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.