Fallen Timbers Environmental Center, 456 acres of lowland woods and meadows, was established in 1975 as an outdoor, environmental education laboratory for six school districts and two colleges. These six school districts include the Ashwaubenon, De Pere, Little Chute, Seymour, West De Pere, and Wrightstown school districts. The two colleges are Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton and St. Norbert College in De Pere. The six districts and two colleges refer to themselves as the Consortium of Schools for Environmental Education, utilizing the fiscal services of the Cooperative Educational Services Agency (CESA #6) in Oshkosh.
Geologically, the land of Fallen Timbers is an ancient glacial lake bed, having alkaline soils and a level topography. Soil types range from an "Outagamie" clay to the mucky soils found in the lowland woods, to sandy ridges. Because of this diversity in soils, and the prevalence of standing water and ephemeral ponds, a large diversity of wildlife exists at Fallen Timbers.
Fallen Timbers is also located in the "tension zone", or area of transition for the northern and southern species of plants and animals. Along the tension zone there is an increase in biodiversity as zonal species interact and cohabitate within this zone. Tree species include the balsam poplar, swamp white oak, bur oak, northern red oak, green ash, quaking aspen, speckled alder, sugar maple, and red maple.
The fauna at Fallen Timbers ranges from the garter "grass" snake, to a large variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, to the black bear, commonly found north of this region. Other mammals include the white-tailed deer, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, opossum, and other common and relatively unusual mammals. Over 500 species of butterflies and moths have been identified on the property.
Annually, Fallen Timbers services approximately 16,000 students and educators from the consortium of districts. The hiking trails are open to the public after school hours during the week and all day during the weekends. For more information or to speak with one of the staff, please call the office at (920) 984-3700.
