Update March 16 | 3:00 p.m.
Effective at 4:00 p.m. the Nature Center will be closed to the general public through March 30 in response to orders set by Governor Wolf and the PA Department of Health. The trails are open from dawn to dusk.
Update March 16 | 1:00 p.m.
In accordance with the CDC’s most recent recommendations to cancel all events of 50 or more people for the next 8 weeks, we have made the decision to cancel Maple Festival. Due to the seasonal nature of it, we will not be rescheduling for 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html
Update March 13, 2020 | 5:00 p.m.
As the next precautionary step in light of school closings, Asbury Woods has decided to cancel our community programming through March 30. At this point the Nature Center will remain open regular hours with the extra cleaning and disinfecting protocols announced earlier today. Outside groups scheduled for private programs, space rental and birthday parties can proceed at individual discretion. The trails remain open dawn to dusk each day.
Update
March 13, 2020 | 12:00 p.m.
Dear Friends,
As a public destination in Erie County, Asbury Woods is free and open to the public. As such, we take the safety and security of our visitors and the general public very seriously. It is important to keep our constituents updated with the steps and precautions we are taking to ensure the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff.
We are staying up-to-date on recommendations from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the PA Department of Health and the Erie County Department of Health in regards to additional precautions to help control the spread of COVID-19. We currently have no reason to believe there is any link between the reported COVID-19 cases in the Commonwealth and Asbury Woods.
We continue to be open during our normally scheduled hours. We are not currently canceling any scheduled small group programming or visits at this time, but we are closely monitoring recommended courses of action and will stay informed as the local and regional impact becomes known.
In accordance with current CDC recommendations for additional cleaning and disinfecting, we are taking the following steps:
- Cleaning surfaces such as door handles, light switches, tables and more in high traffic areas throughout the day
- Disinfecting classrooms after a scheduled school or group visits
- Have set-up sanitizing stations for self-cleaning in the Discovery Classroom
- Established a “Yuck Bin” for any play item that has been touched for disinfecting
- We have removed all soft-surface play items which are harder to clean and disinfect from the Discovery Classroom
- As always, hand sanitizer stations are positioned in easy-to-access areas throughout the building
If you are planning a visit to the Nature Center:
- Please wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer upon entering the building or before utilizing public spaces. Use proper cough and sneeze etiquette; cough or sneeze into a tissue and immediately dispose, washing hands afterward for at least 20 seconds. Alternatively, use the inside of your elbow if you do not have a tissue.
- Stay home if you are sick and reschedule any visit to the Nature Center for a later time.
We are dedicated to helping control the spread of this illness and taking recommended precautions as the situation evolves in our area. We will keep you informed through email, our social media, and on our website if there are any changes to our current plans.
Most respectfully in health and wellness,
Jennifer Farrar, CFRE
Executive Director
(814) 836-6189