A 54-acre living laboratory for our student's environmental education
The wide range of natural habitats available provides the opportunity of hands-on experiences and the possibility for innovative use. Findlay students learn how to interact with and conduct research in nature without impacting it.
Click the image above to see a beautiful fall view of the Rieck Center!
Facilities available at the Rieck Center
- Over two miles of hiking trails
- 34 acres of forest
- Grasslands and prairies abundant with wildflowers in the summer
- Wetlands
- A two-acre pond
- Access to the Blanchard River
- 20 bird houses and a bird viewing room with one-way glass
- Classrooms
- Hummingbird garden
- Frog pond
The large main building on the property offers:
Inside:
- Classrooms and meeting rooms
- Animal and plant displays for study
- Bird monitoring room with one-way glass
Outside:
- Large patio for grilling and enjoying nature
- Hummingbird/butterfly garden and small adjacent frog pond
History
The Rieck Center for Habitat Studies began as a beautiful gift. In 1972, approximately 54-acres of diverse habitat was graciously given to the Hancock County Humane Society by Anne Rieck. For more than 20-years the facility served as a shelter to homeless animals. The University of Findlay purchased the property from the Humane Society in 1992 after the shelter was moved into the city of Findlay. The property was renamed “the Rieck Center for Habitat Studies” that same year.
Questions?
For more information on the Rieck Center for Habitat Studies, including membership and facility usage information, please contact Ben Dolan, Ph.D., Biology Instructor and Director of the Rieck Center for Habitat Studies, at
[email protected]
For more information, visit the Rieck Center's main website