Rochester Hills City HallRochester Hills City Hall
Click here for the Government SectionClick here for City ServicesClick here for Our CommunityClick here for Reference DeskClick here Business ClimateClick here for Home
blue background
Click here to go to Search
Click here to go to Overview
Click here to go to Accounting
Click here to go to Assessing
Building and Ordinance Compliance
btn_cemetary
Click here for Clerk's Office
Click here for Department of Public Services
Click here for Engineering
btn_Facilities
Click here for Fire Department
Click Here for Fiscal
Click here for Forestry
Click here for Human Resources
Click here for MIS
Click here for Museum
Click here for Parks
Planning and Development
Click here for Property Tax Lookup
Click here for Purchasing
Rochester Hills Television
Click here for Sheriff's Office
Click here for Treasury
blue background
Click here to go to Site Map Click here to go to Home Page fill
blue background
blue background
1000 Rochester Hills Drive, Rochester Hills, MI  48309 248-656-4600

. City Servicesarrow.Parks
  ·Overview - ·Park News - ·Environmental Education Center - »Parks - ·Recreation - ·Shelter Reservations - ·Sports Field Reservations

Environmental Education Center

EEC Sign

1115 W. Avon Road
Rochester Hills, MI  48309
(west of Livernois, south of Avon)

Phone:  248-656-4775
Fax: 248-656-4762  (available after 4 pm only)
Email

Call to schedule a group program or tour.

  • No pets or bicycles permitted in the EEC or on the trails.
  • The EEC does not take injured or baby animals.
  • Informative displays, exhibits, and resources.

The following are made available to you in Adobe Acrobat format. Adobe Logo If your browser does not already have the Acrobat Reader plug-in that is required to view these documents, please click here to access a free copy of the software. 

Map to EEC Park
Park Informational Flyer
Fall Programs 2007

Background

EEC Ttrail walkers

The Environmental Education Center (EEC) is an educational facility whose mission is giving visitors the opportunity to appreciate and understand the surrounding natural environment.  The center houses informative displays, interactive exhibits, and resources to help residents appreciate the diverse ecosystems found in our community.

The EEC is located within the 102.5-acre Avon Nature Area, which offers nature trails, a pond, a picnic area, frontage on the Clinton River, and a scenic overlook.   

 lizard    turtle

Planning for this facility began in 1977 when portions of this site were purchased by Avon Township (known today as the City of Rochester Hills) for a Township Hall.  Care was taken when building the present City Hall to safeguard the natural and unique features of this property.  The Rochester Hills Environmental Education Center opened in 1994 as a gateway to the preserved Avon Nature Area. 


EEC Pond exploration

 

Offerings

 

Informative displays, interactive exhibits, and resources to help you appreciate the diverse ecosystems found in our community.

 

Literature on deer-proofing your yard, including planting suggestions and techniques to keep them from eating your plants (see below).

 

Answers to wildlife nuisance questions about deer, raccoons, skunks, bats, groundhogs, and snakes.

    

Hiking Trails: Riverside Trail - 3/4 mile;  Highlands Trail - 1/2 mile; Deer Trail - 1/4 mile. See Park Informational Flyer above.

 

 EEE Caught fish

EEC river wonder

 

Summer day camps covering various topics, such as fishing, survival, outdoor exploration, and

nature discovery.


Group programs for families, children, and adults.  Call to be added to our mailing list.

 

 

 

 

 

EEC - Boys with nets

 

 

Located near the Clinton River and within the Avon Nature Area, 100 acres of rolling topography containing open fields, mature oaks, northern hardwood forests, aspen groves, lowlands, a native prairie landscape,  a stream, and a pond.

EEC river bank explorers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife abounds, including white-tailed deer, fox, squirrel, great blue heron, black-capped chickadee, American goldfinch, great horned owl, and coyote.

Picnicking areas.


Parking


Parking is available adjacent to the Environmental Education Center.


Deer_on_CRT_cropped


Information on Gardening with Deer 

 

Deer damage is at its highest in autumn.  Barriers, dogs, fences, and various scent repellents can help to keep deer out.

 

 


REPELLENTS

COMMERCIAL SCENT REPELLENTS (available at many nurseries)

  • Hinder
  • Ro-Pel
  • Big Game Repellent
  • Bonide Rabbit-Deer Repellent and Bulb Saver
  • Tree Guard by Nortech

Follow instructions carefully, some repellents need to be reapplied after rain.  Some products can be mixed with an anti-transpirant such as Wild-Pruf, For Ever Green, Pro-Tec, or Vapor Gard to give it season-long effectiveness.

 

A combination anti-transpirant and pest repellent is Bonide Rabbit-Deer Repellent and Bulb Saver.  Chew-Not also repels by taste.

 

HOME-MADE REPELLENTS

  • Used cat litter  sprinkled around plant
  • Bloodmeal sprinkled around plants will deter deer and rabbits and will also supply the soil with nitrogen.
  • Hang on wires  30" above ground  bars of strong-scented deodorant soap (in their wrappers)
  • Egg spray
  • Tabasco sauce spray
  • Garlic spray

FENCES

  • Use a double fence  two 4'-high fences approximately 5 feet apart with 2"x4" mesh  deer are unable to jump both fences at once.
  • Cover the most vulnerable plants with chicken wire.
  • Wrap the trunks of very young trees with wire mesh.

There is no guarantee on any of these methods.  What works for one person may not work for another.  Be persistent and diverse.  Plant flowers and shrubs that deer dislike. 

 

Deer are not the only animals eating plants.  Rabbits, groundhogs, and squirrels also eat plants.  Mice, voles, and gophers will eat the underground parts of flowering plants and a wide variety of other roots, bulbs, tubers, grasses, and seeds.  Chipmunks also cause plant and bulb damage.

 

Other control measures and fence alternatives are available in "The Pocket Guide to The Humane Control of Wildlife in Cities and Towns" (ISBN 1-56044-113-5).

 

LET'S ENJOY OUR WILDLIFE.  

WE ARE THE ONES THAT INVADED THEIR HABITAT!

 

 

Link to additional information:

"Resistance of Plants to Deer Damage"

 



Rules and Regulations

  • Alcoholic beverages prohibited within the park.
  • Bicycles, motorized vehicles, all pets, and horses are prohibited on the trails.
  • Ground fires are prohibited.
  • Destruction of property, natural surroundings, or wildlife within the park is strictly forbidden.
  • Disorderly conduct tending to create a breach of the peace, or disturb or annoy others within the park is prohibited.
  • Do not feed the animals in the EEC or on the trails.
  • Please stay on marked trails so as not to disturb sensitive areas.
  • The EEC is not designed to take injured or baby animals.
  • The natural wonders are here for you to look at, listen to, and photograph, but please leave them for others to enjoy.
  • Fishing is allowed in the Clinton River but all DNR regulations must be followed.
  • It is prohibited to bring in, have, or use any firearm or any other weapon within the park.

 

.
 
 
Government | City Services | Community | Reference Desk | Business Climate
Search | Site Map

Contact the City of Rochester Hills webmaster by clicking here.

If you are experiencing technical problems with our website, please report them here.

 

The City of Rochester Hills, Michigan
1000 Rochester Hills Drive
Rochester Hills, MI 48309
248-656-4600

 

All information © 2005 City of Rochester Hills

 

Site Design/Development by
Logo - Municipal Web Services