Stroll, Don't Scroll at The Louisville Nature Center

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By Ella Gordon

Stroll, Don’t Scroll at The Louisville Nature Center

Stepping away from screens and detaching yourself from campus life can be a real challenge, but the Louisville Nature Center provides a free escape to the great outdoors.

The Louisville Nature Center is a non-profit organization offering free access to hiking trails, educational programs and various gardens. Located only an 8-minute drive from campus, it makes for a great place to unwind from the stresses of campus life. 

Some students said they feel screen time has become an issue for young adults. "I think for some people screen time is an issue. It depends on the person, but I do think a lot of students struggle with spending too much time on their phones,” Bellarmine junior Avery Grunder said. 

It has become normal for people to be on their phones rather than engaging with one another. “I always see groups of people on their phones in common areas, which if I'm there, too, it usually prompts me to be on my phone,” Bellarmine senior Issac Hillis said. “There is a lot of people influencing other people, and it definitely affects everyone.” 

Finding hiking trails and reconnecting with nature can be hard while living in an urban environment. “I think the nature center is a good thing. I think it is good for people to have an easily accessible outlet,” Grunder said. 

Not only is the Louisville Nature Center close to campus, but they provide a multitude of services. “We have educational programs for kids and families, we have a forest preschool, we have a playground, reptiles and fish, sensory garden, and it is all free to visit,” Nature Center employee Charlie Combs said. Having free access is great for Bellarmine students looking to de-stress without breaking the bank.  

Combs said that proximity to campus is a good reason for students to visit. “I went to Bellarmine, and I visited here a whole lot while I was in school because it is very close,” Combs said.

The Louisville Nature Center is also a good resource for students majoring in science. “I studied environmental science, so I did some of my research projects here in the nature preserve, Combs said. “It is also just a nice right across the street quiet place to take a hike or sit in the garden.”

If students find themselves needing service hours, the Louisville Nature Center is a great place to volunteer.

“I did an internship with the nature center over the summer where I did all sorts of things from summer camp to social media,” Bellarmine senior Elizabeth McCarty said. “I highly recommend volunteering or interning at the nature center.”

From forest restoration to groundskeeping, there is a plethora of opportunities for students. The nature center even has opportunities for students with an eye for photography. You can volunteer at the center by taking pictures of their flora and fauna.

“Go hang out with the animals in the welcome center or go for a hike. It’s my favorite place to go sit in the woods when I need a break from school or life,” McCarty said.