Olivia Pellegrini

Worcester’s EcoTarium museum has indicated a $600,000 grant, endowed by the Yawkey Foundations Board of Trustees. $500,000 of which will go towards the second phase of the EcoTarium’s Third Century Plan Campaign project, Wild Cat Station. The remaining $100,000 will support ongoing operations.

Wild Cat Station is the last priority of Phase Two in the EcoTarium’s Third Century Plan Campaign. The Plan itself aims to revitalize the EcoTarium space, visitor experience, and engagement with the general community in line with the time frame of its 200th anniversary in 2025. With these recent efforts the EcoTarium can best advance its long-standing mission to spark interest and awareness in nature and the sciences.

The three projects prior to Wild Cat Station connected the museum to the electrical grid, renovated the Explorer Train exhibit, and opened the EcoTarium’s largest indoor exhibit, City Science. This Third project will include bird mews, a mountain lion exhibit, a wildlife care building and an educational plaza. The exhibit brings innovation to best showcase its polar bear exhibit, and the mountain lion exhibit in particular will encompass over two stories of height for the viewing of the EcoTarium guests.

Humanitarian group Yawkey Foundations president and trustee, James Healey, expressed his gratitude in a recent press statement. Healey was correctly hopeful that the endeavor will “further our organizations’ mutual goal to improve the quality of life of children, families, and the underserved. Healey also acknowledged that “the partnership between the Yawkey Foundations and the EcoTarium has been ongoing for more than a decade and we are excited to see the positive impact the museum has made in the Worcester community.” In a similar spirit, EcoTarium president Joe Cox noted that The Yawkey Foundations “have been thoughtful supporters of the EcoTarium for many years, ensuring that we continue to to grow as an accessible resource for all in our community. This gift marks a continuing partnership in bringing world-class science and nature exhibits, educational programs, and more, to the people of Central Massachusetts. Healey added to this, reflecting on the museum’s “growing recognition as a national leader among small and mid-sized science and nature museums,” since the time of its founding in 1825.

For more information about the EcoTarium, stop by for a few hours at 222 Harrington Way in Worcester. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays 12 noon to 5 pm. Admission is $18 for adults, $14 for children 2-18, $14 for seniors 65+ and students, and free for children under 2. To find out more about events and offerings, visit ecotarium.org.