• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Presidential!We Are Having Fun!We Are Generous!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Living Green at ECO Center

By MarionMade! on October 19, 2018

ECO Center has filled a unique niche in the community since the fall of 2014. Located on County Road 59 outside Caledonia, ECO Center teaches respect for nature via its annual Earth Day celebration, fall festival, Phobia Haunted Trail, summer day camps, and educational field trips, as well as classes in homesteading and green living, in their 4-acre woods and tall grass prairie.

ECO Center was an idea born from a dream shared by owner Emily Ollervides and her husband, Paco. They wanted to offer a space where local schools, families, and community members could engage in safe, educational, and fun activities for learning and sharing new tips for greener living.

Together, the Ollervides raise their two children, Sofia and Nicolas, to respect nature, learn by experience, and most importantly, have fun doing it. They share their space with their free range chickens, goats, sheep, rabbits, and three cats, Diego, Blue and Jack Jack.

ECO Center annually holds a fall festival filled with family-oriented activities—train rides, zip line, slides, farm animal interactions, and a variety of educational and sensory activities—as well as their popular Phobia Haunted Trail for the Halloween crowd.

ECO Center’s programs have received support from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, and DKMM and have been awarded and recognized as the 2015 Keep Ohio Beautiful’s Green Business, 2016 River Valley FFA Valued Employer, and the 2017 Upper Olentangy Watershed Conservation Local Business category.

“Our mission is to provide safe, fun, outdoor experiences through environmental education and hands-on learning opportunities,” said Ollervides. “We provide an outdoor extension for teachers’ science curriculums and offer lessons for Pre-K through 8th grade that engage students’ creativity and critical thinking skills.  The lessons are offered outdoors and focus on our woods and native prairie, using equipment such as microscopes, binoculars, compasses, thermometers, and field guides.”

ECO participates in after-school programs, Saturday in the Park, the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce, and partners with the Marion County Park District.

“We have been able to offer field trip transportation subsidies to local schools. We host science-based field trips tailored for teacher’s curriculum needs deriving lessons from STEM-approved resources,” said Ollervides.

According to Ollervides, ECO Center has received community support from local businesses, organizations, and individuals. She wishes to acknowledge and thank  Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative, Morral Companies, Hessler’s Screen Printing and More, Peacock Water Company, Tri-Rivers Career Center, and Del-Co Water. ECO Center also appreciates the many groups who regularly visit, including the Marion Family YMCA, United Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Marion Church of the Nazarene, Girl and Boy Scouts, and area school districts.

“An amazing mentor and friend has been Angie Carbetta from Marion County Recycling and Litter Prevention,” she said.

Carbetta is a huge green living advocate. Her office annually hosts the Eco-Art Show at the Marion Palace Theatre. The 2018 event is Saturday, November 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features fine art and handcrafted gifts made from recycled items. This popular event is attended by upwards of 1,000 people each year.

“We are grateful for local families and groups attending our events and their interest in ecologically responsible living,” said Ollervides. “ECO takes great pride in being a leader in our industry, developing partnerships in and outside of Marion County, and teaching a love for the environment we live in.”

#MarionMade #WeAreEcoCenter

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Julie Prettyman

    When Julie Prettyman became the Marion Community Foundation program manager eight years ago, she made an immediate impact. Prettyman singlehandedly raised the bar of the foundation’s grant and scholarship programs by enhancing the online application experience. Prettyman works tirelessly in her position to ensure that students, parents, and school personnel have all the resources necessary […]Read More »
  • Nucor Steel Marion

    Nucor Steel Marion is the story of the little steel company that could–that could take “mini” technology and use it to become the nation’s largest steel producer; that could redefine the rules on how steel is made; that could change the way the world looks at discarded scrap; and, this same little company that could …change […]Read More »
  • Volunteers Help Local Families Research Their Family Trees

    When local residents want to research their family history, a group of volunteers is ready to assist them. The Marion Area Genealogy Society (MAGS) helps people find marriage licenses, birth records, death certificates, and other documents to shed light on family trees. MAGS is a fantastic resource for people looking into their ancestry. MAGS President […]Read More »
  • OJ McDuffie

    In the excitement of the football playoffs, it is a great time to share the story of someone, born in Marion, who played Big Ten college football and was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons.  His name is Otis James McDuffie. McDuffie played college football for Penn State University and […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image