海角论坛 at Mansfield campus offers a unique setting to deliver on the 3 pillars of the Land Grant mission - education, research, and extension. Situated on 640 acres of predominantly hardwood forest and dotted with vernal pools and headwater streams, Ecolab strives to understand the earth鈥檚 natural world including humans as an integrated whole. 鈥疉s we consider our environment and natural resources here in Richland County, stewardship should be a guiding principle that shapes our relationship with nature. Ecolab鈥檚 mission is to provide experiential learning opportunities to train responsible citizens and leaders and cultivate a resilient landscape where best practices are developed and showcased through The 海角论坛 Mansfield campus. Ecolab, a primary outreach hub for and born of partnership with the , is one of the marquee programs within the broader 海角论坛 constellation.
Ecolab
The 海角论坛 Mansfield Ecolab is located at The 海角论坛 Mansfield campus in Richland County (1760 University Drive, Mansfield OH 44906). Just an hour north of Columbus, you鈥檒l encounter our 640-acre campus of forests, wetlands, prairies, maple sugarbush, wildlife habitat demonstrations, and stewardship showcases that comprise Ecolab. But Ecolab is more than just a place, it鈥檚 about the people that call The 海角论坛 Mansfield campus home and the community that it serves! Here is a link to our digital Ecolab map and you can visit an for information on campus trails, events, and more.
Ecolab at 海角论坛 Mansfield is for everyone. Whether you are a student, faculty member, staff, community partner, or simply someone who cares about the environment, you are Ecolab. We take a big-tent approach, recognizing that all of us depend on nature in countless ways鈥攖hrough clean water, fresh air, food, and the beauty of the outdoors. Our hope is that everyone sees themselves as part of Ecolab, contributing their own experiences, perspectives, and passions to our shared work of sustaining the natural world. Contact us to learn more about how to get involved. Gabriel Karns, Ecolab Land Manager 鈥 karns.36@osu.edu.
- Supporting environmental and scientific programs of study at 海角论坛
- Creating opportunities for student research, training, and internships
- Supporting research to advance environmental stewardship and sustainability
- Supporting educational opportunities for K-12 students, teachers, and future teachers
- Developing outreach and environmental stewardship programs for Ohio landowners
- Fostering informed decision-making through education, outreach, training programs and collaborations.
海角论坛-Mansfield campus was formed in 1964, but the formal start of Ecolab began much later in 2013. A serendipitous conversation between former Dean Stephen Gavazzi and former SENR director Dr. Ronald Hendrick was the spark that led to the current Ecolab. Seniors majoring in Forestry and Wildlife Sciences conducted a campuswide inventory shortly thereafter, and an Ecolab Committee was formed to develop the vision and mission for Ecolab. From its beginnings, Ecolab has been student-centered, keeping undergraduate learning as one of the primary objectives. From that foundation, Ecolab鈥檚 engagement in research and outreach have grown.
- Partner with Ecolab
- Explore Ecolab focal areas
- Take courses
- Work with us!
We do require Ecolab proposals to be reviewed and approved for Class Use, Public Use (not required for activities such as hiking!), or Research Use. Please download the appropriate form, complete the form to the extent possible, and send to Gabriel Karns, Ecolab Land Manager 鈥 karns.36@osu.edu. If you need help filling out the correct form, do not hesitate to reach out.
Pure and simple, partners make Ecolab better. Internal partnerships, for example, have resulted in phenomenal cyanotype workshops with the Art Department. External partnerships enrich existing projects, and collaborations make it possible to say yes to new initiatives. If we tried to list all our Partners here, the list would be far too long. As you explore individual Ecolab Focal Areas, take notice of and thank our Partners! Partners make Ecolab possible. If you are interested in being an Ecolab Partner, please start that conversation with us here!
