CONTE REFUGE EDUCATION CENTERS (Sept. 03)

The Conte Refuge Education Centers below provide an opportunity for the Conte Refuge to meet the public and offer important information about the work of the Refuge within the Connecticut River watershed. The Refuge holds a vision of education for the watershed and has identified important educational messages that can help citizens become stewards of the land and waters of this area.

@ The Great Fall Discovery Center, 2 Ave A, Turners Falls, MA

There is rapid progress going on in our first Conte Education Center designation. The building now includes exhibits, offices, a multi purpose program room, and y, three fish tanks representing different river habits. All of the exhibits highlight various habitats found in the watershed, the threats that face them, and what we can do to safeguard them.

Current opening date is fall of 2003. For more information, call 413 863-3221 or contact the Conte Refuge, 413-863-0209.

@ The Montshire Museum of Science,One Montshire Rd., Norwich, VT

Since June 2002, the Conte Refuge presence at the Montshire Museum of Science highlights the protection of natural diversity in the Connecticut River watershed through exhibits and programs. Visitors and school groups can enjoy the orientation theater, classroom, and watershed exhibit gallery. In addition to the expanded facility, the Montshire opened an outdoor science park and river view trail system. Access to the river trails was recently provided via a walkway under the railroad right of way. For more information about the Montshire, visit www.montshire.org, or call 802- 649- 2200.

 

@ The Great North Woods Interpretive Center, RT 3, Colebrook, NH

Thanks to Senator Judd Gregg, of New Hampshire, an appropriation of $250,000, helped the New Hampshire Dept. of Transportation expand an existing Tourist Information Center, on RT 3 in Colebrook, NH to create a third Conte Education Center. The Refuge supplies the center with informational materials and has installed exhibits highlighting the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Refuge System Centennial, The Conte Refuge, Lake Umbagog National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, Nulhegan Basin Division of the Conte Refuge, and species of concern in the Connecticut River watershed. Volunteers from the local area staff the facility throughout the year. Call 603 237 5390 for hours of operation.