Still in the very preliminary stages, a plan is being discussed between Lake Orion Schools and Oakland County Parks to form a partnership to keep the doors of the Moose Tree Nature Preserve building open.
The Moose Tree building has been discussed for the past couple of months as one of the items on the school district’s chopping block, as the board attempts to balance next year’s budget.
At their April 26 meeting, held at Carpenter Elementary School, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Curriculum Dave Beiter talked about the phone call he had recently with OC Parks Executive Director Dan Stencil, who has expressed interest in getting involved with Moose Tree.
‘Dan would like to use (Moose Tree) on evenings and weekends,? he said.
Beiter has also spoken with Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk and Parks and Recreation Director Rock Blanchard.
?(The township) is interested in using it for office space, and having some parks programs there,? he said.
Beiter plans to meet with the two naturalists employed at Moose Tree, to discuss alternative funding to make up for the $60,000 cost of operation that the nature center currently represents to the district.
‘We can continue partial programming there,? he said. ‘We are meeting May 3 to brainstorm with the instructors about researching state and federal grants, as well as corporate sponsorships.?
Beiter will also be meeting with Stencil in the next few weeks to talk about a plan.
‘Yes, we’d like to be able to have revenue come out (of Moose Tree), and continue the programming, that would be a gift,? said Beiter, adding that the ideal situation would be OC Parks taking over the nature center entirely, while maintaining the district’s current staff and programming.
‘We already have trained people there, and we want some alternatives to present to the board,? he said. ‘That’s the legwork I’ve started, and I want to continue that with ( Moose Tree naturalists) Jennie (Klein) and Mandy (Dunlap).?
Treasurer Mary Jo Burchart wondered if OC Parks took over, would Lake Orion students still be allowed to use the nature center as they do now, or would there be a cost for field trips?
‘We would like to maintain the programming and staff, but we want (OC Parks) to pay for it,? Beiter responded. ‘They could use it on evenings, weekends and over the summer, for a pretty low cost.?
Beiter said Stencil wants to meet face-to-face, with both sides? financial people present, to talk further.
Stencil said the fact that Orion Oaks County Park is immediately adjacent to Moose Tree makes it an attractive location for the county parks system.
‘We have 927 acres at Orion Oaks,? he said. ‘We haven’t met with the school district yet, we just had a phone call.?
Stencil said he would meet with the district in the next couple of weeks to discuss ‘possible collaborative efforts.?