that much to operate annually."
The ELC originally was built by the Army Corps of Engineers and was open for 16 years.
Unlike state and county parks, the ELC must rely on grants, user fees, and charitable donations to stay afloat. No tax dollars are used.
"Armstrong County is the only county in Pennsylvania that does not have any state or county parks," said Hawley. The ELC is adjacent to the 2,600 acre Crooked Creek Lake Park, which was once a state park, but now is operated by the Corps of Engineers, Hawley said.
"Funding is a big problem. But we are gradually building up. A lot of people don't know we are out here, " explained Hawley.
A local company helped contribute to the fund-raising Saturday.
The ELC was presented with a $6,000 grant from Dominion Peoples Gas, which has an office in Pittsburgh.
"We feel the ELC does good things for the community and we have a lot of employees in this area, " said Denise Hughs, media relations representative with Dominion Peoples.
"This grant is funding community programs, held on Saturdays. They are free to the public and you just show up," said Hawley. "It's a great family activity to come out on a Saturday and learn about nature and conservation."
In addition to programs, the ELC consists of two buildings including a meeting room capable of holding 80 people, an exhibit room with an extensive display of mounted animals, kitchen, and overnight accommodations for 26 people, mostly with bunk bed lodging. The second building offers a conference room, classroom, kitchen, and office space. The Discovery Trail invites visitors on an hour long hike through the woods. The large back deck overlooks a fire pit suitable for bonfires and cookouts.
"I've been here with my scout troop, " said Christopher Karns, 11,of Ford Cliff. "We camped here and learned about animals and stuff."
Director Hawley wants the public to know that the ELC is available to all schools. "We've had Leechburg, Apollo-Ridge, and Freeport schools out here, and preschools too. We are here for schools outside of Armstrong County."
