Natural Areas
Topographic Map of CNSC (140K)
The Claytor Nature Study Center encompasses 470 acres of rural country in Bedford County, Virginia, offering a commanding view of the Peaks of Otter in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Big Otter River runs over a mile through the property and two small lakes and a pond dot the landscape.
The Center offers open fields, woodlands, riverside cliffs, wetlands, a wide variety of flora and fauna, and over two miles of trails.
Historically, the property had been managed as a farm since the late 1700s. Up until the mid-1990s, areas of the land were still being cultivated for crops and hay, while other areas were used to graze livestock. As of 1998, the entire property is now managed for environmental conservation and restoration as part of agreements with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Natural features of the Center include:
- 470 total acres under Virginia Outdoors Foundation conservation easement
- 240 acres of upland and lowland forests, managed with assistance from the Virginia Department of Forestry
- 150 acres of grasslands, most managed under a federal Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program
- 70 acres of wetland and riparian habitat managed under the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wetland and Conservation Reserve Programs.
- Two small lakes, a pond and several intermittent streams
- One mile of the Big Otter River
- Over 800 species of flora and fauna
Education and Research Center
The highlight of Lynchburg College's commitment to environmental education is the newly completed 7,700-sq.ft. A. Boyd Claytor III Education & Research Center. This facility is located on the northern side of the property, just off of Woods Road. It is built on a ridge at the edge of the upland forest, overlooking the wetlands and the Big Otter River.
The building is designed to blend into the natural scenery while providing views and access to a variety of the Center's habitats. The Education & Research Center provides classroom, laboratory, seminar and retreat facilities.
Special features include a large, open-air deck, an integrated classroom/laboratory area with adjoining research laboratory, and a "discovery" room designed for K-12 teachers and students to use for conducting classes on-site.
Education & Research Center features include:
- Teaching laboratory and classroom for college and K-12 classes and community groups to conduct science exercises and study specimens collected from the field.
- Research laboratory, with adjoining chemical and specimen storage room, to be used by advanced students, faculty, and guest scientists.
- Ramsey-Freer Herbarium, the largest Virginia private college plant collection and the fourth largest in the Commonwealth, with more than 60,000 specimens.
- Multi-purpose seminar room, with fireplace and access to the deck, for meetings, lectures, dinners, retreats and other social events.
- Observation deck overlooking the wetlands and river.
- Separate pavilion, with picnic tables and A/V display board, for outdoor lectures, classes, retreats and other social events.
- Spacious reception area with art and science interpretive displays.
- Discovery room, equipped with science education teaching aides, for K-12 teachers and students to conduct classes on-site.
- Large-capacity classroom to accommodate larger audiences.
- Small conference room with meeting table and library.
- Kitchen preparation room, bathroom and shower facilities.
The John E. and Kathryn S. Husted Pavilion facility, located adjacent to the Education & Research Center, serves as an ideal outdoor meeting place for environmental education classes and workshops. It is equipped with picnic tables and benches, A/V hookups, and a projection screen.
The pavilion was dedicated on October 18, 2001 in memory of former Lynchburg College Dean Stewart W. Husted's parents Dr. John E. Husted (1915-1999), emeritus professor of geology at Georgia Tech and member of the Civil Defense Executive Reserve, U.S. Department of Interior, and Kathryn S. Husted (1919-2000), distinguished elementary school teacher.
Cloverlea Farm and Memorial Gardens
Centrally located on the southern side of the property, the Cloverlea Farm, Memorial Gardens, and Historic Cemetery are the cultural hub of the Center. The beautiful, plantation style farmhouse offers a stunning panoramic view of the Peaks of Otter and Blue Ridge Mountains.
Though renovated and added to over the years, the original farmhouse dates back to the late 1780s. The historic cemetery, located near the farmhouse, preserves archeological evidence of a rich history of former owners of the farm.
In memory of Boyd Claytor's late wife, Virginia, Memorial Gardens will be planted near the farmhouse. Landscaping will include a variety of native plant species, flowers and herbs, and a reflecting pool. A walking path, benches and a gathering area will also be incorporated into the gardens to be used for leisure, classes, retreats, and religious services.