Eganville – Plans to double the Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre (SWOEC) parking lot are now well underway thanks to a $20,800 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

One of the Valley’s leading attractions, drawing over 4,000 students and even more visitors annually, is set to receive much-needed upgrades following the approval of a provincial grant.

Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski met with members of the SWOEC committee on Monday, June 17 to recognize their success and celebrate the newly announced funding.

SWOEC Building and Site Committee Chair Fred Blackstein, who emceed the event, said thousands of students and even more members of the public visit the centre annually.

“We’ve had an extremely successful year and years before, with numbers like 4,000 students visiting each year, and perhaps more members of the public. We can’t keep track of members of the public because we don’t have a toll booth.

“Some kids have been here this year for the fourth or fifth time now. They go home and say to their parents, ‘I’ve had the best day ever’!” he continued.

Mr. Yakabuski reflected on a picture he had received recently from the SWOEC’s grand opening in 1974, when his father, Paul, was in office. He said the organization is entering its 50th year of serving the community.

“Review committees look at the track record of somebody like Shaw Woods, and it’s very impressive. It provides something that is not available universally across this province… It’s a pretty darn unique experience for people to have right here in Renfrew County, and we’re always grateful to the Shaw family for providing this.

“This is becoming more and more of a go-to place for the students and the schools in the area. When you bring 4,000 people in, you’ve got to have a place to park.”

SWOEC Co-Chair Steve Boland discussed the need for the expansion.

“We have about 50 youngsters here today and we’re booked up almost every day throughout the school year. It’s great to have this.”

He added the expanded parking area will comfortably accommodate over 40 vehicles following the renovations.

NAW Councillor Janet Reiche-Schoenfeldt spoke on behalf of Mayor James Brose, saying parking was at a premium for such events like the township’s Easter egg hunt.

“This is all about keeping people safe and this is definitely going to do that,” she said. “We don’t realize the gem we have here in the township. Thanks once again for the foundation money. It’s going to be used very well.”

Mr. Blackstein underscored her point, saying, “It’s worth noting that last week, we had to get all of our volunteers out parking cars on the road. They were parked pretty well from Lake Dore halfway to Kelly’s Corner and on both sides of the road. The shoulders here are pretty steep, so my towing business did quite well,” he joked.

Volunteer Recognized

The occasion was marked as a doubleheader when Mr. Yakabuski presented SWOEC Trails Committee Chair John Collins with a volunteer service recognition award for his commitment and dedication to the organization over the past decade.

Mr. Collins told the Leader he was inspired to seek out manual labour after retiring from a long-time white-collar job as a doctor. He pursued volunteering at Shaw Woods and began assisting with trail maintenance.

“I come here a couple times a week and walk all the different trails,” he said. “I take out trees that have fallen, clear out branches and widen trails to make it safe and accessible.

“For liability reasons, only certain people are allowed to run chainsaws on the property. I’ve been nominated as one of those people,” he said with a chuckle.

Mr. Collins said that while it is nice to be recognized in the big picture, he feels he’s truly appreciated every time there’s a chance for him to spring into action. He also thanked his team of volunteers participating in the ‘Adopt a Trail’ program for monitoring obstructions and reporting back.

“It’s a wonderful job. I very much enjoy doing it. I’m so impressed with the volunteer group at Shaw Woods.

“I had talked to a couple from France who were walking here on the weekend. They said they were visiting and were advised to come here, and said, ‘Oh my goodness what a wonderful resource to have available’.”

He told them he couldn’t agree more.

Shaw Woods is located at 2065 Bulgers Road. Admission is free, but they remind visitors to take only photographs and leave only footprints.