River Studios nature center opening celebrated after 15-year effort

River Studio will feature digital microscopes aquariums and remote sensing tools aimed at sparking candidate interest in nature conservation Photo by Alexa Vazquez Times of San Diego Supporters and local leaders gathered Friday for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony years in the making celebrating the launch of River Studios The new nature learning center in the heart of Mission Valley is located within the growing Grant Park and spearheaded by the San Diego River Park Foundation SDRPF The facility with digital microscopes aquariums and remote sensing tools is aimed at sparking aspirant interest in nature conservation It also will house the foundation s Cool River Mentoring Venture which is expected to reach students annually This park this studio this area has been front and center in the vision for San Diego and our nation foundation board Chair Michael Schneider revealed It s an opportunity to bring the region together celebrate our atmosphere and get folks focused on what San Diego is all about beyond our beaches Once an abandoned sand mine the -acre site was donated to the foundation by San Diego s Grant family launching the long effort to create an outdoor-focused STEM instruction facility The foundation in recent months reached its million fundraising goal thanks to public efforts and private donations This includes in federal funding secured with the help of Democratic Rep Sara Jacobs a third-generation San Diegan Jacobs who flew in from Washington D C to speak at the ceremony noted she believes the center will help ensure equal access to STEM instruction for students who lack easy access to San Diego s natural beauty Aiming to serve the more than students within minutes of Grant Park center personnel announced it will focus on nearby Title schools to close opportunity gaps Councilmember Stephen Whitburn contributed to local and nation-wide efforts to construct the River Studios at the newly built Grant Park Photo by Alexa Vazquez Additionally the foundation promised that over of students will come from underserved communities with all core offerings offered at no cost This studio will be an crucial bridge connecting students from underrepresented backgrounds to nature providing hands-on STEM teaching and helping to create lifelong stewards of our conditions Jacobs stated The ceremony also saw appearances by San Diego councilmembers Raul Campillo amd Stephen Whitburn who both helped streamline the permitting process and cut through the red tape according to Schneider In his remarks to donors and helpers Campillo emphasized the center s mission to reconnect children with nature especially the San Diego River which runs through the park and near the studio While calling Mission Valley a special place he noted that the district may fall short if it focuses solely on jobs and housing without also inspiring young people to engage with the world around them River Studio plans to add an arts component through a partnership with the San Diego River Artists Alliance featuring work by local artists Photo by Alexa Vazquez Times of San Diego It also has to be about inspiring the future and reflecting upon the past Campillo revealed There s no great civilization in the history of our world that hasn t looked at a river and explained this is where our heart will be Looking ahead the studio plans to add an arts component through a partnership with the San Diego River Artists Alliance featuring work by local artists Scholar visits will begin as early as September according to park foundation President and CEO Rob Hutsel I know the kids are going to walk through this building be inspired and understand that we will learn from our past and build a better future together Campillo stated This is the turning point the domino that s going to transform the region