Duke Energy Outdoor Education Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

September 7, 2021

Laura Haddon, Cherokee County Clemson Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Duke Energy Outdoor Education Center

Youth in Cherokee County received the first opportunity to put the Duke Energy Outdoor Education Center at the Lee Site in Gaffney to use.  Twenty-six children, ages 8 to 14, attended Cherokee County 4-H’s Nature Camp each Friday in June.  The hands-on lessons covered watersheds and water quality, pollinators, aquatic wildlife, and terrestrial wildlife.

Senator Harvey Peeler with Cherokee County 4-Hers Brody Church, Owen Davidson, Piper Wicks, Lilly Wicks, and Ellory Davidson at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On Wednesday, August 25^th five of the campers returned to show off the beautiful location to other members of the community at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.  The children acted as tour guides for the invited guests, pointing out wildlife and sharing what they learned at camp as they followed a trail to one of the ponds on the property.

This project has long been a goal of Cherokee County’s Senator Harvey Peeler and was achieved by partnerships between Duke Energy, SCDNR, Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Clemson Extension.  The land is open to the public as one of SCDNR’s Wildlife Management Areas.  Cherokee County 4-H is extremely grateful to be able to use this property to encourage youth to appreciate and protect our community’s natural environment.