MAKANDA (WSIL) - Touch of Nature is SIU's Outdoor Education Center. They have a lot of outdoor recreational activities for people to do.
Brian Croft is the center’s director. He says they get around 30,000 visitors per year.
"We can see upwards of 100 people a day," Croft says.
That's why SIU's Credit Union decided to donate $500,000 to build a new event center. Mike Lantrip is the CEO of SIU's Credit Union. He says they like being able to make a project like the new event center happen.
"This is a big splash, something that's really needed. I think it just makes us all feel good," Lantrip says.
Before the ground breaking, SIU officials and Senator Dale Fowler spoke on what the new center means for the school.
"This is so exciting for Southern Illinois. I couldn't be more proud," Senator Fowler says.
Croft says everyone will be able to use the new event center and it should be done by Spring 2024.
"It's going to provide nice shelter," Croft says. "We're going to have a public bathroom."
Nicole Gray works for Touch of Nature and says she has good memories.
"The people here are all amazing. It's a place I really fell in love with when I was a student in undergrad at SIU," Gray says. "Getting to work out here and finding this community has been amazing and I love it."
Croft says that SIU's outdoor education center is one of 10 university-owned outdoor education centers in the United States.
