Elkhart Environmental Center
Elkhart Environmental
Center
The Elkhart Environmental Center has been opened to
the public since 1992! This environmental
education facility offers environmental educational
programs, events, and volunteer opportunities for all
citizens as well as a lovely natural area to visit. The EEC has multiple outdoor settings including hiking trails, a boat launch, a variety of ecosystems (such as wetlands, prairies, and forest areas), the Learning Garden, Reflection Grove, boat launch, and more!
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574-293-5070
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Staff Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
Trail/Grounds Hours: Open Dawn – Dusk everyday
Elkhart EnvironmentalÂ
Center
The Elkhart Environmental Center has been opened to the public since 1992! This environmental education facility offers environmental educational
programs, events, and volunteer opportunities for all citizens as well as a lovely natural area to visit. The EEC has multiple outdoor settings including hiking trails, a boat launch, a variety of ecosystems (such as wetlands, prairies, and forest areas), the Learning Garden, Reflection Grove, boat launch, and more!
EEC Programs & Events Calendar
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Special Events
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EnviroFest
First Saturday of AugustEnviroFest
The EEC’s biggest event of the year! Past events have include food vendors, booths, raffle & silent auction, live music, kids’ area and entertainment, beer & wine garden, and more!
Details for 2023 are coming soon!
Earth Day
Saturday in AprilEarth Day
Free, family-friendly event celebrating our natural, local environment. Includes engaging, environmental educational activities for the whole family and provides free trees for citizens to plant at home and increase our urban canopy.Volunteer Appreciation
Volunteer Appreciation
Our favorite event of the year: celebrating our volunteers and all they’ve done to help us have another successful year serving and educating the community. Stay tuned for details or email EECmail@coei.org to be added to our volunteer email list!
Waggin' in the Woods
Our new annual family- and pet-friendly event! Our first Waggin’ in the Woods event took place in 2021 and saw over 260 visitors!
This event will take place in September. More details can be found on our Facebook event page and updates will be posted as they come in.
Upcoming Programs & Events
EnviroFest Planning
First Monday of the Month (January - August)EnviroFest Planning
- Help us make the 25th EnviroFest the best one yet! We’re looking for ideas of what YOU’D like to see at the event.
- Open to the public–join us for free snacks and bring your ideas for a fun event! New-comers welcome!
- For more info, email EECmail@coei.org. Virtual option available.
Natural Egg Dyeing
Tuesday, April 4th: 4:30 PM - 6:00 PMNatural Egg Dyeing
Learn how to color eggs with materials from nature at our Natural Egg Dyeing program on Tuesday, April 4th! Stop by any time between 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM to try out a few different dye baths made from materials like beets, cabbage, and more. Participants will leave with a few of their own egg projects and instructions on how to create more at home.
All ages are welcome at this family-friendly event! Pre-registration is limited and required. Registration is $4 per person and can be completed HERE
Intro to Nature ID Apps & Wildflower Hike
Saturday, April 15th: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMIntro to Nature ID Apps & Wildflower Hike
Become more familiar with your surrounding environment at our Intro to Nature ID Apps & Wildflower Hike session on Saturday, April 15th! Learn how to use a variety of smartphone apps designed to identify local flora and fauna on a hike, in your backyard, or even along a city sidewalk. After learning about these ID tools, we will test them out on a hike to look for blooming spring ephemerals!
Registration for this program is $1 per person. All ages are welcome. Pre-registration is limited and required.Â
Register HERE
Oriole Feeder Workshop
Thursday, April 27th: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PMOriole Feeder Workshop
Join us at the Elkhart Environmental Center on Thursday, April 27th for our Oriole Feeder Workshop! Learn about the life history of these birds and make a feeder to put up at your home just in time for their spring arrival. After building the feeders, participate in a short hike around our site to look for any newly arrived migrants!
All ages are welcome at this family-friendly workshop. Feeder kits are $5 each and limited to one per family/group. When registering, please reserve a ticket for each person in your group AND a kit ticket.Â
Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Workshop
Tuesday, May 9th: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PMRain Garden & Rain Barrel Workshop
Learn all about installing and maintaining rain gardens and rain barrels at this informational workshop on Tuesday, May 9th! Elkhart Soil & Water Conservation District will be hosting this session about conserving water in your own yard from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at the EEC.
Space is limited. Please register in advance. Reserve your spot HERE
This workshop is a requirement for the Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Reimbursement program, it is open to the public as well. Learn more at www.elkcoswcd.org
*Please note: This is an informational session; we will not be building rain barrels at this workshop.
Volunteer Opportunities
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities that are suitable for businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals. As part of our environmental education goals, all of our volunteer opportunities are also offered with optional training — interested in learning about a plant or tree ID, environmental management, event planning, or more? Volunteer!
Looking for something specific? Click on our categories to find what you’re looking for, or call (574) 293-5070 or email EECmail@coei.org with any questions.
