MAKANDA, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale broke ground Friday, Aug. 29, on the Wildlife Habitat Education Center at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, a major step forward for hands-on conservation learning made possible by a $3 million gift from SIU alumnus Chuck Trover, who graduated in 1967.

Approved by the SIU Board of Trustees on April 17, 2025, the project is being managed by the SIU Foundation in partnership with the university. The new facility will serve as a hub for environmental education, a visitor check-in point and an indoor activity space so programs can continue year-round. Early plans include interactive exhibits and classroom features to support schools, families and SIU students in biology, environmental science, zoology and forestry.

Speaking to guests gathered at the SIU Credit Union Trailhead, Brian Croft, director of Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, highlighted the center’s unique role at SIU.

“If you’re not familiar with Touch of Nature, we’ve been around since 1952,” Croft said. “We are the only outdoor education center in Illinois that is owned and operated by a university. This really is one of those things that makes SIU special.”

Croft shared how Touch of Nature changes lives, recalling an incoming student who chose SIU after visiting as an eighth grader with a St. Louis school group.

“It really shows the value we bring to the university,” he said. “Today, we’re excited about this new venture. It’s been a long time in the making.”

Chancellor Austin A. Lane praised the collaboration behind the project and the momentum at Touch of Nature.

“Many of the things we’re accomplishing, we could not do without the SIU Foundation,” Lane said, noting the Foundation’s role in accelerating projects and providing critical support to donors. “They work tirelessly to connect generosity with opportunity, and this project is a perfect example of that partnership at work.”

Addressing Trover directly, he added, “The legacy you are leaving is tremendous. Your name and what you stand for will live on here for generations. Because of your vision and generosity, Touch of Nature is entering a new era of impact.”

For Trover, the center is deeply personal. He announced that the Wildlife Habitat Education Center will be dedicated to his mentors, his best friend’s father, Bob Alexander, and his uncle, Jim Trover, who first opened his eyes to the natural world.

“My love for the outdoors came from these two incredible men, who taught me to hunt, fish and appreciate wildlife,” he said. “Without them, I probably wouldn’t be doing this for SIU today. This center will give future generations the chance to build that same connection.”

Trover reflected on his own childhood in rural Illinois, where the outdoors was his classroom. He recalled long nights hunting raccoons, summers spent fishing rivers for catfish, and autumns exploring fields and woods for mushrooms, ginseng and small game.

“Those years shaped everything,” Trover said. “They laid the foundation for my respect for nature and wildlife and for what I’m doing at SIU today.”

Trover credited the SIU Foundation team for guiding the project since 2019, navigating COVID-19 disruptions, supply chain challenges, inflation and tariffs to reach the groundbreaking.

“They took the bull by the horns so this could be built to my satisfaction,” Trover said.

He described his vision for the center: “The dream is to reconnect youth with habitat and animals. Kids today don’t always get the exposure many of us had. This center will help them discover and care for the natural world.”

Trover also referenced the ideas in Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, noting the growing disconnect between children and nature.

Croft closed the program by inviting attendees to the ceremonial shovel turn and underscoring the center’s long-term impact.

“With this project, Touch of Nature is on a tremendous upswing, thanks to the support of SIU’s leadership, our SIU Foundation partners and Chuck’s generosity.”

The project aligns with SIU’s rare distinction as one of only 21 universities out of nearly 4,000 nationwide recognized by the Carnegie Classification for both Research 1 (Very High Research Activity) and as an Opportunity College and University, reflecting the university’s commitment to advancing knowledge while expanding opportunity for all. It also supports the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has secured more than $422 million toward its $500 million goal. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of the student body.

To learn more about Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center or make a gift, visit siuf.org/ton.

MAKANDA, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host a public groundbreaking ceremony for the Wildlife Habitat Education Center at the Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

The event will feature remarks from SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations and SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center Director Brian Croft, and lead donor Chuck Trover. Guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments and learn more about the vision for this transformative facility.

“Touch of Nature has long been a jewel of Southern Illinois, and this new facility will make it even more accessible. Thanks to Chuck’s vision, SIU is poised to expand opportunities for environmental learning across the region,” Kupec said.

Funded by a $3 million gift from Trover, a 1967 SIU graduate who grew up in rural Illinois and now resides in Oregon, the Wildlife Habitat Education Center will serve as a hub for environmental education, hands-on learning, and community engagement. The facility will include a visitor check-in area, meeting space, and indoor activity rooms, ensuring programs can continue year-round regardless of the weather.

For Trover, the center is a deeply personal project and will be dedicated to his mentors, Bob Alexander and his uncle, Jim Trover, who first opened his eyes to the natural world.
“My love for the outdoors came from these two incredible men, who taught me to hunt, fish, and appreciate wildlife,” he said. “Without them, I probably wouldn’t be doing this for SIU today. This center will give future generations the chance to build that same connection.”

