The Clinton Community Nature Center was established to “contribute to the knowledge, enjoyment, and appreciation of nature for the people of the City of Clinton and the surrounding area.”  The Nature Center is supported by memberships, gifts, memorials, and grants.  Your participation is encouraged.  Individuals or groups wishing to use the Center should be in agreement with our objectives--- “ to be used for teaching, study, enjoyment, and appreciation of nature in all its aspects…”  The following rules and guidelines are for individuals or groups using the amphitheatre, the trails, or other facilities of the Center.

Individuals and Groups
1.  The Nature Center is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until sunset.  Special events by outside groups may not be scheduled at other times.
2. Take only photographs; leave only footprints.  No leaf-collecting, flower collecting, etc.  Users should remove any trash that they generate.
3. Stay on the trails and in the designated areas.  (Poison ivy is only one of the hazards for those who wander off the trails.
4. Avoid excessive noise.  Let others enjoy the quietness of the woods.
5. Use the parking lot entered at 617 Dunton Road.  Please do not park on the street.
6. Picnicking, food and drinks are prohibited on the trails.
7. No bicycles, motorized vehicles, other wheeled vehicles, or horses.  Exceptions are wheelchairs and strollers.
8. Pets, even dogs on leash, are prohibited to protect wildlife, to enhance enjoyable use by others, and to keep the trails clean and sanitary.
9. No jogging, running, pushing, shoving or horseplay.  Trails are intended for quiet walking and enjoyment of nature and scenery.  This is a wildlife sanctuary.
10. Smoking, fires, fireworks, fire-arms (including air guns), alcoholic beverages and drugs are strictly prohibited.
11. Willful damage to any part of the property including plants and wildlife will result in charges to the responsible party.

Groups
12. All organized groups, whether walking the trails or using the amphitheatre, must schedule their visits. To schedule a visit to the CCNC, or to use the Amphitheatre, contact the office at 601. 926. 1104.
13. As a general rule, regular weekly or monthly scheduling will not be allowed.
14. Groups of children or young people should have sufficient adult leadership to maintain order and direct activities.
15. Abuse of facilities or flagrant violations of rules by individuals or groups will result in loss of future use privileges.
16. Amphitheatre* groups should not exceed its capacity of 100.
17. Should the rules change, groups will be expected to abide by the rules in effect and posted at the time of their visit.

* The Amphitheatre is available for use by responsible educational, civic church, and cultural groups.  At the present time there is a $25.00 charge for its use.  Donations toward the development of the Nature Center are appreciated.  Groups using the Amphitheatre should abide by all of the above rules and guidelines. Clean-up is required.  Clean-up charges or payment for damages will be required of groups not acting in a responsible manner.

Basic Policies Related To Use

The Clinton Community Nature Center is owned and operated by the Clinton Community Nature Center Association, Inc.  The land for the Center was donated by descendants of Walter Edwin Price and his wife Lulie Baley Price.  Contributions from numerous donors made possible the construction of Price Hall to facilitate the mission of the Center.  CCNC does not receive any tax funding and is dependent solely on gifts and contributions of individuals, corporations, and foundations for operating funds.  Therefore, fees for use of its facilities may be required to help defray operating expenses.

Who may use the Center?  CCNC exists “….to be used for teaching, study, enjoyment and appreciation of nature in all its aspects….”  In keeping with this mission, the CCNC Association may make the facilities available to civic clubs and groups with a nature-oriented purpose, subject to limits of practicality, including staff and equipment.
Individual and family groups are welcome to stroll the paths of the Center whenever it is open.  Any formal group wishing to use the Amphitheatre, or the classroom in Price Hall, or walk the trails as a study group, must secure approval in advance.  Since a representative of the CCNC will be on the premises during rental use, one consideration will be the availability of Center staff (mostly volunteers), together with compatibility with the goals of the Center.  The Director, President, or appropriate authorized staff person will make the decision regarding use of facilities.  In case of question, the Facilities Use Committee will decide. 

No food is allowed in the Nature Center except for light refreshments and lunches served at scheduled meetings in Price Hall and at official events such as Nature Day.

Weddings may be scheduled in the Amphitheatre by members of CCNC.  The person who schedules must be a member.  A fee of $300.00 will be charged with a time frame of three hours.

CCNC will provide the following:
1. Amphitheatre use during daylight hours.
2. The area will be clean and free of debris.
3.Use of restrooms in Price Hall…no other area of Price Hall may be used.
4. Directed parking of Wedding guests.
5. No rainy day schedule – In the event of cancellation due to rain, $250.00 will be refunded.

Birthday parties may be scheduled at CCNC by members of CCNC only.  A fee of $150.00 will be charged for a time frame of three hours.  Fifty dollars of this will be refunded by check after inspection of the facility.  This fee covers 15 children.  Each additional child would add $7.00 to the price.  Adults will be provided by those who schedule the party on a ratio of one adult to five children.

CCNC will provide the following: 
1. Use of the Center during daylight hours.
2. One person provided by CCNC to direct the party.
3.A guided activity with nature theme.

What are the responsibilities of groups using the facilities of CCNC?  Any group using the facilities must a. secure permission in advance; b. pay the designated rental fee; c. use the facilities appropriately and avoid any damage to CCNC property; and d. leave the facility in the clean and orderly condition in which it was found.

Amphitheatre – A group using the Amphitheatre is required to schedule it in advance and will pay a fee of $25.00 for up to two hours of use.  (Also see Trails below.)  The group is responsible for clean up.

Trails – Class groups, scout groups or other formal study groups walking the trails will pay $1.00 per person (adult and young people), except for the teacher or leader.  The group may use the classroom or Amphitheatre for a brief orientation period at no extra charge.  However, if the visit is to include a full laboratory or classroom activity in either the classroom or the Amphitheatre the fee will be $2.00 per person.

Price Hall Lecture Room – Due to limits of space, equipment, parking and personnel, the lecture room in Price Hall is not available as a general purpose meeting room.  However, groups interested in the study of nature and conservation, and civic clubs and similar groups, which support the Nature Center and its goals, are invited to use the facilities. A fee of $50.00 will be charged for maximum of three hours.  This assumes some time for set-up and for organization, a program of approximately one hour, and time to restore the space the way it was found.

Civic clubs and similar organizations, which support the CCNC with and annual Club Membership, may use the room without additional charge.  Clubs, which have at least fifty per cent of their membership also holding membership in CCNC, or those, which undertake a project from a list approved by the Development Committee, may have the fees waived.

In general, the lecture Room may be used for lectures, video presentations, and some kinds of laboratory experiences and similar activities.

There are no kitchen facilities.  This means that there can be no receptions, banquets, or meals in general.  Responsible adult groups may serve light refreshments including plugging in a coffee pot.

Price Hall is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sunday.  From November, to January 31, closing time is 4:30 p.m.  Arrangements must be made for a night meeting.