Press Releases

July 28, 2010: There will be an increase in school fees beginning in January 2011. Naturalist-guided programs will be increased from a $5/student fee to $6/student fee. For more information go to Schools.

July 7, 2010: Final public comments with responses from Alaska State Parks personnel and Friends of Eagle River Nature Center Board of Directors and staff have been posted at http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/ A revised site plan concept is also posted, integrating ideas discussed at the public meetings with the needs of Chugach State Park, Friends of Eagle River Nature Center and community representatives.

July 2, 2010: We are seeking to fill an immediate vacancy for a summer resident volunteer for the months of August and September 2011. Please contact us at info@ernc.org for more details. As of July 28, 2011 this position remains open until filled.

April 15, 2010: Planning for the Future of the Eagle River Nature Cntr: Visit http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/ for up-to-date information and drawings of Site Concepts. Public comment period has been extended to April 30, 2010. Concept C is posted inside the Nature Center. Concept C is the preferred site of the Friends of Eagle River Nature Center planning team.

March 2010: Night with the Stars was a a great success, raising $4000 for the Nature Center's programs. Many thanks to the presenters, board member Scott Girard and all the evening's volunteers. Astronaut Bill Oefelein was the featured speaker, harpist Beth Baker and dinner by Haute Quarter Grill owners/chefs Lynn and Alex Perez. Many thanks to these volunteers and to donations from the evening's sponsors - K&L Distributors, Odom Corp, Mike's Quality Meats and Kim Girard.

January/February 2010: Review of Draft Master Site Development Plan for the Nature Center. A second series of public forums will be held to identify concerns and issues. The following forums are taking place for various user/interest groups:

January 25, 2010 - Friends of Eagle River Nature Center Board of Directors Meeting at BP, first floor, 6:00pm
February 8, 2010 - Chugach State Park Citizens Advisory Board Review. Contact Tom Harrison at 345-5014 for details.
February 11, 2010 - Members of the Nature Center and Neighbors meeting at the Nature Center, 6pm
February 25, 2010 - Community Open House at the Nature Center, 6pm. Due to snow storm warnings and hazardous driving conditions this meeting has been rescheduled to take place on THUR., March 4, 2010 at 6pm at the Nature Center.
April 2, 2010 - Public comment for site concepts CLOSED
Please visit http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/ for additional information and comments received from the public.

ERNC-Master SiteDevelopmentPlanComments 2.3.10

December 2009: Please help the Nature Center by donating something on our Christmas Wish List or to the Dick Griffith Challenge.

October 2009: Planning for the Future of the Nature Center

Please use the form below for your comments on the first series of public forum information and email them to Lucille Baranko, Landscape Specialist with Alaska State Parks.

Public Comment Form

Analysis of ERNC Visitor Surveys and Vehicular and Pedestrian Counts

(This is a semi-final report)

Channel 2 KTUU News video clip about Nature Center's Space Needs

September 2009: Planning for the Future of the Nature Center

The public is invited to attend a community forum on Thursday, September 17, 2009, from 6-8pm at the Eagle River Nature Center to provide input on preliminary site options for a master planning document.

Wednesday, August 13, 2009 - noon: The Albert Loop Trail is officially closed for public safety to avoid potential bear encounters. As the salmon return to their spawning grounds, so too, do the bears to feed on the salmon and the berries. Closing this popular trail for a few months has been a successful way to reduce people-bear conflicts. For more information, contact Chugach State Park at 907-345-5014.

July 2009: Planning for the Future of the Nature Center

A series of public forums will begin in August 2009. A workshop and presentation by Alaska State Design and Construction staff for Nature Center members and neighbors will take place on Thursday, September 10, 2009, from 6-8pm at the Eagle River Nature Center. Preliminary site options will be discussed. Public input and comments are important to this process. For a list of other public forum locations and dates, please visit http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/

ERNC Scope of Objectives (8-2009)

Site Location (8-2009)

Site Location Descriptions (8-2009)

August 2008- August 2009: Thanks to a generous Tier 1 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation, the Nature Center was able to purchase much-needed equipment to maintain the trails and grounds. The funds allowed the ERNC to purchase an ATV with winch, a belly dump for spreading gravel, bear-proof food lockers for the public-use cabin and yurts, bear-proof recycling containers, D1 gravel, interpretive supplies, and more. Thank you to the Rasmuson Foundation!

September 2008: Many thanks to Wells Fargo and the REI Foundation for their grant support.

Press Releases

More Info