November 26, 2018
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The landscape that students at Kenyon College see from the Hill today is the same view that students saw a century ago. And it is the same view their grandchildren will see in the future— thanks to the Philander Chase Conservancy. Learn more about the Conservancy's land preservation work and its impact on the Kenyon student experience.
The Philander Chase Conservancy, while helping Kenyon protect its rural charm, has become a conservation catalyst for Knox County.
For years, a hike to Walker Pond was a secretive thrill for Kenyon students. Now the sale of the land, about 40 acres of Philander Chase's original purchase, to the College will give students full access to study the pond and its wetland ecosystem. “This expands the kind of habitats that the students can study,” said Director of Green Initiatives David Heithaus ’99.
The Kenyon experience is inextricably linked to the beauty of the College's location.
The sense of well-being that pervades this community-the sense of living in a charmed realm-stems not only from the loveliness of the campus itself but also from the surrounding hills, farmland, and forest. Landscape and river offer views that please the eye and nourish the spirit. It is virtually impossible to imagine Kenyon without those views.
The College cannot take its setting for granted, however. Growth and development are changing the landscape of the entire Mount Vernon area. It is imperative that Kenyon act, as necessary, to preserve the surroundings it so cherishes. In recent years, the College has added to its contiguous land holdings as opportunities arose and funds became available. Now, more than ever, Kenyon needs the resources to continue this practice, even to expand it.