The Center for Conservation was created as a response to the growing need for collaborative conservation across the Midwest region. Our vision is to engage in conservation-focused activities that have direct positive impacts on the natural areas and human lives in the Tri-State region. The Center is invested in the preservation and restoration of native habitats in and around the Cincinnati-TriState region. Our approach is holistic, and our view of the natural areas across SW Ohio is one of integrated landscapes; that is, people and wildlife living together. Thus, in addition to land management practices, we place equal stewardship value on educational programming, recreation, public engagement in conservation & sustainability, and cultural & formal events.
To ensure that we align our efforts with these philosophies, the Center houses both the Department of Stewardship as well as the Department of Education. As the education and stewardship arm of a nature center and 1650 acre wildlife preserve, our approach to conservation includes nature-centric public educational programming and data-centric land stewardship that includes post-management monitoring. In practice, this often includes a blending of education and stewardship into practical workshops and volunteer land steward & monitoring programs.
STEWARDSHIP: To maintain and enhance the Nature Center's lands as a “living laboratory” of biologically diverse native habitats
COLLABORATION: To lead initiatives which improve land and water quality in the region and beyond
In 2017, the Nature Center renovated the historic Groesbeck Lodge, a 1920s English revival country house at Rowe Woods, that now provides offices for the Center for Conservation staff and volunteers, as well as space for research labs and group meetings.