Three Oaks Nature Center

In October 2024, Zoe Elrick did some classic canvassing by walking around Three Oaks, from Pine Street to Three Oaks Woods Way.  October had several warms days.  Mostly, Elrick met people outside in their front yards or walking their dogs.  She knocked on a few doors too.  She talked in-person with many of her fellow Three Oaks residents and handed them a Three Oaks Nature Center brochure. 

Zoe Elrick is a resident of Three Oaks, a licensed landscape architect, a community systems designer, teaches nature classes throughout Berrien County, and is spearheading the Three Oaks Nature Center. 

Elrick knows that it is important to first do the old-fashioned face-to-face sharing of information with local people, before strongly using the internet.  The Three Oaks Nature Center is not only about nature, but also about local people connecting with each other via the topic of nature.   A community nature center helps to draw neighbors out of their houses to joyfully engage with each other as they engage with the wonders of nature – and eventually, for the community to work together on many sustainable actions including native plants, local food, local jobs, and more.  

In October 2024, across the small town of Three Oaks, with pen and paper, over 40 households filled out a Three Oaks Nature Center “Acclaim Form.”  Three Oaks residents acclaimed of being in favor of a nature center in Three Oaks and that many features of nature center would help people and the community. Most people were delighted by the idea of there being a nature center in Three Oaks. Furthermore, in October 2024, the Three Oaks Nature Center got its first financial donations from local residents.