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Ecology Facilities |
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The Ernst Thompson Seton Ecology Pavilion is located north of the swimming pool overlooking the east end of Lake MacNichol. The facilities consist of two covered and one enclosed areas. The older portion of the facility was built in 1980 while the newer portion was completed in 1997. The older portion of the facility is a covered area approximately 30' x 25' with a concrete floor that is used for displays. During the camping season, displays of live snakes, turtles and fish are maintained as well as static displays devoted the wild plants and animals that inhabit the area and a small geology display. Also the acid rain and oil spill experiments from the Environmental Science class are exhibited in this area.
The second open covered area consists of four teaching areas each approximately 15' x 10'. Open to the outside but with dividers between the areas which dividers begin approximately 1' from the floor and a central walkway split by a similar divider. The dividers are covered with posters relevant to the merit badges being taught in the areas during the camping season. In each teaching area there is a picnic table . All of the areas have electric lighting for dark and stormy days. Basic weather instruments are maintained in this area.
The enclosed portion of the facility offers the ability to employ videos. The area maintains two computers with teaching programs for bird, tree and mineral identification as well as understanding the life and energy cycles in marshes and in the ocean. These computers also provide the users with current encyclopedias for general reference. A rack of current magazines on astronomy, bird watching, fishing, and hunting and general science is offered as well as a reading area and work table. Microscopes are available for use and to display prepared slides. A collection of field guides and related sources is available in addition to merit badge books for all of the merit badges offered in the area.
Outside the area is an artificial stream maintained by pumping water from Lake MacNichol. This stream provides the scout with the ability to observe some of the insect and related life which occurs in a stream (unfortunately there are not streams on the property which are readily available to most scouts). The stream also provides a live well for keeping some of the fish caught by the campers. A grouping of bird feeders provides the opportunity to observe some of the more common song birds.
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