Gifts to Touch of Nature contribute to...
President Delyte Morris had a passion for the outdoors and believed that the university and the region could benefit from an outdoor laboratory where students in education, forestry, recreation, and others could learn and apply the lessons from the classroom all while providing the region programs in environmental education, leadership development, and inclusive recreation. IN 1949, his dreams became a reality when the SIU Board of Trustees bought 150 acres along Little Grassy Lake and opened SIU’s Little Grassy Lake Campus (now called Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center).
Touch of Nature has been a premier outdoor education center for over 70 years and has an incredible history including:
- Recognized as a cornerstone in the development of the Special Olympics
- Camp Little Giant at Touch of Nature is the first accredited summer camp in the country (nearly 2500 accredited camps in the United States)
- Recognized as a National Environmental Education Landmark
- Home of the first collegiate High Ropes Challenge Course
We’re proud to continue this legacy today, honoring the past with eyes toward the future. In 2023, Touch of Nature saw over 50,000 visitors to the center and we want 2024 to be even bigger. Today, we’re asking for support to help in helping us address facility and maintenance repairs for camp as well as continuing to grow and operate our trail system.
The Friends of Outdoor Education fund supports the mission of Touch of Nature by providing funding to support all aspects of camps and programs here at the center. This year, we’d like to update some of our most used facilities, specifically Freeberg Dining hall. Named after the first director of the center, Freeberg Hall serves as the heart of our camp. With your help, it is our goal to update the facility with new windows, heaters, and air conditioning.
Touch of Nature is proud to provide premier Mountain Biking opportunities for all ability levels here in the region. In 2023, over 10,000 users came to experience our incredible trail system. With 12 miles built, our hope is to continue to grow and develop our trail system. A donation to the Mt. Bike Trails will help us to continue to provide this incredible recreational opportunity for SIU students, locals and visitors to Southern Illinois. For more information on Touch of Nature Mt. Bike Trails: https://ton.siu.edu/activities/mountain-bike-trail/
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