One of St. Joseph County Parks’ most cherished educational spaces has been recently renovated into an immersive environment where children and visitors of all ages can deepen their connection with nature. To celebrate the culmination of this multi-year project, a public open house was held on Saturday, May 3, welcoming families, donors, and community members to experience firsthand the revitalization of the Discovery Room at Bendix Woods County Park’s Nature Center.
The newly upgraded Discovery Room takes an interactive approach to learning about the wonders of nature. Visitors can now engage directly with multiple hands-on exhibits such as a crawl-through muskrat lodge, a pond life exploration area, a live beehive display, and interactive nature games. Open house attendees were also invited to take part in crafts and nature-based learning activities. At a nearby pond, children had the opportunity to scoop into the water and examine the tiny creatures they pulled up—an outdoor activity that ties directly into the Discovery Room’s indoor pond life displays.
The revitalization of the Discovery Room, spearheaded by Interpretive Naturalist Hannah Branchick, marked both a physical transformation of the space and a renewed commitment to hands-on environmental education in St. Joseph County. For decades, the Discovery Room has sparked curiosity and encouraged exploration among thousands of visitors, especially children, who come to Bendix Woods County Park for a variety of programs and activities.
According to Amal Farrough, interpretive services manager for St. Joseph County Parks, the renovation was long overdue.
“It had been about 30 years since the last redo of the Discovery Room, and those exhibits had been very loved, but it was time they could use some refreshing,” said Farrough. “About 6,000 people visit the Discovery Room every year—some are casual park visitors who are hiking or attending a shelter rental or event, but a big portion are children visiting with their schools. In addition to outdoor activities with our naturalists—like scooping in the pond, sweeping for insects, and hiking in the forest—they spend time playing in this environment.”
The transformation also showcased the dedication, creativity, and resourcefulness of the St. Joseph County Parks team. Bringing the new space to life required a blend of strategic planning, hands-on labor, and generous community support, all of which contributed to a result that exceeded expectations.
“We knew it was time to bring this room to the next level,” said Steve Slauson, executive director of St. Joseph County Parks. “The park staff and everybody who worked together made it all happen. We did a lot of work in-house, which helped save us a lot of money, and all of the donors who helped us be able to get to this point—to where we're putting in museum-quality display pieces in our little park here at Bendix Woods—is a pretty outstanding accomplishment in my opinion.”
The renovation was made possible not only by the creativity and dedication of the Parks staff but also by the philanthropic support of the St. Joseph County Parks Foundation and the Friends of Bendix Woods & Spicer Lake, which helped secure individual, corporate, and community contributions.
“This project reflects the kind of hands-on, educational experience the Parks Foundation is proud to support,” said Nancy Owsianowski, president of the St. Joseph County Parks Foundation Board. “We want children to truly engage with nature—to crawl through it, explore it, and remember it. The Discovery Room gives them that immersive opportunity.”
Among the major contributors was the Junior League of South Bend (JLSB), which selected St. Joseph County Parks as its 2023–2024 Community Partner. This partnership awarded a $10,000 grant and created opportunities for JLSB members to provide ongoing, hands-on volunteer support tailored to the Parks' needs throughout the year.
“We’re proud that our partnership helped bring this space to life for families in our community,” said Jennifer V. Liddell, president of the Junior League of South Bend. “We hope the Discovery Room inspires a love of the outdoors and encourages more kids and families to get involved with everything that the parks have to offer.”
Visitors at the grand opening shared that same sense of enthusiasm. Debbie Pavey attended with her son and was impressed by how much there was to explore. From the moment they arrived, her son hit the ground running, beaming with excitement as he enjoyed a day full of adventure.
“It's great. I know my son loves to be able to get out as much as he can, so I think it's a great way to connect children with the wonder of nature—inside and outside,” she said.
The main entrance to Bendix Woods County Park is located at 56960 Timothy Road in New Carlisle, Ind., just south of State Road 2 and about nine miles west of the U.S. 31 bypass. The park is open daily from 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m. EDT through May 25, and from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. EDT beginning May 26 through August 3. The Discovery Room and Nature Center are open to visitors Monday through Friday during regular park hours. Park gate fees apply on weekends and holidays: $4 for St. Joseph County residents and $5 for out-of-county visitors.
For a full listing of St. Joseph County Parks events, programs, and amenities, visit https://www.sjcparks.org.
