Trout Lake Nature Center Project Receives Grant from SECO Energy Foundation
The SECO Energy Foundation announced a grant has been awarded to Trout Lake Nature Center (TLNC), located in the Eustis area. The $22,000 Environmental Projects grant was approved during the SECO Energy Foundation’s first quarterly Board of Directors Meeting. The funding will provide backing to TLNC, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation, to replace a portion of a critical boardwalk that crosses the 230-acre preserve.
Over the last eight years, Trout Lake Nature Center has conducted over 500 field trips and reached 215,708 students. The $22,000 grant will fund a boardwalk replacement project that will allow students and members from Central Florida to enjoy the Nature Center’s environmentally friendly wetlands, mesic flatwoods and lake bottom that comprise most of TLNC.
Trout Lake Nature Center Grant Will Have “Significant Impact”
Trout Lake Nature Center’s Executive Director Eileen Tramontana, stated, “People throughout SECO Energy’s service area frequent the TLNC. Almost every visitor uses the boardwalk, and most education program participants do also. Renovating our boardwalk will have a significant impact on education efforts at TLNC.” The center’s walking trails are open to the public throughout the year.
Trout Lake Nature Center has been serving the Central Florida community through nature education, awareness, and resource conservation since 1988. It is governed by a board of directors with the assistance of an executive director and a small staff. These, along with a steady volunteer force maintain the facilities and habitats and develop and conduct programs. TLNC is supported through donations, program fees, fundraisers, grants and loyal membership.
SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn “Pleased with grant decisions”
SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn applauded the grant. “I am pleased with the grant decisions made by the SECO Energy Foundation in its first few months of activity. The support of this project to the Trout Lake Nature Center delivers a message of conservation, education and environmental awareness to the residents of and visitors to Central Florida.”
The SECO Energy Foundation District 9 Board Director Matthew Roudabush stated, “Trout Lake Nature Center allows hundreds of students the educational opportunity to explore nature in person, and the Foundation Board believes helping to repair the boardwalk will enable more students and individuals to continue visiting this local environmentally friendly site.”
TLNC provides approximately 65 to 70 student field trips (from Pre-K to 5th grade) annually and traveling on the boardwalk to the education dock is an important part of school field trips. TLNC will rebuild the remaining section starting May 2023 with funding from several grants.
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