Outreach Center

As education programs and the public’s use of the Hopkins Demonstration Forest near Beavercreek have grown over the years, the need for a Forestry and Natural Resources Outreach Center near the entrance to the property has become a greater priority.

The Center is designed like a modern residential-style home, utilizes forest products manufactured in our region—as well as, products from trees harvested at Hopkins—and demonstrates the best in an effective use of wood in construction and maximizing energy efficiencies. The overnight capability for visitors will provide a new opportunity at Hopkins not available in the past. These accommodations will be perfect for teachers, college and university students, researchers and visitors coming from afar to our forest for education events and activities, field work experiences, and research projects.

The new Forestry and Natural Resources Outreach Center will represent a critical next step forward for Forests Forever and our goal: to provide greater capacity for growing educational and research programs, plus better on-site management for facilities and serving the public in our forest.

The final touches on the Outreach Center will be completed in March 2023. A Grand Opening and Public Dedication will be Sunday, April 2, 2023. Everyone is invited. Watch for the invitation details coming soon. Fundraising for the Outreach Center is expected to continue through the close of 2023.

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Last Updated: March 6th, 2023

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Development Progress

Water line going in for septic hook up

Roof now complete, front view

New windows

Window installation, 2 volunteers at work

Volunteers in action

Cedar siding installed

Cedar siding installed, full view

Cedar siding installed, close full view

Stubbing in plumbing

Shower install in residence

Siding 90% done; stack to the left for milling trim and battens

Preparations for roofing installation

Roof now complete, west and back view

Axe and trunk with men milling wood in background

Milling cedar siding; January through June, 2022

Milling cedar siding; January through June, 2022

Milling cedar siding; January through June, 2022

Hoisting panel #1

Rolling, rolling, rolling

Laying up panel

Beginning metal roofing installation

Bob and Mike rolling sealant on cedar siding

Roof installation progress; 7-1-22

Don and Pete setting a load of freshly treated siding to dry

Pete Wille cutting siding boards to length

Don bringing in the next load

Using roller to apply sealer on wooden boards

Crew--rollin', rollin', rollin'; Bob Kahl, Mike Piazza, Don Chase, Mark Triebwasser

8-Initial wrapping on east end of Center and back porch area

Initial wrapping on eat end of Center and back porch area

Crew putting on wood sealer

Wrapping the building with vapor barrier

Walls and roofing trusses in place; early June, 2022

Boards and batten, cut to length, sealed and ready to stack and dry before installation; Outreach Center in background

new kitchen cabinets with instaled dishwasher

Machine on gravel around red dirt in forest

Building site excavating; late January, 2022

Foundation being laid in clearing in forest

Concrete Pour; late March through early April

Excavating site of former modular home; January 31st, 2022

Flooring; mid through late April

Flooring; mid through late April

Flooring; mid through late April

Floor joists all in

Foundation complete

Initial walls going up; May 20th, 2022

Initial walls going up; May 20th, 2022

Initial walls going up; May 20th, 2022

Initial walls going up; May 20th, 2022

Walls and roofing trusses in place; early June, 2022

Concrete Pour; late March through early April

Framing and walls; late May through early June, 2022

Framing and walls; late May through early June, 2022

Framing and walls; late May through early June, 2022

Mobile Home Demo Prep for Removal; November 13th, 2021

Mobile Home Demo Prep for Removal; November 13th, 2021

Mobile Home Demo Prep for Removal; November 13th, 2021

Mobile Home Demo Prep for Removal; November 13th, 2021

construction worker leveling a drying concrete pad outside, looking toward the building

construction worker leveling a drying concrete pad outside

concrete pad drying outside in the sun with two construction workers

concrete pad being leveled by a construction worker

concrete drying in newly constructed room

Pouring concrete

Walls and roof trusses progress; May 27th, 2022

Framing and walls; late May through early June, 2022

Supporters

RSG Forest Products, Inc. in two shades of green

The following businesses, organizations and individuals have made contributions and pledges to the new Forestry and Natural Resources Outreach Center now in the final stages of construction at the Hopkins Demonstration Forest. We truly appreciate this outpouring of support! Last updates: January 31, 2023.

Cash Donations and Pledges

RSG Forest Products
The Garvin Family
Hampton Lumber Company
Monte and Ilene Waldorf
Ken and Glenda Everett
Port Blakely
Integrity Medical Evaluations
Starker Forests
Pacific Fibre Products
Mike and Connie Bondi
Mike and Cindy Piazza
Mike and Jan Daly
Pam and Greg Hayden
John Martinson, Jr.
Lyna Low and Frank Wille
Dan Green
Scott Hanson
Greg Cline
The Zenn Family
Linda Butts
The Baker Homestead
Peter and Jennifer Matzka
Bob and Marianne Kahl
Diane Kelso and Peter Hoffman
Jeremy and Romalia Shibley
Native Fish Society
Jeanne and Jeff Becker
Loren and Sylvia Bowman
John and Kathy Matzka
Tom and Julie Handy
Elaine Wilcox
Gary Bush
Tom and June Lenihan
Gregory Kline
Bryan O’Byrne
Russ and Kim Minten
Kent and Melanie Hempel
Mike Haasken
Robin Poppino-Kuntz
Beverly Koch

Total for all Cash Donations and Pledges: $309,725

Donated Materials and Supplies
RSG Forest Products Framing lumber
Freres Lumber Plywood
Forests Forever, Inc. Western Redcedar siding

Total for all Donated Materials and Supplies: $33,246

Grand Totals for all Donations: $342,971