The Little River Canyon Field School Center which is now under construction will be an Educational/Interpretive Complex used specifically as a staging venue for the environmental sciences. The complex will be devoted to the study of global climate issues and their impact on everyday life. Further, it will serve as a portal for environmental research and academic “sharing.” A major focus will be educational presentations geared to K-12 students and the general public.

Armed with professional experience, data, and success in the critically important area Environmental Sciences, the Field School Center is now building an Educational/Interpretative Complex.

For over fourteen years JSU has provided a broad range of programs, classes and outdoor adventures through its Little River Canyon Field School. The University a key leader in creating the Little River Canyon National Preserve as a unit of the National Park Service is now working to establish a “Little River Canyon Center.” It will house both agencies along with additional partners like NASA and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

More specifically, the Little River Canyon Center will house the JSU Little River Canyon Field School, the Little River Canyon National Preserve headquarters, NASA Earth Science Enterprise educational material, space for community activity and a full scale interpretive facility. The approximately 35,000 square foot Center, which is to located adjacent to the Preserve, on Highway 35 in DeKalb County, will offer permanent and interactive displays. An auditorium will be featured with advanced audio visual technologies, several laboratories, conference and meeting spaces, a dynamic exhibit gallery, a gift shop, and expanded offices. The complex will also include a small residential village for visiting scholars, students and the broadest array of JSU related activity.

Overall, the Center will be devoted to the study of Little River Canyon, Lookout Mountain, Northeast Alabama and, (due partially to the nature of the facility’s federal funding through NASA) hydrology, global climate issues and the earth sciences that impact everyday life will also be a major emphasis . The center will serve as a portal for environmental research and academic “sharing,” Educational presentations for K-12 students and of course, the general public will be a common occurrence.

Recognized nationally for its ecological and aesthetic qualities, the canyon and its river are extraordinary in their history, archeology, geology and biology. Several of its plant, fish, insect, and amphibian species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. Little River has been classified as an “Outstanding National Resource Water,” which is the strongest level of protection possible for a river. Culturally, the region enjoys a rich tradition filled with art, music and storytelling and much more. The entire area is truly amazing.

In fall of 2003 Jacksonville State University purchased an additional 40 acres to add to the 10 acres that were previously donated by Alabama Power. These 50 acres will become the new home for the Little River Canyon Center. The Power of 125 campaign goal of $250,000 will support the overall budget of $5,000,000 for this project. The center has already garnered more than six million in federal and corporate funding.

The Field School is known for creating specialized programs for public schools, scouts, church groups, home-school classes, school clubs and other organizations interested in outdoor, hands-on education. Through its Field School, Jacksonville State is reaching out to DeKalb County’s growing Hispanic population through such innovative programs as the Spanish-speaking hike at DeSoto Park. These programs, aimed at crossing the language barrier, are the first of their kind in the state. Most programs are conducted in or around the Little River Canyon National Preserve and DeSoto State Park.

The Field School, which is committed to providing affordable and accessible educational opportunities has received national top honors for its partnership building and environmental education programs, The Field School continues to set precedent in partnerships with the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Alabama Geological Survey, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. With assistance from its many partners the Little River Canyon Field School has provided a wide range of educational programs aimed at students, professionals, visitors, and local residents. Thousands have benefited and through the construction a permanent facility, countless more will continue to do so.