Student Green Fee | Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center | SIU

About the Green Fund Grant

Touch of Nature Trails are funded in part by SIU Green Fund project grant. The Green Fund has provided both archeological and botany surveys as well as funding for a TON Trails Sustainability Graduate Assistant. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the primary focus of this graduate assistant is on maintaining and building our trails. With the addition of a dedicated trails graduate assistant, Touch of Nature has been able to complete the following projects on our trails:

• Keep up with regular trail maintenance
• Perform preventative tree work
• Build bridges to bypass drain areas
• Coordinate volunteer trail build days
• Plan for future trail expansion
• Remediate erosion problems with rock armoring
• Rebuild problem areas reported by trail users
• Maintain features to combat wear and tear from regular use