CSI + Carousel + Shredding = Busy Saturday!

Carousel, Shredding and CSI all contributed to an incredible, successful Saturday for Lake Erie Nature & Science Center.

More than 100 area residents took advantage of our latest residential Shredding Day, saving more than 55 trees by recycling 3.25 tons of paper. The Shredding Network of Wickliffe, which donated use of the mobile shredder for the morning, also estimates this single morning of recycling efforts kept 9.75 cubic yards of landfill out of the trash, stopped 195 pounds of air pollutants and saved 65 gallons of water.

Meanwhile, at Bay High School, the volunteer Women's Board of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center staged another successful Christmas

Carousel Holiday Festival to support our nonprofit mission. The long-running Carousel attracts artists, crafters and quality vendors, including the great twinkling holiday bottles and cork wreaths using recycled materials pictured above left. The other photo features Women's Board members Doris Kurz, Nancy Black, who was Carousel Cafe Chair, and Deb Barnum.

Back at the Center, we welcomed 550 Girls Scouts representing 75 troops from across Northeast Ohio for CSI: The Case of the Missing Thin Mints. This fun forensic science program was just one of the special offerings we have for scouts throughout the year!

Oh, and we also kicked off Winter Session Program Registration for Members and conducted most of our popular planetarium programs.

Quite a Saturday! Thanks to everyone involved!

Center Wins CAC Grant for the First Time!

For the first time, Lake Erie Nature & Science Center has received a 2-year grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC), the community partnership and granting agency funded by revenues from a county-wide cigarette excise tax. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is one of 67 organizations receiving a general operating grant in the 2011 funding cycle and one of only a handful of new recipients.


Our Executive Director, Catherine Timko, had this reaction to the news: “This is truly the result of a team effort involving many people on our staff and board. Most of all, this award is a reflection of the powerful impact of our mission on people across Northeast Ohio and beyond, and our staff members’ ability, skill and enthusiasm to educate and inspire.”

The CAC Board approved a grant of $99,095 for 2011 and 2012 to fund the mission of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. Key factors in the rigorous application and panel review process included an assessment of cultural excellence, strength of management practices and strength of community engagement measured by both donor support and program participation.

Catherine says that news of the award “energizes Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in a number of ways including confirmation of the value of our mission and affirmation of our distinction as one of Cuyahoga County’s most effective organizations. We look forward to fulfilling the charge of the grant award – delivering meaningful and impactful learning experiences to our visitors and program participants while maintaining sound management – in 2011, 2012 and beyond.”

CAC is a sub-division of the State of Ohio, which collects a dedicated tax on cigarettes sold in Cuyahoga County, to fund local arts and culture organizations. Voters approved the 10-year tax on cigarettes to fund the CAC in November of 2006.