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Schrader Center Opens Nature-Themed Shop

Ohio Valley residents and tourists have another reason to visit Oglebay Institute’s Schrader Environmental Education Center, located in Oglebay Park, with the grand opening of the facility’s new retail space.

The Samara Shop features a collection of nature-inspired items carefully selected to captivate a sense of wonder and adventure. Proceeds from the shop support the Schrader’s mission to provide experiences that initiate, reinforce and extend people’s connection to the natural world.

Featured products include field guides, binoculars, bird feeders, children’s books, hand-crafted walking sticks, eco-friendly jewelry and notecards, locally made edibles like honey and maple syrup, interactive children’s games, toys, organic soaps and lotions, pottery, nature-inspired art and sustainably made items for the home.

Many items in the gift shop are crafted by local artisans with the majority of items meeting certain ecological criteria: sustainably grown, harvested or manufactured materials; locally sourced (within 100 miles); realistic representation of animals and plants; or providing for social equity in the production or manufacturing of the items.

“The Samara Shop is the first step in the larger exhibit plan for the upper floor of the Schrader Center. The renewed focus on West Virginia’s state tree, the Sugar Maple, lends a perfect name for the gift shop. A samara is the botanical term for the winged seed of a maple tree. These ‘helicopters’ or ‘whirligigs’ serve a joyous reminder of spending time outside playing in nature: nearly everyone has tossed one in the air to watch it whirl to the ground,” Schrader Center director Alice Eastman said.

“We strive to send seeds of knowledge home with our visitors in the form of information and experiences. Now they can take home mission-related products that remind guests of their visit and inspire learning at home.”

The new retail space also features a green design. Samara’s charming merchandise displays have been crafted from found items and repurposed furniture from some of Wheeling’s historic buildings.

Funding for this project was made possible through the Schenk Charitable Trust and a bequest from Sarah C. Tinkey.

“We are so very grateful for the contributions that made this initiative possible. It is a wonderful example of capacity building through philanthropy. Because of these charitable gifts, the Schrader Center has established something that will advance its educational mission, enhance the customer experience and generate income to support the operating budget,” said Oglebay Institute president Danielle McCracken.

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