Wildlife Photograph

The Long-Term Future of Ijams Nature Center

Wednesday November 01, 2006
Read what's going on at Ijams now that will help us become even better in the future!

    Ijams Nature Center is an ever-changing organization. In the past few years, we have expanded the park, opened Mead’s Quarry, installed new exhibits and facilities as well as broadened educational programming. At the same time, many of you may have read about our efforts to house endangered whooping cranes, build a large wetland habitat and install complimentary educational exhibits.  If this were to happen, how might such a project fit into the long-range vision of the nature center?  What other projects or new programs are in the pipeline? The answer to these questions will be considered and discussed as part of a strategic planning process commencing this month.   It has been quite a few years since Ijams Nature Center produced a strategic planning document, the last one was produced in the mid 1990s.  A new vision and road map for the future will allow the organization to stay focused, be better equipped to respond to new opportunities and challenges and grow in smarter and more confident ways. The driving question for this planning process is what should Ijams achieve in the next seven years to take the organization from good to great?
The “good to great” part of the question relates to a concept outlined in a best-selling book by Jim Collins entitled, Good to Great. I have alluded to Collins’ book in the past in the context of improving the quality of experiences at the nature center. The quote below briefly describes Collins’ concept:

"Good is the enemy of great.  Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.  We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life. The vast majority of companies and organizations never become great, precisely because the vast majority become quite good – and that is their main problem."

    When I visit other nature centers or science-based museums, I always look for great ideas and tips to bring back and use. Often, I am reminded of the sheer uniqueness and unfulfilled potential that Ijams has to better serve and educate our community. The “good to great" concept is a tool to enable us to stay at the top of our game as we continue to grow and, over time, take Ijams Nature Center to a whole new level.              
    To facilitate this process, Ijams has engaged an environmental education specialist and strategic planning consultant to help us.  Corky McReynolds, PhD, a Director and Associate Professor at Treehaven Environmental Learning Center in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, is highly recommended. He was universally recommended by his peers with the Association of Nature Center Administrators and in the past has worked with the Tremont Institute in the Great Smoky Mountains. Corky will lead a group of staff and Board members through a one and a half day workshop on Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4. I look forward to sharing our results with you in 2007. In the meantime, if you have any questions about Ijams’ future, please contact me at 865-577-4717 ext. 18 or email pjames@ijams.org

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