MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Renovations are beginning at a popular nature center in the Fox Valley.
Officials at Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha are remodeling a classroom, and are asking the public for help.
For the past two years, the Discovery Den has been temporarily closed for business.
“This was one of our most popular rooms at the reserve. Before COVID, there’s kids always in it playing around. We did close off this room during COVID, but it did give us an opportunity,” said Andrea Bierbrauer, Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Naturalist and Early Childhood Program Manager.
Bierbrauer tells FOX 11 that opportunity includes a new tile floor, and a place in the corner called a reading nook.
“We’re going to create a tree right here, and it’s going to be chicken wire, and then we’re going to paper mache it.”
That’s right, the newspaper and glue construction method called paper mache.
“We’re currently collecting newspapers from the public, and newspapers are kind of harder to find nowadays, but we’re getting some. So there’s a collection outside the door. We’re about 50 percent of the paper we need,” said Bierbrauer.
To drop off newspapers, please call the Nature Center first, at (920) 720-9349.
Bierbrauer says it will take about 12 layers to make the tree sturdy enough.
“A lot of us don’t have very much paper mache experience, other than what we had in elementary school growing up. I do have a volunteer who is an art teacher so she has more experience than the rest. She’s kind of been walking through the type of glue, process, so it’s really trial and error, but it’s going to be fun.”
Classroom renovations are expected to begin this week. The education director says reopening the Discovery Den is important.
“When they have that positive experience outdoors, or in this case indoors, it fosters a need or a want to protect it. And in the end, we want more environmental stewards caring and sharing about the environment. So by providing access, that is our goal,” said Luke Schiller, Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Education Director.
And with pandemic protocols lessening, the nature center is once again allowing visitors inside.
“It’s just really good to be back open, and just hear the excitement from the kids again, and seeing this interaction and stuff. It’s wonderful,” said Bierbrauer.
Construction is expected to be complete by this summer.
