Mat-Su will reap huge rewards from APU's programs

Alaska Pacific University's plan to offer a master's-level outdoor and environmental education program in the Valley is not only good for education, it ultimately could lead to greater awareness and protection of our natural history.

Coupled with the degree program, the university also plans to start a nature center at its DeWolf/Kellogg farm, north of Palmer. The center would allow graduate students to teach, while giving local schoolchildren a chance to learn about the Valley's incredible natural history and outdoor recreational opportunities.

A nature center is long overdue in the Valley. With 70,000 residents and more arriving daily, the Mat-Su Borough must promote outdoor activities and the preservation of some of the most beautiful land in the state. People who grow familiar with their environments and build relationships with the outdoors are usually the same ones who build trails, preserve wetlands and establish outdoor recreation groups.

By allowing potentially thousands of kids to visit and learn at the new nature center, APU will help build a generation of outdoor lovers who will have the opportunity to foster a sense of ownership and stewardship toward their surrounding natural environment. This is welcome news for the Valley.

Initially, the center will only be available for prearranged groups and school classes, but university officials said future possibilities are endless and a full-time nature center for the public is a possibility.

The borough and the city of Palmer would do well to encourage a public nature center, similar to the Eagle River Nature Center and the Campbell Creek Nature Center in Anchorage. Whether it comes about through financial assistance or other supportive means, local investment in the nature center will ultimately lead to long-term benefits for the Valley, both economically and culturally.

Tourism, education and recreation are all distinct possibilities with the center. We applaud APU for its innovative new master's-degree program and look forward to the exciting future of the nature center.