Touch of Nature

Friends of Outdoor Education – Updating Our Most Used Facilities
Last year, thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to transform Morris Lodge with air conditioning, new flooring, and updated bunk beds. These improvements are already making a difference for the thousands of students, campers, and retreat groups who use the facility.

This year, we are asking for your support to do the same for Shawnee Lodge, one of our most-used camp facilities. Your gift to the Friends of Outdoor Education fund will help us continue improving the spaces that bring people together and make Touch of Nature an unforgettable place for learning, growth, and connection.

A Legacy Rooted in Outdoor Education
President Delyte Morris had a vision for the outdoors as a living classroom. He believed that students in education, forestry, recreation, and related fields could benefit from hands-on learning in nature—while also providing the region with programs in environmental education, leadership development, and inclusive recreation.
In 1949, his dream became reality when the SIU Board of Trustees purchased 150 acres along Little Grassy Lake and opened SIU’s Little Grassy Lake Campus, now known as Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center.
For over 70 years, Touch of Nature has been a premier outdoor education center with a history that includes:

• Serving as a cornerstone in the development of the Special Olympics
• Hosting Camp Little Giant, the first accredited summer camp in the country (now one of nearly 2,500 accredited camps nationwide)
• Being designated a National Environmental Education Landmark
• Building the first collegiate High Ropes Challenge Course

Today, we proudly carry this legacy forward—honoring our history while looking toward the future. In 2024, more than 50,000 visitors came to Touch of Nature, and with your help, 2025 can be even bigger.

Friends of Outdoor Education
The Friends of Outdoor Education Fund directly supports Touch of Nature’s mission by enhancing our facilities and programs. In 2025, your support will help us renovate Shawnee Lodge, ensuring it continues to serve as a welcoming and functional space for campers, students, and retreat guests.

Mountain Bike Trails
Touch of Nature is proud to be home to one of Southern Illinois’ premier mountain biking destinations. In 2024, more than 10,000 riders experienced our trails. With 12 miles built and more to come, your donation to the Mountain Bike Trail fund helps us grow and maintain this system, providing incredible outdoor recreation opportunities for SIU students, local residents, and visitors from across the Midwest.

Learn more about the trails: Touch of Nature Mountain Bike Trails

👉 This Day of Giving, we invite you to help us continue building the future of Touch of Nature by supporting the Friends of Outdoor Education or Mountain Bike Trail funds. Together, we can strengthen our facilities, expand our programs, and honor the vision of President Morris for generations to come.