The mission of the Environmental Discovery Center is to develop and reveal the natural resources of the park for the purpose of advancing education, stewardship, and recreation for the residents and visitors of Florence County.

Description:
The Environmental Discovery Center (EDC) at Lynches River County Park is a 2700 square foot LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building designed to showcase the beauty of nature and blend with its surroundings. Highlights of the EDC include:

Tree Top Canopy Walk
The Canopy Walk is a suspension bridge leading from a platform at the rear of the buliding to two trees giving visitors a bird's eye view of the forest floor below.

Nature Lab Trading Area
The Nature Lab Trading Area enables visitors to share and trade natural items collected from the park such as insects, feathers, pinecones, and fossils.

Lynches River Stories Video Exhibit
Touchscreen Technology allows visitors to listen to oral histories that reflect traditions, history, and culture of life along the river.

Topographic Map Table
This orientation area will feature a 3-D topographic map of the park and river system highlighting activity options, places of interest, and routes to explore.

History:
The Environmental Discovery Center came about through a partnership between the Florence Conservation District (FCD) and Florence County Parks and Recreation Department (FCPRD) which began in 2000 with the construction of an elevated boardwalk through the river floodplain at Lynches River County Park. Construction of the boardwalk began in December 2001 and the dedication was held in May of 2002.
That fall, the FCD received a grant through the NRCS-RC&D office for the construction of 5 outdoor education stations along the loop trail. The stations were designed with educational material concerning soils, forestry, air, wildlife, and water. The idea of one day having a building that would provide a central location for conservation programs in the park came about through the two above-mentioned projects. A committee was formed to steer the project, ZINC projects was hired as the consultant, and the EDC has become a reality.

Contact person: Terasa Young, Supervisor, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (843) 667-0934

Address:

1110 Ben Gause Road Coward, SC 29530 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.lynchesriverpark.com

Directions:

From Florence: Take US 52 south for 12 miles and take the first right past the Lynches River Bridge onto Old Number 4. Go 2 miles and turn right onto County Park Road. After entering the park, turn left. . . (more)