The PNC's Short History

When the PNC opened in 1998 it was run by the Kenosha Youth Foundation (KYF) as a true nature center with Dan Werner as the director. "Dan the nature man" and volunteer Jim Major conducted environmental education programs for thousands of excited school age children and kept the center open to the public 7 days a week. However, in January 2003 the KYF eliminated Werner's position and the center was only used for KYF childcare facility during the summer. On December 31, 2003 the KYF, now the YMCA of Kenosha, decided to no longer facilitate nature programming at the facility and the doors were locked.  Largely due to the efforts of Dan Werner and Jim Major, in cooperation with the Hoy Audubon Society, the center reopened on an all volunteer basis in May 2004.

In 2006 a grant from the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board has allowed for the hiring of Christine Reardon, a University of Wisconsin-Parkside student, as a part-time naturalist. The County of Kenosha has also included funds in its 2007 Budget to hire an additional naturalist for the PNC.

Because of the contributions of these individuals and funding from the County of Kenosha and the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, the PNC is once again able to provide environmental education to school groups, youth organizations, families, youths and adults. The PNC is open to the public on the weekends from 9 AM - 4 PM with the possibility of extended hours beginning early 2007.

Along with these environmental programs and special events the nature center is also available for rental to interested organizations. The center offers a fully equipped kitchen, meeting space for up to 100 people, and approximately four miles of nature trails.