By Britni Bateman

When Chuck Trover was a boy growing up in rural Illinois in the 1950s and ’60s, the outdoors was his classroom.

“I didn’t know it then, but those years shaped everything,” Trover said. “They laid the foundation for my love of nature and wildlife, and for what I’m doing at SIU today.”

Trover, a 1967 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, recently committed $3 million to fund the construction of the Wildlife Habitat Education Center at the university’s Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center. The project, approved by the SIU Board of Trustees on April 17, 2025, will serve as a hub for conservation programming, a visitor check-in point, and an indoor activity space for year-round events.

“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,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and SIU Foundation CEO.

For Trover, the center is more than a building; it is a tribute to the mentors who first opened his eyes to the natural world. The facility will be dedicated to Bob Alexander, his best friend’s father, and to his uncle, Jim Trover, both of whom played pivotal roles in shaping his love for the outdoors.

A Childhood Steeped in the Outdoors

Growing up in Mattoon, about two and a half hours north of Carbondale, Trover spent countless hours with Alexander and his uncle, who became his guides to a life outside.

“Both of them introduced me to the outdoors, which really laid the foundation for my feelings about nature, animals, fish, and everything in general,” he said.

They hunted and fished all year long.

He recalls long winter nights hunting raccoons. “We’d be sitting and eating popcorn, and about 10 o’clock at night, we’d go out and hunt.”

In the spring and fall, they hunted mushrooms and dug ginseng, a medicinal root, learning how it was used. Summers were spent fishing rivers for catfish and local ponds for bluegill, crappie, and bass.

“We’d take a wool blanket and a kerosene lantern and sleep in between running lines for catfish every two or three hours,” Trover said.

In the fall, they also hunted small game: squirrel, rabbits, pheasant, and quail.

Those experiences, he said, taught him resourcefulness, patience, and respect for the natural world — lessons that are harder to come by today.

Fighting “Nature Deficit Disorder”

Trover often thinks about how landscapes — and childhoods — have changed.

“Fifty, sixty years ago, farmers left hedgerows, brush piles, and woods,” he said. “The habitat was good, and game was plentiful. Landowners would let you hunt and fish as long as you were respectful.”

Today, much of that has disappeared. Large farming operations, oil and gas development, and expanding urban areas have changed the rural landscape.

“I’m not saying any of it is wrong,” Trover said. “It’s just progress. But the broader ecosystem that nurtured kids like me is vanishing.”

That’s one of the reasons he’s so passionate about the Wildlife Habitat Education Center. He points to Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods, which describes the phenomenon of “nature deficit disorder” in children.

“If we don’t expose them to nature, they won’t have a reason to care for it,” Trover said. “This center can be a place where they build that connection.”

A Vision for Hands-On Learning

The Wildlife Habitat Education Center will not only serve schools and community groups, but also SIU students in fields such as biology, environmental science, zoology, and forestry. Trover hopes to see students from urban centers like Chicago and St. Louis come to Touch of Nature to learn about wildlife and conservation firsthand.

He also wants the center to embrace modern engagement tools. “I remember the first time I tried virtual reality at SIU. I zoomed down to Kenya, Africa, and felt like I was going to fall out of my chair when an elephant came toward me,” he said. “I want kids to have that same sense of excitement and discovery. If we make it fun, they’ll want to come back.”

Beyond technology, Trover plans to bring in personal artifacts from his own life as a bowhunter. His collection of full-size mounted animals will give children the chance to see, touch, and learn in a way that goes beyond books or screens.

Building with Purpose

Trover’s $3 million gift will cover all construction expenses. The SIU Foundation will manage the construction in close coordination with the university. Upon completion, the building and all accompanying accoutrements will be conveyed to the university, following the recommendation of the Director of Facilities and Energy Management at SIUC.

“I’ve always liked seeing projects through to a successful completion,” Trover said. “Being involved from the start gives me a sense of purpose and excitement.”

“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,” said Brian Croft, director of SIU’s Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center.

Giving Back to SIU

Trover’s connection to SIU runs deep. As a married student with one child and another on the way, he managed a trailer court near the campus high-rise dorms to help make ends meet. After earning his engineering degree, he worked for the state of Illinois and in his family’s business before moving west to start his own construction company. Later, he built a career in the medical device industry before retiring in 2009 and returning to the outdoors.

His generosity to SIU extends beyond this latest gift. He also helped establish an endowed scholarship in honor of his late wife, Gina Gatewood Trover, and her sister, Lu Ann Gatewood, to support aviation students. Recently, he donated his Cessna 421 aircraft to the university.

A Legacy for the Next Generation

Trover hopes the Wildlife Habitat Education Center will inspire young people to become conservation leaders and help reverse the growing disconnect from the natural world.

“I hope the center will foster love and respect for wildlife for generations to come,” he said. “If even a few young people discover the outdoors the way I did, it will all be worth it.”

His vision aligns with SIU’s rare distinction as one of only 21 universities nationwide recognized by the Carnegie Foundation 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.

Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center enhances lives through experiential learning, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and inclusion. Trover’s gift ensures the center will continue to inspire future conservation leaders while strengthening SIU’s national reputation for excellence and access.

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.

Save the Date: We will celebrate his generosity with a public groundbreaking at Touch of Nature from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

To support Touch of Nature, visit siuf.org/ton.