Continuing the year’s focus on local places and people of note, members of the Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville gathered on March 7, 2024 at Hiram College’s James H. Barrow Biological Field Station on Wheeler Road. There they were met by Michael Benedict, Ph.D., director of the station and professor of Environmental Studies at the college.
He presented a brief history of the facility, from its origin as the Rand Family Farm and acquisitions of the Pritchard and Stavenger properties, through co-operative interactions with entities from Cincinnati Water Resource Restoration, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Davey Tree, the Ohio EPA., the Portage County Park District( Eagle Creek Greenway Preserve), Holden Arboretum, schools in Portage and Cuyahoga counties, Green Industries and the community at-large.
This facility, known locally as “the Bio Station,” is a 500-plus acre active research and educational facility which enhances the science and environmental studies programs as well as delivering enrichment and inspiration for students in all majors. There are wetlands, flood plains, grasslands, a 100 A. beech/maple forest (largest in the NEO area), as well as the Frohring Laboratory and the Kennedy Observation Building, trails, a regenerative farm area, the Smiley Blind,a waterfowl conservation area, a forestry exhibit, interpretive sign along the trails, ponds and Silver Creek–plenty to see.
The station is focussed on Eco-management & land stewardship, Animal care & husbandry, Education & outreach, Scientific research, Database & geographic information systems, sustainability (campuswide) and partnerships with all of the abovementioned entities. It also offers many employment opportunities for students in related fields and research. Outreach through nature education programs, wildlife rehabilitation (care for orphaned/injured wildlife), animal ambassadors (see them at the Farmers’ Market or in classrooms) is also part of the station’s regard for the critical issues of habitat preservation and conservation of natural resources.
All of this information was accompanied by a hands-off introduction to some of the critters on-site : fish, turtles, snakes, a bunny, a pigeon, more hissing cockroaches than you’ll ever want to meet. They were all part of the Bio Station’s celebration of Experiential Learning.
