More than 75,000 sixth-graders have camped in cabins, explored wetlands and learned about wildlife at Hashawha Environmental Center since it opened 30 years ago.
“I remember being on the planning commission for Hashawha and walking over the hills to figure out where to put the cabins,” Commissioner Julia Gouge said.
“I?m really proud of that.”
Every sixth-grader in Carroll can attend the center?s weeklong Outdoor School, which now sees the children and grandchildren of former students, said Jeff Degitz, Carroll?s recreation and parks director.
Businesses and church groups also hold conferences and retreats there.
An open house Saturday will celebrate the center?s three decades of connecting residents with nature.
The day will feature live music, refreshments, a slide show on the center?s history, tours, wagon rides, a presentation on birds of prey and costumed historians who will take visitors back in time.
“This is a great opportunity for adults to come back and see the changes that have occurred since they went to Outdoor School or for parents and fourth- and fifth-graders to get a preview of [what it?s] like,” Degitz said.
Later this month, the center will celebrate the grand opening of a new indoor classroom in a red barn that sat empty for a decade until Niel Borrelli, a retired radiologist from Westminster, got involved.
He donated money and raised funds in memory of his daughter, Francesca Borrelli Johnson, a passionate environmentalist, who attended the Outdoor School. She was pursuing her master?s degree in environmental science at Towson University when she died the day after Christmas in 2004 following a car crash.
If you go …
» What: Hashawha Environmental Center?s 30th birthday
» When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
» Where: 300 John Owings Road, Westminster
