Located along Lake Erie, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center is an educational museum and hands-on facility for families to learn more about the 3200-acre Presque Isle and the surrounding area's flora and fauna. This educational tourist destination offers visitors both research and learning opportunities at a single location, something that is unique to Great Lakes environmental facilities. This location, which is open year-round, has events throughout the year both inside and outside.
The Tom Ridge Environmental Center is located in a temperate climate, but when the weather permits, visitors can check out a number of outdoor activities on Presque Isle. This location has eleven beaches, some of which have lifeguards, bathhouses, and other amenities. There are also biking and hiking trails, fishing and boating locations, and picnic groves. Even during the winter, guests can participate in ice fishing, cross country skiing, ice skating, wind skating, and ice boating.
Indoor activities are also popular at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. They have large classrooms and conference rooms to accommodate groups, as well as smaller classrooms for groups that don't need as much room. One of the most popular activities is to climb the TREC Tower, a 75-foot glass tower that provides visitors with a birds' eye view of the lake and surrounding land. There's alto the Big Green Screen Theatre, which has a screen that is four stories high and 45 feet wide. Some of the shows currently playing at the Big Green Screen Theatre or that have played there in the past include Hurricane on the Bayou, Mysteries of the Great Lakes, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs, and Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees. Theatre tickets cost $7.50 for adults, $5.50 for children aged 12 and under, and $6 for senior citizens. If guests attend shows after 3:00 PM, there's a ticket special of 2 for $10.
The research labs at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center are attractive to students, scientists, and those studying the wildlife of this area. They currently have eight laboratories, including an aquatic lab, which is home to a number of Lake Erie fish species. In the aquatic lab, the center has five 400-gallon fish farms where people can learn how plants and animals live together.
In the Discovery Zone, there are a number of interactive activities for visitors of all ages. These activities showcase the research taking place at the facility, and include making jewelry from beach glass, learning how to kayak, and taking part in hands-on exhibits about the culture and history of Presque Isle.
Admission to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center is free on most days. There are special events at some times, which may require visitors to purchase tickets, and educational programs are available for school classes and other groups at a small cost. There are also volunteer opportunities for those who wish to get involved with conservation efforts around the Lake Erie area. For more information about the upcoming special events, daily activities, and group programs, interested visitors can contract the center at 814-833-7424.