You can also find details about and sign up for upcoming volunteer opportunities on our SignUp page.
All volunteers are required to fill out and return a volunteer waiver. Copies are available online here or in the Visitor’s Cabin. Waivers for volunteers under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent/guardian. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering.
Volunteer Opportunities
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities that are suitable for businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals. As part of our environmental education goals, all of our volunteer opportunities are also offered with optional training — interested in learning about a plant or tree ID, environmental management, event planning, or more? Volunteer!
Looking for something specific? Click on our categories to find what you’re looking for, or call (574) 293-5070 or email EECmail@coei.org with any questions.
You can also find details about and sign up for upcoming volunteer opportunities on our SignUp page.
All volunteers are required to fill out and return a volunteer waiver. Copies are available online or in the Visitor’s Cabin. Waivers for volunteers under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent/guardian. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering.
Quilt Garden
Quilt Garden
Summer (End of May – Mid September)
Help plant and maintain our lovely Quilt Garden once a week. Schedules are flexible, tools provided during staff hours (M – F 8 AM – 5 PM). Interested in learning more? Contact EEC staff at EECmail@coei.org.
EnviroFest Committee Meeting
EnviroFest Committee Meeting
Dates & Times:
- 1st Monday of the month (January – August) at 6 PM
Specialty Projects
Specialty Projects
Special legacy projects are great for volunteers or volunteer groups that have the skills/experience to make them happen! If you have ideas a project, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at EECmail@coei.org or call (574) 293-5070 or stop by and visit us!
Anytime
Anytime
If you are interested in bringing a group out to the EEC for a volunteer day, we are happy to schedule this outside of our regular business hours (M-F 8 AM – 5 PM). Please contact EEC staff at EECmail@coei.org or (574) 293-5070.
Education
Field Trips
Field Trips
The Elkhart Environmental Center (EEC) offers a variety of environmental education programming and placed-based learning throughout the year. If you are looking for something specific, we do offer a boutique experience and are happy to cater our programming to your needs. Please contact staff for more information at 574-293-5070 or EECmail@coei.org.
Presentations
Presentations
The Elkhart Environmental Center hosts presentations and speakers throughout the year. If you are interested in presenting a program, we also serve as a host site. Contact EEC staff at 574-293-5070 or EECmail@coei.org.
Stay tuned for updates on any upcoming presentations.
Classroom
Classroom
The EEC offers a variety of environmental education programming–both here at the EEC and wherever we’re needed! Interested in having EEC staff bring an environmental program into your classroom? Contact staff at 574-293-5070 or EECmail@coei.org
Environmental Moment
Environmental Moment
The EEC, sponsored by Borden Waste-Away, presented weekly environmental moment segments on Froggy 102.7. Each segment focused on a single environmental/sustainable topic. Further information and resources about these topics will be returning to our website shortly. If you have any question, please contact EEC staff at 574-293-5070 or EECmail@coei.org.
Quilt Garden
Quilt Garden
Summer (End of May – Mid September)
Help plant and maintain our lovely Quilt Garden once a week. Schedules are flexible, tools provided during staff hours (M – F 8 AM – 5 PM). Interested in learning more? Contact EEC staff at EECmail@coei.org.
EnviroFest Committee Meeting
EnviroFest Committee Meeting
Dates & Times:
- 1st Monday of the month (December – August) at 6 PM
Specialty Projects
Specialty Projects
Special legacy projects are great for volunteers or volunteer groups that have the skills/experience to make them happen! If you have ideas a project, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at EECmail@coei.org or call (574) 293-5070 or stop by and visit us!
Anytime
Anytime
If you are interested in bringing a group out to the EEC for a volunteer day, we are happy to schedule this outside of our regular business hours (M-F 8 AM – 5 PM). Please contact EEC staff at EECmail@coei.org or (574) 293-5070.
Education
Field Trips
Field Trips
The Elkhart Environmental Center (EEC) offers a variety of environmental education programming and placed-based learning throughout the year. If you are looking for something specific, we do offer a boutique experience and are happy to cater our programming to your needs. Please contact staff for more information at 574-293-5070 or EECmail@coei.org.
Presentations
Presentations
The Elkhart Environmental Center hosts presentations and speakers throughout the year. If you are interested in presenting a program, we also serve as a host site. Contact EEC staff at 574-293-5070 or EECmail@coei.org.
Stay tuned for updates on any upcoming presentations.
Classroom
Classroom
The EEC offers a variety of environmental education programming–both here at the EEC and wherever we’re needed! Interested in having EEC staff bring an environmental program into your classroom? Contact staff at 574-293-5070 or EECmail@coei.org
Environmental Moment
Environmental Moment
The EEC, sponsored by Borden Waste-Away, presented weekly environmental moment segments on Froggy 102.7. Each segment focused on a single environmental/sustainable topic. Further information and resources about these topics will be returning to our website shortly. If you have any question, please contact EEC staff at 574-293-5070 or EECmail@coei.org.
