John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Region
The Cusano Environmental Education Center at
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge

Tony Cusano, a resident of Crum Lynn in Delaware County, had a dream that the residents of Greater Philadelphia should have opportunities to learn about and enjoy nature, close to home. He embraced John Kennedy's words, "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." 
Photo of Tony Cusano
Credit: USFWS
Tony Cusano
Drawing of Cusano Environmental Education Center
Credit: USFWS
Drawing of Environmental Education Center
When he passed away in 1992, he bequeathed his estate of $2.5 million to the Department of the Interior.  With this generous bequest, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge began planning an Environmental Education Center, a project that had been talked about for over 25 years. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation accepted the challenge of doubling the Cusano bequest to create a state-of-the-art environmental education center. 
The mission of the Cusano Environmental Education Center is to demonstrate within an urban setting, the importance of the natural world to the human quality of life and inspire visitors to become responsible stewards of the environment. 
Construction of the "green building" began in the Summer of 1999.
Student with grasshopper on arm
Credit: USFWS
Student with Grasshopper
Front entrance of Cusano Environmental Education Center
Credit: USFWS
Front entrance of Cusano Environmental Education Center
Mr. Cusano's dream has become a reality. The Cusano Environmental Education Center opened January 20, 2001 
The building was designed with the environment in mind.  Using the prinicples of sustainable design, the building features:
  • Energy efficient lighting, heat, and cooling
  • Recycled  materials -like flooring made from used tires, beams left over from logging operations, and decking made from recycled plastic bottles
  • Reduced water use-an on-site Marsh Machine greenhouserecycles waste water to flush toilets
  • Native landscaping and rainwater harvesting
Reused timbers from logging operations
Credit: USFWS
Reused Timbers
Deck made from recycled plastic
Credit: USFWS
Deck made from recycled plastic
Marsh Machine Greenhouse
Credit: USFWS
Marsh Machine Greenhouse
Classrooms with recycled tire floor
Credit: USFWS
Classrooms with recycled tire floor

 
Resource Library at Cusano Environmental Education Center
Credit: USFWS
Resource Library
The Center features exhibits on Tinicum Marsh, wetlands, watersheds, citizen action, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,  a resource library, classrooms for study, and  public meeting space. 
Exhibit wing of Cusanoe Environmental Education Center
Credit: USFWS
Exhibits

If your school or group would like to visit, click here for more infomation on the refuge's environmental education programs. 
If your group is interested in using the CEEC's meeting room, click here for information.
 
Last updated: December 13, 2012