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Oglebay Institute president Danielle McCracken appointed Molly Check as director of the Schrader Environmental Education Center, one of six facilities operated by the regional arts, nature and cultural organization, located in Wheeling, W.Va.

Check, a Pennsylvania native, began her employment at Oglebay Institute April 1.

She has more than 10 years experience in environmental education and nonprofit management, including a strong record of program and curriculum development for public and school programs for all ages, hands-on instruction, budget management, operations management, securing grant funding, marketing and volunteer recruitment, training and management.

Check was most recently employed as education director at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Connecticut. Prior to that she worked at the Pocono Environmental Education Center and McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Pennsylvania and Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Minnesota.

“Molly brings a great deal of experience in environmental education curriculum development for all ages as well as management experience at nature centers similar to the Schrader Center. We look forward to her perspective and new program ideas. Her knowledge, passion and dedication will guide the Schrader Center’s continued success,” said Oglebay Institute president Danielle McCracken.

Check holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental education and a K-12 teaching certificate from Slippery Rock University. She has author nature articles for “Milford Journal” and presented at the New England Environmental Education Association conference.

Originally from Warren, Pennsylvania, she is very excited to be back in the hills.  She loves to explore the natural world and learn as much as possible about the local flora and fauna of the area.  She’s passionate about botany, ornithology, astronomy, mycology and wildlife biology.

About OI

Oglebay Institute is West Virginia’s oldest arts, culture and environmental education organization. The Institute operates six facilities in the Wheeling area: The Schrader Environmental Education Center in Oglebay Resort; the Mansion and Glass Museums also in Oglebay; the Stifel Fine Arts Center and the School of Dance, 1330 National Road; and Towngate Theatre and Cinema, located at 2118 Market St. Oglebay Institute also operates Terra Alta Mountain Camp in Terra Alta, WV.

About the Schrader Center

Oglebay Institute’s Schrader Environmental Education Center is a regional showcase for green architecture and environmental awareness. Its mission is to create opportunities to celebrate and study the natural world by providing quality, hands-on instruction through classes, school programs, camping experiences, interpretive exhibits and public events throughout the year.

For more information, visit Oglebay Institute on the web at oionline.com.

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation recently approved a grant for $186,000 to Oglebay Institute in Wheeling, WV.  The grant will fund the Rural Arts Collaborative project, which boosts school art programs in five Northern West Virginia counties. Those counties include: Ohio, Wetzel, Marshall, Brooke and Hancock.

Oglebay Institute will serve as the convener and fiduciary manager of the grant and identified seven schools within the aforementioned counties. The first year of the project begins at Wheeling Country Day School in Ohio County and Magnolia High School in Wetzel County. The EQT Foundation provided at $10,000 matching grant to implement this project in Wetzel County.

Through the Rural Arts Collaborative (RAC),  local Teaching Artists in rural counties are identified and placed in school classrooms.  The program enhances and creates a more robust arts education curriculum.  Since 2013, the RAC has served more than 2,600 students in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties in Southwestern PA. It has successfully impacted cognitive and social development as well academic performance.

OI Is a Catalyst for Change in WV Arts Community

Oglebay Institute president Danielle Cross McCracken said the organization is deeply grateful to the Benedum Foundation for positioning OI to be a catalyst for change in the arts community in rural West Virginia.

“Through their generosity, we will be able to impact the arts in education in these West Virginia schools. I have seen first-hand the immediate and lasting impression that arts integration has made in both the classroom and community. I could not be more thrilled with this opportunity on both a personal and profession level. The children of these counties deserve this experience, and our team will work hard to make this a reality.  The Board and I thank the Benedum Foundation immensely for believing in our ability to be a conduit for this great project.”

Jim Denova, Vice President of the Benedum Foundation said, “This project is at the heart of what Benedum is pleased to fund – those things that impact the arts in education for children. Ultimately as we know through research and statistics, participation in arts education programs improves cognitive development and learning skills across the board for those who are exposed.  We are excited to see Oglebay Institute become the regional voice in Northern West Virginia schools for this initiative which has been so successful in Southwestern PA schools.”

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is dedicated to encouraging human development in West Virginia and Southwestern PA through strategically placed charitable resources.  Over the years, the Foundation has authorized grants of over $410,000,000.