Press Release: We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who joined us in person on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Together we celebrated the Grand Opening of the Michael & Sharon Stephan Visitor Center at Potawatomi Wildlife Park.

For 29 years, Michael Stephan, along with his wife and children, worked tirelessly to make Potawatomi Wildlife Park what it is today. Michael's contributions to the park are immeasurable. In 1987, he helped construct the shop and meeting room. Later on, he raised funds to add restrooms and an office. Michael later transformed the meeting room into the Nature Center. The Nature Center showcased a collection of taxidermy pieces generously donated to the park. However, due to limited space, the opportunities for the area were restricted, leading to Mike's dream of expanding the nature center. Unfortunately, Mike passed away from cancer in May 2020. In honor of his memory and all his work, his wife Sharon and the park set up a memorial. Sadly, Sharon passed away in 2022 before she could see Mike's dream come to fruition.

Thanks to the generous donations from individuals in our community and the Marshall County Round Up Grant, we were able to fund the expansion of the nature center, which is now called the Michael & Sharon Stephan Visitor Center. During the grand opening ceremony, we thanked Brayden Hooley for selecting the visitor center as his Eagle Scout project. We also expressed our gratitude to his fellow scouts from Troop 251 and their parents for spending countless hours over the last year building the structure with park staff and board members. Troop 251 performed a flag ceremony, dedicated a bench, and shared a few kind words in memory of Mike Stephan, who was a remarkable leader and Scout Master for the troop.

During the ceremony, Mike's son Wyatt Stephan shared his parents' story and passion for the park, which was truly a labor of love. The current park manager, Lacey, shared the park’s vision for the space and the goal to provide an interactive and educational experience for all visitors. Sharing this space will evolve over time as funds and education opportunities present themselves.

The Michael & Sharon Stephan Visitor Center currently offers a range of exhibits and activities, including:

Birds of Potawatomi: Learn about ten different birds of Potawatomi, listen to their real-life sounds, and use binoculars to spot birds flying by the windows. You can also practice identifying birds using pictures and information packets that provide five interesting facts about each bird.

Trees of Potawatomi: Discover eight different types of trees that can easily be found on a short walk. Observe differences in bark and leaves, and match laminated leaves with pictures. For field trips, we'll divide into groups and hunt for trees that match what we've learned.

Animals of Potawatomi: Explore animal prints in the sand and learn to identify them through pictures. This sensory space is a fun and exciting activity for all ages.

Our History with Potawatomi: Enter a half-wigwam and learn about the history of the Potawatomi tribe on this land.

Finally, the Stephan children, Wyatt and Zoee, were invited to cut the ribbon, and Brayden revealed the new sign.

We cordially invite you to visit the new Michael & Sharon Stephan Visitor Center soon.