A renovation project is underway to improve facilities for the Office of Outdoor Education, which will soon open its doors at the former Children’s Center at 931 N. Nevada Ave. After an initial $250,000 contribution from an anonymous donor and additional donations from many subsequent funders, the project is scheduled to be completed in April.

“This project will enhance the Office of Outdoor Education by allowing for more equipment storage and programming space to conduct workshops and trainings, including CPR/first aid and avalanche awareness,” said Ryan Hammes, director of the office. The Ahlberg Gear House also will relocate to the center.

The renovation project includes the first year-round avalanche transceiver beacon park in North America, Hammes said. “With so many of our students snowboarding and skiing in the backcountry, we thought we would take advantage of the landscaped area surrounding the facility and make it a functional education space.” The transceiver beacon park will have eight buried beacons and an above-ground switchboard. Students can turn on an unknown beacon and then find it using search tools and a transceiver, Hammes said. “Basically, students will search throughout the landscaping, practicing as if they were searching for their ski partner.”