The centre will be closing to improve workforce collaboration and efficiencies and to provide a less isolated work environment for staff, according to Sandra Johnston, manager of outreach and education for the Government of Nova Scotia.

The NREC offered curriculum-based educational programs that aimed to help instill a sense of responsibility and sustainable development of natural resources for those who visited. They provided these educational programs for schools and groups of all ages and grade levels for just over 30 years.

Although the centre is closing, the outreach programs for forestry, wildlife, insects and other programs offered at the NREC will still be available.

“This change will allow staff to focus their time 100 per cent on outreach programs,” Johnston says.

There will be no staff layoffs Johnston adds, “what we will be doing is moving our expertise to where the people are.”

The outreach programs will be available at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park throughout the trails, similar to what was available at the NREC.

The centre was also within 30km of a similar centre, “so this is creating efficiencies within government as well as it’s not a complete loss to the community,” Johnston says.

 The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables will still have the Middle Musquodoboit District Office that will be maintaining the Nature Learning Playspace located behind the NREC that will still be available to the public and students at Musquodoboit Valley Education Centre.

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