Trover will join university leaders at the groundbreaking to share his vision for inspiring young people and reversing what he calls a growing “nature-deficit disorder,” a term coined by author Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods. Trover cited Louv’s work as an influence on his commitment to addressing the disconnect between children and the natural world.

“If we don’t expose them to nature, they won’t have a reason to care for it,” Trover said. “We need to make it exciting and fun so they want to come back.”

“Few universities in the nation have a resource like Touch of Nature. This generous gift to build the Wildlife Habitat Education Center will allow us to expand our programs and more fully live out our mission of enhancing lives through outdoor experiences and environmental learning,” Croft said.

Located about eight miles south of Carbondale, Touch of Nature serves SIU students, the greater Southern Illinois region, and visitors from across the country through programs that promote experiential learning, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and inclusion.

The Wildlife Habitat Education Center also reflects SIU’s rare distinction as one of only 21 of 4,000 universities in the nation recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for both Research 1 (Very High Research Activity) and as an Opportunity College and University, underscoring the university’s commitment to advancing knowledge while expanding opportunity for all.

Trover’s gift to establish the Wildlife Habitat Education Center is part of the ongoing Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has secured more than $422 million toward its $500 million goal. The campaign is the fifth largest in the history of Illinois higher education. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of the student body.

For more information about the groundbreaking, contact the SIU Foundation at 618-453-4900.

By Britni Bateman

Southern Illinois University Carbondale dedicated the Tilden “Tim” Parks Campus Lake Fountain on Wednesday, Aug. 6, during a community celebration at Becker Pavilion. The 60-foot fountain honors the legacy of the late Parks, a proud 1976 graduate whose generosity helped bring the project to life.

A crowd of 50 gathered along the lake as Chancellor Austin A. Lane, SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec, student leader Noah Farris, Director of Facilities and Energy Management Mark Owens, and Director of Recreational Sports and Services Corné Prozesky delivered remarks.

“This is yet another great project,” Lane said. “The fountain is a beautiful addition to campus and another tradition that adds to what makes SIU such a special place.”

Chancellor Lane led the countdown as the crowd joined in. At zero, the fountain shot into the air for the first time, drawing cheers and capturing a shared moment of Saluki pride.

“This all is really due to the generosity of Tim Parks,” Kupec said. “He was a great Saluki who passed away in 2022. We honor his legacy tonight with this fountain that will continue to inspire future generations.”

Parks contributed more than $75,000 during the inaugural SIU Day of Giving in 2017, providing over 70 percent of the funding needed to launch the fountain project. The university named the fountain in his honor to recognize his transformational gift. Additional support from the AlZaben family helped complete the project.

“We also want to thank the AlZaben family for their gift to this effort that got us over the finish line,” Kupec said. “Campus Lake is one of our greatest assets. In our opinion, only one other university in the country, Notre Dame, has a lake as special as this.”

Several campus leaders and alumni attended, including SIU System President Dan Mahony, SIU Board of Trustees Chair Judge J. Phil Gilbert, and members of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors. Judge Gilbert shared that he learned to swim in Campus Lake as a child.

The fountain features a 25-horsepower motor and includes a floatovoltaic system, a floating solar array that helps power the fountain while reducing harmful algal blooms by cooling and aerating the water. The project received funding and support from the SIU Green Fund, the Sustainability Department, and student initiatives.

Noah Farris, a microbiology major, contributed to the sustainability work and addressed the crowd.

“I’m working on a solar panel project that helps power the fountain and reduce bacteria in the lake,” Farris said.

Mark Owens highlighted the practical benefits of the fountain and thanked the facilities team for their behind-the-scenes work.

“This is not just something beautiful, it’s functional,” Owens said. “Thanks to our team’s work, we’ve kept Campus Lake open for three years without issues. The fountain will help keep the water healthy.”

Corné Prozesky spoke about the emotional impact of the fountain and its presence on campus.

“Our students will look out their windows and see this beautiful fountain lit up at night,” he said. “Hopefully, every time the Salukis win, we’ll change the color to maroon and celebrate those victories with this incredible symbol of Saluki pride.”

The fountain dedication followed Demolition Day, an event earlier that afternoon that marked the beginning of clearing six long-vacant residence halls to make way for the proposed Saluki Village housing development. Together, both events showcased the university’s momentum and commitment to renewal.

These campus enhancements reflect the university’s ongoing momentum. SIU recently earned dual recognition as both a Research 1 institution and an Opportunity University, making it one of only 21 universities nationwide — and the only one serving a rural area — to receive both honors. These achievements align with the goals of Imagine SIU 2030, a comprehensive fundraising campaign that has raised more than $409 million toward its $500 million goal. The campaign is the fifth-largest in Illinois higher education history. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of the student body.

To learn more or make a gift to support similar projects, visit siuf.org.