VISIT TYPES

CATEGORY DETAILS & CONDITIONS
2012 FEES

A. FACILITY RENTALS
BY
GROUPS

1. Group Use of Picnic Pavilion Only

Permit Required; Fee $50 for 3 hours plus $10 per additional hour ($100 maximum per day). No Program or Instructional Services. This fee matches the region-wide rates for municipal park pavilions and all CRPR procedures apply to this pavilion. The pavilion is available year-round with a capacity of 64. This pavilion remains one of 8 in the region that are available for reservation on a year-round basis. Restroom access in the Spring Creek Educ. Bldg. is provided and/or a portable toilet is also maintained near the pavilion.

2. Group Use of Barn & Grounds

Permit Required; Fee $75 for 2 hours plus $25 per additional hour.
No Program or Instructional Services. The renting group may have use of the main floor-level in the barn. In no case may occupancy of the barn exceed 40 people per floor. If group size is larger than 40 people, two spaces must be rented and activities must be spread between the two spaces. The starting time shall be considered as that time when the barn is requested by the group to be opened for access. The ending time shall be considered as that time when the barn may be locked up or ready for another rental. With a barn rental, no use of the pavilion or Wetland Laboratory is included; however they may be reserved separately. Rental includes use of available tables and chairs, plus the refrigerator. No use of the Kitchenette in the Spring Creek Education Building is permitted. Groups of 100 or more will follow the guidelines of the Large Group Event Policy and have an additional fee.

3. Group Use of the “Wetlab” (Wetland Laboratory)

Permit Required; Fee $75 for 2 hours plus $25 per additional hour. No Program or Instructional Services

The renting group may reserve use of the lower floor-level of the barn. If group size is larger than 40 people, both floors must be rented and activities must be spread between the two floors. The starting time shall be considered as that time when the barn is requested by the group to be opened for access. The ending time shall be considered as that time when the barn may be locked up or ready for another rental. Rental includes use of available lab tables and stools. With this rental, use of the pavilion or the Barn Main Floor is not included unless reserved separately. No use of the Kitchenette in the Spring Creek Education Building is permitted.

4. Group Use of the Spring Creek Education Building (includes use of both floors)

Permit Required; Fee $100 for 2 hours plus $25 per additional hour. No Program or Instructional Services

The renting group may utilize both the upstairs classroom space and the downstairs meeting room space in the Spring Creek Education Building. The kitchenette may be reserved for an additional $15 fee per event. A credit card number is required at the time of reservation and a $35 fee will be charged if the kitchenette is not returned to a clean condition and extra cleaning by staff is needed. Rental details will be printed on the customer receipt and a signed copy of the receipt is due back to the CRPR office at least one week in advance of the rental. Any vandalism, damage, missing equipment, or extra janitorial services required after a rental will also be billed to the rental customer. The starting time shall be considered as that time when the space is requested by the group to be opened for access. The ending time shall be considered as that time when the space may be locked up or ready for another rental. With a rental in the SCEB, no use of the barn, pavilion or Wetland Laboratory is included; however they may be reserved separately. Groups of 100 or more must follow the provisions of the Large Group Event Policy and have an additional fee.

5. Programs and Instructional Services (provided by MMNC Staff): Large Group Programs, Small Group Programs & Scout Programs

Permit Required; Fee $6.50 per participant; facility rental fees waived

• If the group selects one of the "MMNC Programs for Groups" (a 2-3 hour program presented by MMNC staff), the fee is a $6.50 per participant program fee. The facility rental fee for the educational space used during the program will be waived. The facility for the program (either the barn, pavilion, wetlab, or classroom) will be determined by the Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center. If the group wishes to utilize a second facility, that facility may be reserved by the group at the regular rates.

•Groups who wish to lead their own educational activities at the Nature Center must pre-schedule their visit with the Recreation Supervisor and use Category #6: Walk-Through Only OR Category #7: Group Use of Grounds With Instructional Areas (See below).

•Any student or child who attends the program with the group must be registered, including siblings or friends who are present with the group. Adults are not charged for youth programs. Groups of more than 50 will be scheduled for multiple program sessions as determined by CRPR staff.

•Group leaders should inquire with Centre Region Parks & Recreation for more information and scheduling. Programs should be requested at least three weeks prior to the desired program date. An estimated fee for this service must be paid in full at least seven days prior to the event. All remaining fees are payable at the event, or within 30 days if paid by the proceeds of a grant or donation.

•If the group does not desire to have a standard group program and requests a custom program, the facility rates (above) apply to the event, and a program fee will be calculated to recover all costs for planning, materials, instructors, and cleanup. Payment in full will be due at least 7 days prior to the event.

•Groups should have at least one adult per ten children, or as determined by the CRPR staff. Group participants under the age of 5 must be accompanied by an adult unless they are visiting as part of a school group.

The following qualifications apply to #6 and #7 below.

• Leaders of groups who wish to use the nature center Instructional Areas for self-led activities (No program or Instructional Services from Nature Center Staff) must contact the Recreation Supervisor to schedule the visit. Group uses of the Grounds/Walk-through Only (#6) that prevent other groups or Nature Center staff from using the Instructional Areas will be considered a #7 rental (rental fees apply).

• For #7, a staff person will be on-site to orient the scheduled groups. This person will answer facility-related questions and monitor the group’s activities periodically throughout the rental. No instruction or interpretive services will be provided.

• University faculty and staff are encouraged to use the Nature Center grounds for instruction with their students; however these uses must be scheduled with nature center staff in advance and use Category #6: Walk-Through Only OR Category #7: Group Use of Grounds With Instructional Areas. This is required to monitor use of the site, control the number of groups impacting the ecosystem at one time, and comply with municipal ordinances.

6. Group Use of Grounds Only and/or Group Walk-Through Only

Permit Required; No Charge (for groups of 25 or less). No Program or Instructional Services included

By municipal ordinance, any group activity requires a permit in advance. Therefore, all requests for group activities at the site must be coordinated with and scheduled by CRPR staff. There is no fee for groups less than 25 people who arrive and walk through the Nature Center grounds. (Example: An instructor with students studying flora and fauna). This option permits no use of or access to buildings, interior equipment, the telephone, or any shelter in case of rain. Any use of MMNC Instructional Areas or shelters should be minimal and may only be used if not reserved by another group. In view of the size of the marsh area, the agency may grant permits for more than one group per time depending on the activity and area of use. Groups of 25 or more, or groups wishing to make use of designated instructional areas must request a permit under Category #7.

7. Group Use of Instructional Areas

Permit Required; Fee $60 for 2 hours plus $20 per additional hour. No Program or Instructional Services

Groups who wish to use the Grounds & Instructional Areas (i.e., school group self-guided field trips) will have priority access to these areas during the time of the rental. No access to the barn, wetlab, or pavilion will be granted unless reserved separately. Group size is limited to 2 classrooms or 50 people, to protect the marsh ecosystem. The starting time shall be considered as that time requested by the group for access. The ending time shall be considered as that time when the areas are available for another rental. Instructional areas are defined as: sun shelters, boardwalk observation / viewing decks, boardwalk bridges and bird blind, as these areas can impact the effectiveness of other reserved groups. This type of rental was added in 2007.