Gulf Coast Eco Center Opens in Gulf Shores, Alabama
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Kay Maghan • Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
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GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA.
After many years of planning – and coincidentally within a week of Earth Day – the Gulf Coast Eco Center has opened its doors. The facility, which is set to become a home base for youth and adult environmental education and ecotourism adventures along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, hosted its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 25.
BACKGROUND
The beach towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, have long been committed to sustainability, but they redoubled those efforts after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010. The seed of an idea for a facility dedicated to environmental education dates to 2012, and that vision is being realized now, 13 years later.
The Gulf Coast Eco Center is a partnership between the City of Gulf Shores and the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability, a nonprofit established in 2018. The creation and construction of the campus and new facility was made possible and funded through a $13 million RESTORE Act grant. “The Deepwater Horizon oil spill taught us not to take our environment for granted. Since then, it has been my hope to create a renowned environmental education program here,” Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said. “The much-anticipated Gulf Coast Eco Center and its environmental education programs will provide us with an incredible opportunity to teach our youth, community and visitors about the importance of protecting our beautiful natural resources.”
The multi-faceted enterprise includes a nonprofit, established to bring in new environmental programs; a campus with a day-use facility that manages a menu of youth, family and visitor experiences geared toward conservation and ecology; and formal programming, which includes GULF CAMP summer day camps and Ambassadors of the Environment, which will launch this fall.
THE FACILITY
The Gulf Coast Eco Center sits on a 12-acre parcel of land that is surrounded by Gulf State Park. Serving as a community center in the woods and a launching-off point into Gulf State Park, the campus sits right off the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail – noted as one of the finest recreational trails in the country – and offers a resting point for the many cyclists who come to explore the natural beauty of Alabama’s Beaches. The campus also features art and garden hubs, a meeting space, a camp office and store, and an aerial adventure course. As part of the facility’s commitment to keeping things local, the project coordinators hired Alabama-based design firms.
Sustainability has been at the forefront of design plans from the start. Aiming to achieve LEED Gold certification, the facility showcases many sustainable design features including organic gardens, rainwater collection systems, habitat restoration demonstrations and energy-efficient design.
THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE
The Gulf Coast Eco Center campus will expand the outdoor experience along Alabama’s Beaches by offering a hub for nature, education and adventure to its visitors. “Alabama’s Gulf Coast is home to an array of unique plants and animals, offering endless opportunities for learning and discovery,” said Travis Langen, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability. “The Eco Center is also a great place to rest, fill up your water bottle, and tune up your bike while exploring Gulf State Park’s Backcountry Trail.”
The facility will begin public programming in July and offer a range of educational camps and classes throughout the year. Some “must-do” experiences include the Lookout Aerial Adventure Course, harvesting personalized tea blends, and making body care products, all-natural candles and tie-dye textiles. Additional program highlights include beach and forest ecology, kayak and bike tours, a microscope lab, environmental art, organic gardening, and farm-to-table cooking.
For more information and to plan a visit to Alabama’s Beaches, visit GulfCenter.org and www.AlabamasBeaches.com.
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