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Oct. 29, 2009
Pat Kuehn, APR, CPRC
Community Information Specialist
Lyonia
Environmental Center opens in Deltona
The Lyonia
Environmental Center (LEC), which opened Oct. 17
in the Deltona Regional Library complex,
provides visitors with a unique insight into
Volusia County’s fragile ecosystems.
Through
hands-on interactive educational displays,
visitors can see how sinkholes are formed, learn
how gopher tortoises stay cool, and hear the
sounds of a manatee. Other displays highlight
the importance of the environment and explain
how each person can conserve energy and natural
resources
The center also
includes two classrooms dedicated to the late
environmentalist Dr. Alice E. Cross, a visiting
scientist’s workroom, and a nature-based gift
shop.
A 1,000-seat
outdoor amphitheater next to the complex offers
a space for community gatherings including
concerts, plays and educational instruction.
In keeping with
Volusia County’s commitment to the environment,
the complex was built using green building
standards and practices, including the use of
native plants, areas of pervious concrete,
revolving doors, and motion sensors that switch
off lights when rooms are not in use.
The LEC offers
hands-on educational programs aimed at visitors
of all ages. The programs focus on scrub habitat
and other county ecosystems while promoting
environmental stewardship.
The complex is
part of Lyonia Preserve, a 360-acre scrub
habitat that provides a home for dozens of
threatened Florida scrub jays and gopher
tortoises. Visitors can walk along three nature
trails and experience Florida scrub habitat in
the preserve.
Bagel King
Café, adjacent to the center, offers fresh
bagels, sandwiches, pastries and beverages.
Admission to
the LEC is $5 for teenagers and adults, $4 for
seniors, $2 for children ages 3 - 12, and free
for children 2 and under. Educational tours are
$3 per person. Annual memberships are available
for $15 for students and senior citizens, $25
for individuals, and $45 for families.
The LEC is open
from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays; 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m. -
5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 1 - 5 p.m.
Sundays. The café is open from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30
p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday.
For more
information about the LEC, please contact
Katrina Locke at (386) 789-7207 or
klocke@co.volusia.fl.us.
Comments or questions?
E-mail the
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