History

In 1997, Clay Blair, through his estate, donated 33 acres of land along the Blue River to the BLUE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT (external link). Mr. Blair specified that the land be used for environmental educational purposes and for the conservation of the area, thus began the dream for the Wilderness Science Center, named in memory of Mr. Blair's mother, Carolyn Ball Blair.

The WSC provides an exciting opportunity for Blue Valley. For the first time, the school district has a place designated for the environmental education of its students, staff and community. In its first year alone, more than 2,200 students visited and learned at the WSC.

The WSC has received widespread support from the community. In addition to Mr. Blair's donation, several other entities have donated funding or in-kind assistance. The BLUE VALLEY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (external link) has made a three-year, $185,000 commitment to the WSC. The foundation and its donors, including several Blue Valley PTAs, PTOs and Booster Clubs, The Victor and Helen Regnier Charitable Foundation, Carolyn and Patrick Davidson, and Capitol Federal, have so far, provided funding for a golf cart, an indoor amphibian habitat, a butterfly garden, an outdoor learning station, a bird feeder and a water retention station. They also provided partial funding for a bridge that will allow access to the deep recesses of the center.

Other major donors include: the KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS (external link), the U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (external link) and the KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT (external link). These three government entities have provided funding for the Prairie Restoration Project, boardwalks, Helen and Victor Reginer Learning Center Building and a portion of a bridge.