50 years of GHA

Glen Helen Association Celebrates its 50th Anniversary
July 2nd - 4th celebration weekend features hikes, a juried art show, and a talk by renowned ornithologist Dr. Stephen Kress


This July 2 - 4, the Glen Helen Association is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a series of fun, family-oriented events and activities at the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. Events start on Friday, July 2, 2010 with the opening reception to a Juried Anniversary Art Exhibition featuring new, original artwork inspired by the Glen. The cost is $15 per person and includes music and hors d’oeuvres. RSVP to Joan Horn at (937) 767-7971.

On Saturday, July 3rd, there will be a series of guided nature hikes, a free showing of the movie “Winged Migration” at the Little Art Theatre, a casual “Meet and Greet” with former Glen Helen Director Ralph Ramey and a talk by the Glen Helen Raptor Center founder, Dr. Stephen Kress. Most events take place at the Glen Helen Building, 405 Corry Street in Yellow Springs. Visit www.glenhelen.org or call (937) 769-1902 x107 for details.

The highlight of the festivities is a talk being given by renowned ornithologist Dr. Stephen Kress. Dr. Kress founded the Glen Helen Raptor Center 40 years ago and later went on to achieve international recognition for his work restoring Atlantic Puffins populations to the United States. His groundbreaking conservation methods are featured in the June 2010 issue of Smithsonian magazine. Dr Kress will be speaking at the Glen Helen Building Auditorium on July 3 at 7:30 pm. The talk is free and open to all.

The Glen Helen Association invites the public to join in on the weekend festivities as a way to honor its history and recognize the support of its many volunteers, sponsors and friends.
Sponsors for the 50th Anniversary Celebration include Folkmanis Puppets, PBS Think TV, Clark Schaefer Hackett, WYSO 91.3 FM, YSI Inc. and Wagner Subaru.

For a complete calendar of Anniversary events, directions and more, visit www.glenhelen.org.

HISTORY OF THE GLEN HELEN ASSOCIATION:
Back in 1960, a group of concerned citizens banded together to protect the Glen Helen Nature Preserve from a major threat of urban development. The Ohio Department of Transportation was planning to relocate State Route 68 so that it went though the Glen instead of through downtown Yellow Springs. At stake was the possible destruction of a deep valley of mature oaks much loved by the community for its peaceful streams, limestone cliffs, waterfalls, and abundant native plants and wildlife.

These citizens mounted a public protest that thwarted the ODOT proposal…and with that initial success, the Glen Helen Association was born. Nick Boutis, the Director of the Ecology Institute that manages Glen Helen today, says, “In retrospect, had that road plan gone forward, it probably would have doomed both the Glen and the village of Yellow Springs.”

Fifty years later, it is apparent that the Glen Helen Association has succeeded in its mission. Its large and active volunteer base still serves Glen Helen by staffing its nature shop and leading educational hikes and programs in the Glen. Their annual Pancake Breakfast and the Nature Arts & Crafts show are fun, popular events that provide critical funds for Glen Helen, including a new endowment fund for the Glen Helen Raptor Center.

The Glen Helen Association is always seeking new members and volunteers. Anyone interested in joining can call the Association office at (937) 769-1902 x107 or visit www.glenhelen.org for more information.

ABOUT GLEN HELEN:
Glen Helen is a 1000-acre nature preserve and environmental education facility owned by Antioch College and managed by the Glen Helen Ecology Institute.

The Glen Helen Association is a non-profit volunteer organization whose mission is to protect Glen Helen and support educational programs at its 1,000-acre nature preserve.

For more information call Liz Schneiders at (937) 769-1902 x103 or visit www.glenhelen.org.