Wild Discovery

Ventana Wildlife Society opens its Discovery Center at Andrew Molera State Park.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Good news first: This weekend, Ventana Wildlife Society will unveil its new Discovery Center in Big Sur's Andrew Molera State Park. The center will be open 9am-4pm Friday to Sunday.

Bad news: The park itself might not be open much longer. If state parks close under the latest budget cuts proposed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, the Discovery Center may remain out of public reach.

The Budget Conference Committee decided June 15 to axe the $70 million General Fund allowance for state parks, but endorsed former Assemblyman John Laird's alternate plan to add $15 to vehicle license fees. The so-called State Park Access Pass would keep state parks open and give Californians free day use. The Legislature has yet to vote on the proposal.

As with VWS itself, condor education will be central to the Discovery Center. The center will house the "Bringing the Condors Home" exhibit, which describes the multi-agency, decades-long effort to bring California condors back from the bring of extinction.

The center will also serve as the hub for VWS's Natural Science Discovery Camp for kids 8-12 years old, Condor Wilderness Camp for teens, and songbird banding lab, among other programs. On-site biologists and naturalists will help interpret the science for visitors.

"Now let's hope this park and all the rest of California's parks remain open," says VWS Executive Director Kelly Sorenson.