Glen Helen Nature Preserve

The Glen is immediately adjacent to the main Antioch College campus (which itself contains restored natural areas managed by The Glen)[3] and stretches in land area for 1,004 acres (406 ha).[4] Together with the 752 acres (304 ha) of the John Bryan State Park[5] and the 268 acres (108 ha) of the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve,[6] the area comprises a river corridor of over 2,000 contiguous acres that has been rated “exceptional” by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for its cleanliness and biodiversity.[7] 'The Glen' is managed by the college's Glen Helen Ecology Institute. The preserve was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1965.[8]

The Glen features more than twenty miles of publicly accessible trails and includes 2.5 miles of the National Scenic Little Miami River, regionally significant stands of old-growth forest, a distinct rock column known as Pompey's Pillar, ecologically reclaimed farm land, the Orators Mound (a Hopewell burial mound), and the Yellow Spring, for which the town is named.[9][10][11][2]

The preserve is a learning laboratory for Antioch College, supporting academic offerings as well as faculty and student research, and also offers a wide variety of public programs and outreach to the wider Miami Valley region.

Glen Helen was closed to the public on March 25, 2020 in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak.[12] The Antioch College Board of Trustees stated in May, 2020 that the college had no plans to reopen the preserve, since it could no longer afford to support the operation.[12] Antioch held talks with the Glen’s longtime nonprofit friends group, the Glen Helen Association (“GHA”),[12] and on June 10 an agreement in principle was announced transferring the Glen to GHA for about $2.5 million, payable over 10 years.[13] Finalization of the deal was expected later in the summer.[13] The parties agreed to work together to keep the Glen available to students and faculty as well as the general public.[13]

A number of facilities are located throughout The Glen. The Vernet Ecological Center (named for Sergius Vernet who invented the wax thermostatic element) is located on the western edge of The Glen and houses the visitors center, a nature shop, auditorium, offices, and the Atrium Gallery which exhibits contemporary art by local and regional artists. The nearby Trailside Museum features hands-on displays and exhibits. The Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center (OEC) can be found in the northeast corner of the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The OEC hosts school and other organizational groups and has developed programs to develop their appreciation of the natural world and an awareness of environmental problems along with the ecological principles that influence them. Adjacent to the OEC is the Raptor Center which rehabilitates injured birds with the goal of releasing them back to the wild, and also offers education about raptors and their role in Ohio ecosystems. Camp Greene, a former Girl Scout Camp which added about 30 acres to The Glen in 2015, offers a dorm and 1920s era lodge which can be rented for groups and functions.[7][4]

• Official Glen Helen Ecology Institute website