Saginaw Township View

Hartley Outdoor Education Center celebrates 45 years


SAGINAW – Hartley Outdoor Education Center celebrates 45 years of educating students in the world’s natural environment through hands-on activities. To commemorate, Hartley plans to build a net zero greenhouse in the spring of 2020 that generates 100% of the energy the greenhouse uses on-site. With this addition, new year-long curricula such as gardening, composting, plant science, and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are available for students and educators. Other new programs like aquatic ecology and archery create more interactive learning pathways for students.

“Hartley is the ultimate childhood learning experience. Most people leave with fond life-long memories and experiences. The doors first opened in the fall of 1975 and loyal fans enjoy looking at historical pictures, recalling past adventures, and simply appreciating what makes Hartley, Hartley. To show our gratitude, fans can submit stories and pictures to our Facebook page for a chance to win one of two retro-style, throwback Hartley t-shirts to honor 45 years of successful outdoor educational programs,” said Eric Rutherford, executive director of Hartley.

Last school year, Hartley served over 10 counties, 21 school districts, and over 2,723 residential students. Because of the steady increase of residential students, Hartley added new LED lights in its recreational area, completely renovated bunk bed living quarters, installed new carpet and flooring across much of the facility, and enhanced meal accommodations by working with professional chefs to learn how to make new menu items. Between facility improvement projects, new curriculum, and added recreational features, Hartley continues to look for innovative ways to make learning in nature captivating for students and educators.

In fact, in recognition of Hartley’s program success, the staff recently received an award from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) for delivering remarkable educational content and demonstrating exceptional skill at program delivery.

“Hartley is a Saginaw ISD program where the experience speaks for itself. To hear all of the wonderful stories and witness all of the student growth, always takes me back down memory lane to when I attended Hartley as a teacher. It’s something that I will never forget – just like many others that attended. We are thankful to our schools, patrons, supporters, staff, and board for making Hartley an exceptional place for students to learn in the great outdoors,” said Dr. Kathy Stewart, superintendent of the Saginaw Intermediate School District.

With 300 acres of natural habitat, including hardwood forest, wetlands, meadows, ponds, and a creek, Hartley is home to the Coal Mine No. 8 Historical Site and Museum, Schroeder Log Cabin, Fowler One-room School, Murphy Farmhouse, Henige Log Cabin, Farm Learning Center, and future Net Zero greenhouse. Hartley is also the site of Saginaw County’s only identified nature preschool with one of Saginaw ISD’s Head Start programs located at the Murphy Farm site.

To enter for a chance to win a t-shirt and learn more about Hartley, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/ hartleyoutdooreducationcenter.