Hillsborough Education Foundation

Serving Students > Nature's Classroom > Students First Capital Campaign

The Hillsborough Education Foundation, SWFWMD and HCPS Renovate facilities at Nature’s Classroom

With lead gifts from TECO Energy (TECO) and Metric Constructors, the Hillsborough Education Foundation created the “Students First” Campaign to support Nature’s Classroom reconstruction and student scholarships.

The Tampa Bay community embraced a master plan to renovate and expand Nature’s Classroom, an outdoor educational center for Hillsborough County Public Schools. Nature’s Classroom is located on 365 acres owned by Southwest Florida Water Management District in Northeast Hillsborough County on the Hillsborough River.

Nature’s Classroom offers all public school sixth-grade students in Hillsborough County a three-day, hands-on, minds-on learning adventure. Children from private schools are also able to attend the facility, as well as children with special needs. It is combined with two weeks of classroom study in which students utilize reading, writing and math skills in investigating the complex interrelationships found in the Hillsborough River Watershed.

After 30 years and over 300,000 visitors, the facilities at Nature’s Classroom were in need of renovation and upgrading. Also, the rapid growth in Hillsborough County brings record numbers of students to Nature’s Classroom each year.

The goal of the Students First Campaign was to support two key educational enhancement programs, Nature’s Classroom and Student Scholarships. Of the $4.7 million rasied, $3.7 million was for renovations and improvements to Nature’s Classroom facilities and $1 million was for college scholarships for Hillsborough County Public School students.

The Foundation will continue to raise funds needed for many other important facilities at Nature’s Classroom including additional habitats and a fund to cover major repairs,. Also, fundraising for the Nature’s Classroom Endowment is ongoing. The endowment will assure the funds necessary to meet evolving needs and improvements at Nature’s Classroom.