Comments on: Fernbank Begins Restoration of Forest, Self-Guided Tour Access Limited

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:44:17 +0000

So sorry about the highly qualified Fernbank Science Center instructors not having their contracts renewed. They weren’t offered positions elsewhere in the school system? I would think that highly qualified science instructors could be vital in a system that is struggling in so many ways. Maybe CSD should go snatch them up! Can any of them teach math?

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:26:51 +0000

Am I not reading this correctly on the Fernbank site? It says that GUIDED access is free for members, and that self-guided access will return soon. I read good-old, self-guided forest strolls to be free.

By: GreenFox

GreenFox — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 02:10:54 +0000

I would not expect restored access any time soon. There will be much time taken to “study” (read: search for big grants or sponsors to pay for) potential restoration work. I don’t understand why they can’t continue some free access during a time of “study”. This is probably more a demonstration of taking control and keeping the science center out. And once it’s been closed for a good long while, when the “new and improved” forest reopens as pay component of the museum, the transition to a fee-based forest won’t seem as sudden. Improvements will take the form of enhancements that they can charge more money for… a canopy walk, even zip lines would be no surprise. Fun, but certainly not the founder’s intent for that forest.

There is not currently a team of “ecologists, biologists, landscape architects and other experts” on staff who would be capable of doing a proper assessment of the forest. So I assume consultants will have to be brought in or new folks hired… and that will take more time. Incidentally, several long-term, highly qualified fernbank science center instructors recently learned they will not have their contracts renewed for next year.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 23:32:03 +0000

When did developers start having money again?

By: Ronda

Ronda — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:11:03 +0000

So – the beautiful forest that has been free and accessible to all will now require a $66 museum admission fee for a family of four? It’s the museum’s right, of course, since they own the forest – but sad for the families that won’t be going there.

By: FM Fats

FM Fats — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:24:36 +0000

Fernbank, Inc. owns the forest and leased it to the county schools. The school system’s desperate need for cash has absolutely no bearing on this.

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:13:27 +0000

So much for the intent of the original donors?

By: Dana Blankenhorn

Dana Blankenhorn — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:09:39 +0000

The museum’s lease on the land expires soon, and they’re on record hating the county. So they suddenly talk about their big plans for the land.

It’s a negotiating posture. And this is not going to end well. DeKalb County Schools are desperate for cash. I smell a developer coming in.