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
Staff Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
Trail/Grounds Hours: Open Dawn – Dusk everyday
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!
Special Events
EnviroFest
Third Saturday of AugustEnviroFest
The Elkhart Environmental Center’s biggest event of the year! In 2022, we will celebrate the 25th Annual EnviroFest! Past events have include food vendors, booths, raffle & silent auction, live music, kids’ area and entertainment, beer & wine garden, and more!
Details for 2022 coming soon!
Earth Day
Last Saturday of AprilEarth Day
The Elkhart Environmental Center’s Earth Day event is a free, family-friendly event that celebrates our natural, local environment. Our Earth Day event includes engaging, environmental educational activities for the whole family and provides free trees for citizens to plant at home and increase our urban canopy. Support and sponsorships from community organizations truly make this event possible.
Volunteer Appreciation
Volunteer Appreciation
Our favorite event of the year! We love getting to celebrate 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
Join us for 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
Winter Birding Event
Saturday, December 18: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMWinter Birding Event
Join us at the Elkhart Environmental Center on Saturday, December 18th at 10 AM to go birding on our trails, create a tasty holiday tree for the birds, and learn how you can help our feathered friends through the harsh winter months. All ages welcome. Registration is limited and required.
Registration can be completed here: https://elkhart-environmental-center.ticketleap.com/
See you there!
2022 Zero Waste Program Series
January - March 20222022 Zero Waste Program Series
Join us on an exciting journey this winter as we discover what it means to be zero waste and what we can each do in our own lives to become more sustainable! This series consists of five meetings: one kickoff, informational session and four sessions focusing on various zero waste topics.
For more information, visit our Facebook event page
River Clean Up
SeptemberRiver Clean Up
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 (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.
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.
