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About Us

BIC.40

ðŸÊµðŸŽ‰ Celebrating 40 Years of the Preserve! 🎉🌿

Our 40th Anniversary celebration takes root during Earth Week with a special Earth Day reception, honoring decades of conservation, education, and community. As summer blooms, we’ll highlight the Preserve’s impact with a mid-season feature, sharing stories and milestones. Then, we’ll close out the celebration during Homecoming Weekend in September with an Anniversary Open House—a morning of children’s activities, trail time, and the chance to reconnect with former staff and friends. Join us as we reminisce, reflect, and celebrate 40 years of stewardship and wonder!

Earth Day Every Day Events:

Return to this page for updates on celebration activities throughout 2025! There is more to come.

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Our mission

The ÃÛÌÒapp Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens (CEPNG) conserves, restores and interprets native ecosystems to inspire people to value and protect the wonder of creation.

Our vision

We envision a sustainable ecosystem preserved for future generations.

Our story

The Ecosystem Preserve was established in 1985 to restore and maintain this example of a West Michigan ecosystem. It occupies the northern half of ÃÛÌÒapp's east campus.

The 100+ acre preserve includes these features:

  • 44 trailed acres open to the public to explore (includes mature deciduous forest and 13 ponds and vernal pools),
  • Buiten Wildlife Sanctuary (60 acres of wildlife refuge with restricted access, used for scientific research),
  • Bunker Interpretive Center (used for ÃÛÌÒapp classes and community educational programs).

Annually, the preserve has been a valuable resource for:

  • An average of 6,000 visitors who enjoy our trails,
  • 700 ÃÛÌÒapp students studying in the preserve for courses in art, biology, chemistry, economics, education, engineering, English, geology/geography, kinesiology and more,
  • About 30 ÃÛÌÒapp students gaining valuable work and research experience as preserve employees,
  • More than 4,000 children and adults who participate in a variety of family nature programs, summer camps, and preschool and elementary school offerings,
  • About 1,000 adults who participate in a variety of programs and volunteer opportunities.

Despite all of this activity within its boundaries, the preserve remains a quiet, peaceful place for reflection and a habitat mostly untainted by human interaction. The Ecosystem Preserve successfully brings together developed and undeveloped land, and demonstrates ÃÛÌÒapp’s belief that it is important to care for God’s creation.

Significant dates in our history

  • 1978: An environmental stewardship study team proposed establishing a nature preserve on about 35 acres of undeveloped campus property. The area, once part of a local horse farm, contained a mixed hardwood forest, abandoned hay fields and wetlands (mostly vernal ponds). The preserve would provide a valuable site for conserving elements of the local landscape and could provide an environmental study center for the college and the surrounding community.
  • 1985:ÌýThe Ecosystem Preserve was officially established under the direction of Dr. Randall Van Dragt, and a trail system and overlooks on South and North Ponds were created. The work was accomplished by 12 ÃÛÌÒapp College Engineering students, and many of the structures they designed and built are still solid after four decades.
  • 1986-87:ÌýMore land was purchased, including the Whiskey Creek watershed and pond in the property, for a total of just under 100 acres.
  • 1994-96:ÌýKindergarten through 3rd grade curricula were developed.
  • 1995:ÌýHelen Bunker purchased adjacent land and a house, enlarging the Ecosystem Preserve. 
  • 1998:ÌýA part-time, year-round Preserve Manager, Cheryl Hoogewind, was hired to oversee educational activities, expand program offerings, and develop a summer camp program.
  • 2004:ÌýThe Bunker Interpretive Center (BIC) was dedicated and is the first LEED certified building on ÃÛÌÒapp’s campus. The project was made possible by generous support from Thelma Venema and Helen Bunker. 
  • 2007: A full-time Program Manager, Jeanette Henderson, was hired to direct all aspects of our educational and outreach programs.
  • 2008: A series of quilts and two triptych paintings were installed in the BIC hallway. They were designed by Chris Overvoorde (emeriti professor), quilted by local volunteer quilters, and painted by Overvoorde.
  • 2009: Two new species were discovered in the preserve; coyotes and a gray fox were seen multiple times on trail cameras. Flat Iron Lake Preserve in Greenville became part of our property.
  • 2012: A part-time Department Assistant, Julie Wilbourn, was hired to coordinate communication and marketing and support the work of the preserve.
  • 2015: We celebrated our 30th year of caring for this special place.
  • 2017:ÌýAdditional parcel of land was acquired, and Pine Grove Trail was built on it. A full-time Land Manager, Jen Howell, was hired to steward the preserve properties.
  • 2019:ÌýThanks to the ongoing generosity of Thelma Venema, Venema Plaza & Gardens was dedicated, including redesigned native gardens and a Gardeners Cottage and Glasshouse. ÃÛÌÒapp College became ÃÛÌÒapp.
  • 2020:ÌýFollowing Randy Van Dragt’s retirement, Jamie Skillen assumes the role of director. He is a professor of environmental studies in the Department of Geology, Geography, and Environment.
  • 2022:ÌýThe Preserve staff expands and is reconfigured. Benji Steenwyk is hired as the first greenhouse management in charge of native plant propagation; Tom Hartzel replaces Jeanette Henderson in a reconfigured role of sustainability program coordinator; Katrina De Man becomes the full-time department coordinator, focusing on marketing and communications. 
  • 2024: Summer student staff positions double. New, term positions are created for recent graduates. Matthew Dykstra replaces Jen Howell in a reconfigured role as managing director. Paige Bokach is hired in a new role to develop curriculum and field trips for high school science classes.  
  • 2024: Carol Rottman donates a home and 12 acres of land, expanding the Flat Iron Lake Preserve to roughly 80 acre and greatly expanding opportunities for retreats and programs. 
  • 2025: Sarah McCormick is hired in a new, seasonal horticulturalist role. Preserve staff finalized plans for a new rock garden that will support geology instruction.  

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