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Renovated Nature's Classroom To Be Rededicated

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2009

THONOTOSASSA - The Southwest Florida Water Management District will celebrate extensive renovations at Nature's Classroom with a rededication ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The Hillsborough Education Foundation and the Hillsborough County School Board will join in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of extensive renovations and new construction at the 365-acre campus.

Renovations at the facility, used to teach conservation, water issues and other environmental education to public and private middle school students, began in 2000. The final phase was completed in November.

The renovations and additions include a new environmental education center, interpretive center, welcome center and boardwalk, aviary and animal habitats, a boat dock and 11 new outdoor classrooms. Also added were three river shelters, restrooms and sidewalks.

Since 1994, the Southwest Florida Water Management District has allocated $620,000 to Nature's Classroom, where more than 356,000 sixth-grade students have benefitted from environmental education field trips. The center opened in 1969.

Nature's Classroom is located at 13100 Verges Road, Thonotosassa, off Morris Bridge Road. For information, call (813) 987-6969 or go to www.naturesclassroom.net.

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