Get Involved
To learn more about the history and mission of the Fox-Shank Living Laboratory, visit the Friends of Fox-Shank website:
The Fox-Shank Living Laboratory relies on the generous support of our community to maintain and enhance its educational offerings. Your contribution helps us provide essential resources and programming for our students.
For monetary donations, contact Kevin O'Shea, koshea@otsegoknights.org or (419) 823-4381 ext 1
The Fox-Shank Living Laboratory
Welcome to the Fox-Shank Living Laboratory, a unique and dynamic outdoor classroom for the Otsego Local School District. This 16-acre space, generously gifted to the district, serves as a powerful resource for hands-on learning, especially in environmental science and agricultural education.
Once an agricultural field, the land was sold to the Black Swamp Conservancy (BSC) in December 2022 by the Fox family heirs. With funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources through its H2Ohio program, BSC restored the land to a vibrant wetland. They installed a riparian buffer along the stream, removed field tiles, and created small ponds to hold the wetlands. To further enhance the site's educational potential, BSC also added trails, an agricultural demonstration area, a food forest, a boulder amphitheater, and interpretive signs.
After completing the restoration, BSC donated the entire property to the Otsego Local School District. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 2, 2024, officially opened the Fox-Shank Living Laboratory, providing students with an immersive experience in ecological conservation and land stewardship. This living classroom enhances our curriculum and helps foster a deeper connection between our students and the natural world, inspiring future generations to care for the environment.
