History

In 2007, MCPL staff became involved with the Long Island Nature Collaborative for Kids (LINCK)–a group of early childhood, museum, and library professionals who actively promoted the development of parks, outdoor classrooms, and community places for nature education. To introduce the outdoor classroom concept to Long Island, LINCK invited Dimensions Educational Research Foundation (Dimensions) to conduct an introductory seminar on creating outdoor classrooms for children under its Nature Explore project. During this session, the idea was born that libraries—like childcare centers, youth centers, churches, and schools—could provide a community place for outdoor classrooms. In March 2008, Dimensions conducted a two-day hands-on workshop at the library for landscape professionals, architects, LINCK members, and library staff. Participants became knowledgeable about the field-tested guiding principles and recommended areas of exploration within a nature classroom. They created idea boards and plans, which resulted in the initial concept design for the Nature Explorium. Shortly after, the library convened a design team, including a landscape architect from the U.S. Forest Service, that completed the schematic plan and formed an advisory committee that helped with program development. On June 23, 2010, the Nature Explorium officially opened to the public.

Construction Photos