PAGE 10, WHIIY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, PEBtuAIRy 22, 1989 Palmerston students enjopy nature at Nonquon By Tamara K. Downesa The Nonquon Environmental Education Ceeocated just north of Port Perry bas proposed to open a new centre somewhere in the Whitby-Ajax- Pickering area in response to the high demand for visits by elementary and secondary school classes. The Nonquon Centre offers about 25 different class and out- door studies that include bird- sighting, bush craft, pond and wetlan d studies and tree identifi- cation. Mike Whitniarsh, enviromen- tai teacher at the Nonquon Centre, says there bas been a great demand for class visits. "Last year, on the first day of bcoking, we were 90 per cent filled at the end of the day» Nonquon bas arranged wait- ing list for classes wanting second vis its in a different sea- son. There are now more than 70 names on the list. Whitmarsfi says a new site bas been roposed in southwest Dur- ham Rgin since there are toc xnany class now travelling for more than an hour to reach the Nonquon Centre. A south site would minimize long bus rides for those students, especially in the Ajax-Pickeringarea. The site for a new centre could possibly be located in a conserva- tion area in the local region. Because "we're in a wetland set- ting,» Whitmarsh believes that a forest land setting would be use- fui for future classes. The new centre would be open late this year if plans go through. Every year, approximately 300 classes, or about 9,000 students, visit the. Nonquon Centre. Whit- niarsh is assisted by three university co-op students. The new centre would host kindergarten te Gr. 8 classes. 7%e current centre is very useful for Gr. 8 to OAC, (Gr. 13) science and geography classes. photos by Vmoe OhprEcio