Welcome!
The Tourond Creek Discovery Centre (TCDC) is an outdoor environment that is open for you to explore. Discover the diversity of plant and animal species at the centre. Search the grassy meadows for the winding path of the Tourond Creek. Enjoy a family picnic under the shelter or climb the lookout tower to view the beauty of this naturalized landscape.
Our picnic shelter can accommodate up to 60 people and our wheelchair accessible toilet facilities are clean, comfortable, and scent-free. These facilities showcase the design of two innovative toilet systems for safe sanitation. The weather station records atmospheric conditions and relays data to Environment Canada. Check out weather reports from the Kleefeld weather station by visiting www.weather.gc.ca. Catch water bugs from the stationary dock in the shallow pond. Take a walk down the trail system that connects five micro-ecosystems throughout the centre.
The TCDC is used by school groups who use the centre as an outdoor classroom to engage students in activities that encourage interactions with nature. The outdoors is the best place for children to master emerging social and physical skills, like running, leaping, and inventing games. Families and nature lovers use the centre to connect with nature as an important part of healthy living.
Come on in and explore nature at the Tourond Creek Discovery Centre.
History
The TCDC was previously used as the Kleefeld Waste Disposal Site, operated by the RM of Hanover. On November 1, 2002, the site was decommissioned by Manitoba Conservation when the Waste Disposal Site was relocated. As they deliberated the use of the land going into the future, the RM of Hanover approached the Seine-Rat River Conservation District (SRRCD) with the idea of using the area for outdoor environmental education. In 2009, the Outdoor Classroom Steering Committee was formed with members from the RM of Hanover, the SRRCD, the Hanover School Division, Kleefeld Recreation Committee, and local nature enthusiasts. Members were later added from Borderland School Division and the Seine River School Division. After much planning and preparation, the site welcomed its first school groups in May 2012 under the new name of “Tourond Creek Discovery Center”.
Our Partners
In addition to the Steering Committee, other partners have helped the TCDC come into being. When the lookout tower was being proposed, Grunthal Lumber donated all the lumber for construction and under the direction of John Funk, the Building & Construction students at the SRSS built the tower. Others who have donated include Albert Frechette of Lerial Enterprise for the wood chips on the pathways and Chez Koop for the TCDC logo design. One of our biggest supporter is the Steinbach Game & Fish who donate their time and equipment to maintain the trails at the TCDC and have also recently donated the picnic tables for the TCDC. The support of all of our partners is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated! We really could not have done this without you!!!