Lynchburg College's Claytor Nature Study Center was made possible by a generous gift of property and an endowment from prominent Central Virginia resident and businessman A. Boyd Claytor III. The establishment of the Claytor Nature Study Center, in 1998, fulfills the dream of Mr. Claytor, and his late wife Virginia, that their Cloverlea Farm be protected for future generations to explore, study, and enjoy.
"It is my idea now to carry through on our dream...of an educational facility to serve young people and nature interests for now and ever after."
—A. Boyd Claytor III announcing his gift of Cloverlea Farm to Lynchburg College at a press conference in October 1998.
The mission of the Center is
- to enrich the learning experience about nature through education and research
- to promote and demonstrate sustainable human-environment interactions
- to preserve and enhance the diversity and function of ecosystems
The Center promotes natural ecosystems, research and education for the students and faculty of Lynchburg College, for teachers and students in elementary and secondary schools, and for the community. Sound environmental stewardship governs all uses of the Center.
"It is my idea now to carry through on our dream...of an educational facility to serve young people and nature interests for now and ever after."
—A. Boyd Claytor III announcing his gift of Cloverlea Farm to Lynchburg College at a press conference in October 1998.