26. Whitehouse Nature Center and Interpretive Building

The Whitehouse Nature Center contains over 130 acres of forest, marsh, river, ponds and pastureland. The College acquired the land through an anonymous gift in 1971-72. There is an Interpretive Center, built in 1977 that includes a bird-watching area with one-way glass and a microphone and speaker system that allows viewers to observe and listen to birds just inches from the feeders. The building has a large deck over the Kalamazoo River.

Named for former president, William W. Whitehouse, the nature center features research areas for biology and environmental studies. There are also miles of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, an arboretum, and some student fish from the footbridge over the river.

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Not dated	Betty Beese Ecology Trail, n.d.	Aerial photograph, n.d.	Map of trails, n.d.
Students on the Nature Walk,	April 2005...		Eco-Discovery Camp, 2006.
Student collects a green alga at the Nature Center, 2006.	Photo by Dave Trumpie, n.d.	n.d.

The facilities are enjoyed by hundreds of school children who come for field trips, as well as by members of the Albion community. It is a great luxury to have such a facility on the edge of campus.

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