With events like last year’s May Day Nature Play, the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center continues to offer plenty of programs for the family. - Herald file photo

After 40 years of outdoor activities and education, the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center has entered the future by blending nature with technology.

In the past decade, the Nature Center has drastically increased its acreage, along with its educational resources. Larry Dolphin, Jay C. Hormel Nature Center director/naturalist, may see his most technologically advanced year at the nature center in 2011. He’s spent 24 years working there and is excited for some new programs for the 40th anniversary.

“We offer probably the greatest number of types of things you can do at any nature center or land base,” Dolphin said. “We can hit a lot of different interests. … There’s a couple programs using technology to kind of bridge the future.”

One of those programs is geocaching, which has become popular among other outdoor centers, too. By using GPS devices, naturalists can use latitude and longitude to find items at the Nature Center. Dolphin said participants collect a total of five cards from the outdoors, turn them in to the office and register themselves for prizes.

The project was conceived by geocaching enthusiast and Friends of the Nature Center President Gary Zimmerman.

“I would like to get people out here,” he said. “I want people to come out and find the Nature Center.”

The idea stemmed from Minnesota’s own geocaching program that requires the treasure hunters to visit all the state parks and find the caches located within. For Zimmerman, that meant logging between 5,000 and 7,000 when he took part.

“It’s an electrical treasure hunt,” Zimmerman said. “It’s something modern for people to get outside, using GPS.”

Being involved in geocaching is a relatively easy endeavor. According to Zimmerman a hunter has to first go to geocaching.com, sign up and download the coordinates. The site gives mile approximation — one miles, two miles, etc. — as to how close the subject is to each cache.

The geocaching is possible because of extra help the Nature Center has landed in the last year. Through interns and volunteers, the Nature Center is able to hold more classes.

Dolphin hopes one of those interns, David Wagner, who worked last fall and is somewhat of a tech, will stay with Jay C. Hormel for a while longer.

“David’s a wonderful asset because of his technology abilities related to geocaching,” he said.

And for the first time, the Nature Center also has a 10-week summer internship, which John Duren will fill.

Dolphin said Duren specializes in photography and will run some of the photography classes this summer. The photography classes are also a first, as the Nature Center received 24 digital cameras from donations by Gary Ray, retired Hormel executive.

“He’s been really generous in the community — giving his stock to the Friends of the Nature Center, the City of Austin,” Dolphin said. “His only stipulation was a way to get families outdoors. The emphasis with his end was the photography end of it.”

The Nature Center offers nature photography classes for, teachers, youth groups, families, and adults.

Southgate fourth-grader Jasmine Valladares retrieves a bucket of maple sap during a visit to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Tuesday morning to learn how maple sap is turned into maple syrup. Opportunities like this for area students are just one of the things that makes the Nature Center important. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Because of the types of activities, Nature Center workers have focused heavily on kids.

“Having programs that are tied in with the school district — that’s one of our primary interests,” Dolphin said. He added many kids don’t know what conservation means, which is something they want to raise awareness about.

Although the Nature Center has gained resources in the past few years, it still relies on outsiders.

Dolphin said a huge part of the success comes from donations and volunteers.

“It’s through individuals, as well as the Hormel Foundation Board of Directors, Friends of the Nature Center Board of Directors, City of Austin and the taxpayers,” Dolphin said. “The thing that I’m most proud about is the support we get from the local community to have a place like this,” Dolphin said. “That support continues to be very strong through our leaders, through the Friends, the city council, the park board.”

Since 2003, the Nature Center has accumulated roughly 230 additional acres and now totals 507 acres. Much of the land has yet to see restoration, and some has yet to transfer hands. However, Dolphin sees the future as a chance to not only add to the number of animals, but to the diversity of them and the range of plant species.

The outside help may also allow the Nature Center to add more solar panels to its Ruby Rupner Auditorium and further cut down its energy footprint. Dolphin realizes taking these steps and informing youth now means even better harmony of conservation and technology in the future.

Eric Johnson contributed to this report