The Woodlands Environmental Education Center

The Woodlands Environmental Education Center is on 852 acres of Erie County Forest Lands on Genesee Road in the Town of Sardinia, New York. This property, along with the accompanying structures, was a former 4-H Camp (1965-1990) which had been vacant for approximately eleven years before renovations began in Spring, 2001.  The current structures, all requiring reconstruction, include a caretaker's cabin, dining hall/kitchen/classroom complex, staff cottage, barn and classroom cabin.  The land itself includes a variety of habitats including hardwood forests, conifer plantations, a two acre pond, two four-season streams, beaver meadows (marshlands) and open fields.

The Partnership   

The Woodlands Environmental Education Center, established in the Spring of 2001, was developed as a joint partnership between Erie County Bureau of Forestry (Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry), Earth Spirit Educational Services, Inc. (a not-for-profit environmental education organization) and the University at Buffalo (Environmental Studies Major).  These partners are each responsible for the following:

Erie County Bureau of Forestry – owns, maintains and manages all buildings and grounds and assists with infrastructure and resource management projects.

Earth Spirit Educational Services, Inc. – develops and provides environmental education programs for the schools, community groups and general public of Western New York.

University at Buffalo – develops a field campus for the Environmental Studies Major involving student internships, coursework and research projects.

Developmental Status

As of Spring, 2007, The Woodlands Environmental Education Center is fully functional for day-use programming and tent/primitive camping experiences. In terms of facilities, the caretaker's cabin has been renovated and the barn reconstructed.  The dining hall/kitchen/classroom complex has been winterized and remodeled and now possesses an industrial kitchen and dining hall that can accommodate more than 100 people.  A large parking area has been created and an internal road system covering more than four miles has been upgraded.  As a result of facilities improvements, school and public programs conducted by Earth Spirit have grown significantly. Community users include school groups, Girl/Boy Scouts, and church groups. UB users include the IDP Environmental Studies major and the UB Outdoor Pursuits Program, Division of Athletics.

Course/Research Opportunities

UB faculty, departments or student groups interested in using The Woodlands as part of their on-going mission should contact Sanford Geffner for additional information concerning tours and procedures.