This Saturday October 17th, 2015 marks a very special date. Each year we hold a Volunteer Appreciation Day and this Saturday is it. This year, however, is a special one. This year we invite volunteers past and present, Board members past and present, donors and supporters to give thanks for all they have contributed to the Discovery Centre over the last 9 years. Even more special is the Not-So-Grand official re-opening of the Centre with all its new features.
Thanks to Giant’s Rib fundraising and grants from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, the Greenbelt Foundation and the Trillium Foundation, major improvements have been made to the Discovery Centre. New digital screens, display cases, interpretive panels and informational products are available for the public to enjoy. New additions to our permanent fossil collection are on display! 
Visiting fossil exhibits from the Royal Ontario Museum have been a new feature this year.
In addition to all the fun stuff, much needed upgrades were made, including proper storage containers for our significant fossil collection, printed materials were updated and our new website was launched a little over a year ago.
We continue to develop the website into an educational resource for all ages, including a brand new section on fossils, glaciation and the ancient seas. Coming in the next few weeks will be a printed mini-Discovery Centre containing all sorts of great information about the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere!
As well, our new travelling display is a big hit! We’re making plans to host the display at Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve on Manitoulin Island next spring and summer, then at the Monarch Festival at Bruce Peninsula National Park in late August.
To mark our tenth anniversary next year we will be installing interpretive panels along the trails at Cabot Head Provincial Nature Reserve and working with Grey Sauble Conservation Authority to enhance the Escarpment Centre at Inglis Falls! 
On the horizon is the development of the Cave Springs Conservation Area in Niagara which GREEN will take part in and assist in Escarpment educational displays!
So our little Discovery Centre in the woods has truly grown to become an Escarpment Education Network throughout the province with anticipation of even more good news in the upcoming months!
If you’re a fan, supporter, donor or volunteer, please stop by and join us on Saturday. The Southern Ontario Nature and Science Illustrators will be there to showcase their artwork as well. I’ll start talking around 12:30 (and try to shut up shortly thereafter) then the mingling can begin. Fall colours should be awesome!
Thanks and see you there!
Chris Hamilton
President, GREEN.
