Environmental Education Center

Located within the city of Clarksville, the Environmental Education Center (EEC) is composed of 475 acres of land that affords a bounty of environmental habitats and supplies immeasurable support to academic programs at Austin Peay, as well as to the community and state.  

The EEC is approximately 50 percent in natural cover and forest with the other half serving as a demonstration area and for the production of farm commodities. Located near the main campus, the EEC is a haven for wildlife. The area is bounded on the west by the West Fork of Red River and harbors a natural cave in which there are fish that have evolved without eyes. A rendering (pictured) by Wayne C. Stormes depicts the unusual fish, the Typhlichtys Subteraneus (Blind Cave Fish). This rare fish grows to only about 3 inches. In addition to wildlife, cattle raised on the EEC farm provide hands-on experience for agriculture students.         
          
Originally, the EEC was donated by the Pettus Foundation to the agriculture department as a demonstration farm. In 1992, the farm was redesignated as the Environmental Education Center to better identify its contributions to the University, community and state.         
          
The EEC has as its major goal the support of the academic programs at the University. Available for study through the EEC are livestock, tobacco, plant material center, plant and animal wildlife, wildlife plots, various timber harvest methods, a walk-through model cow and land formations.        
          
For more information on the Environmental Education Center, telephone (931) 221-7272, or Dr. Don Sudbrink, Coordinator, telephone (931) 221-7266.