Cleveland chef and James Beard Award nominee Vinnie CiminoFor more than three decades, the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center (CVEEC) in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) has been giving young people an opportunity to do something that can be surprisingly rare today:

Slow down, step outside, and experience nature firsthand.

Co-managed by the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the National Park Service, more than 10,000 pre-K through 12th-grade students each school year participate in CVEEC's immersive nature-based activities, like hiking wooded trails, investigating ponds, and studying the ecosystems of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

For many participants, it is their first opportunity to explore a national park and make a meaningful connection with the natural world.

Events like Family Twilight Adventure on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the CVEEC offer that opportunity. The event encourages mindful nature play by spending the evening getting in tune with nature. The event offers a chance to explore the night sky, participate in family-friendly yoga, go on a nighttime scavenger hunt, and eat s’mores by the campfire. The event will also have activity stations and guided experiences.

“The education center was established to help people, especially young people, experience the park firsthand and learn about Cuyahoga Valley’s landscapes, history, and stories,” says Conservancy for CVNP marketing and communications director Audrey Houseman. “The CVEEC offers opportunities for people from all walks of life to access nature, explore, learn, and spark connections that stay with them long after their visit.”

Exploration
The Conservancy for CVNP invites guests to experience that same sense of discovery during Exploration, the annual fundraiser benefiting CVEEC, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the CVEEC campus in Peninsula.

2025 Conservancy for CVNP's Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center 'Exploration' fundraiser.Attendees can explore the campus, wander along trails, and reconnect with some of the magic and nostalgia of camp before enjoying a family-style dinner prepared by Cleveland chef and three-time James Beard Award nominee Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia on East 4^th Street and ROSY in Ohio City.

Cimino is known for his Midwest-inspired hospitality and seasonal cuisine. The Exploration menu will feature farm-fresh hors d'oeuvres and a shared dinner inspired by heritage-driven recipes and locally farmed ingredients.

"Exploration celebrates the moments of discovery that shape young lives," says Conservancy for CVNP president and CEO Greg Peckham. "We're thrilled to partner with Chef Vinnie Cimino to create an evening that reflects the same sense of wonder, connection, and authenticity that students experience every day at the CVEEC.”

The partnership unites the Conservancy, the CVEEC, and Chef Vinnie Cimino—all committed to creating meaningful experiences rooted in place, community, and storytelling, says Cimino.

"Some of my favorite memories are tied to sharing a great meal outdoors with people I care about,” he says. “I'm excited to be part of Exploration because it brings those same feelings of connection, both to each other and to the natural world, to so many young people. It's an honor to cook for an event that helps make those experiences possible.”

Spirit of discovery
The programming supported through Exploration encourages students to embrace their natural curiosity.

"Exploration captures the spirit of discovery students experience every day at the CVEEC,” Houseman explains. "Guests attending Exploration are invited to explore CVEEC’s campus, meander along the trails, and rediscover the magic and nostalgia of camp."

That spirit of discovery is at the heart of CVEEC's work.

2025 Conservancy for CVNP's Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center 'Exploration' fundraiser.Education has been part of the mission of Cuyahoga Valley National Park since its founding. CVEEC was established more than 30 years ago to help young people experience the park firsthand and learn about its landscapes, history, and stories.

Today, the center provides one-day, multi-day, overnight, and virtual programming for more than 10,000 students during the school year. In the summer, CVEEC and community partners offer camps for more than 550 children—exposing them to nature, fresh air, and new experiences at the Environmental Education Center.

Additionally, the center provides youth employment opportunities and professional development for teachers and pre-service teachers.

For students, the outdoors is about experiencing the wonders of nature in the park. Houseman says it’s about learning to think like scientists and imagining a future as researchers, educators, and conservationists.

"For many, it’s their first opportunity to explore a national park and connect with nature in a meaningful way,” she says. “They hike wooded trails, investigate ponds, and study diverse ecosystems.”

Funds raised through the Exploration event support CVEEC's immersive outdoor programs and its work as a leader in innovative nature-based education.

Conservancy for CVNP’s primary goal is to foster curiosity, help young people feel a sense of belonging in nature, and encourage them to see themselves as future scientists, educators, researchers, and conservationists.

2025 Conservancy for CVNP's Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center 'Exploration' fundraiser.Connecting with food
The Exploration culinary experience is another way guests can connect with Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center.

Chef Cimino is known for cooking with seasonal ingredients from local farms. For Exploration, Cimino has created a menu inspired by the seasonal flavors and heritage of the Cuyahoga Valley.

"Chef Vinnie Cimino is the perfect partner for Exploration," says Houseman. "He’s known for highlighting seasonal ingredients from local farms and transforming them into dishes that honor tradition while offering a fresh perspective.

“His appreciation for heritage, place, and discovery aligns with CVEEC’s mission to connect young people with the natural and cultural heritage of Cuyahoga Valley," Houseman continues.

Guests can expect heritage dishes like short ribs and cornbread, paired with elevated takes on familiar favorites, including fried chicken with caviar and Ohio street corn. The meal will be served family style, allowing guests to sample the full menu. As with any meal built around local ingredients, the menu could change.

Houseman says the shared meal is more than a dinner—it is part of the larger experience of connecting people with nature.

"Memorable experiences often bring people closer to place and to one another," Houseman says. "The best experiences in Cuyahoga Valley National Park invite people to explore the land and make connections with nature and to each other. Sharing a meal—inspired by seasonal bounty from local farms—also offers a connection to nature, place, and to those experiencing it together."

In addition to dinner and opportunities to explore the CVEEC campus, guests can bid on exclusive outdoor experiences during the live auction.

Two raffles will be held at the event. First, there will be a 50/50 raffle, with tickets priced at $50 each.

The Valley Vibes raffle package, with tickets at $100 each, is valued at more than $2,000 with a prize package that includes

• A pair of premium POLYWOOD® Adirondack chairs
• A limited-edition Cuyahoga Valley National Park wool blanket from Pendleton
• A picnic basket filled with a chef-curated meal for four from ROSY restaurant
• A hand-selected assortment of wines ranked among the top 1% of bottles in the world, from the private cellars of Tom and Diane Tyrrell
• A gift certificate to Purplebrown Farm Store in Peninsula, named one of America’s Most Charming Small Grocers by Food & Wine
• Beautiful accoutrements for your home from 1811 Home + Design in Brecksville

2025 Conservancy for CVNP's Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center 'Exploration' fundraiser.

Chef Cimino is known for cooking with seasonal ingredients from local farms. For Exploration, Cimino has created a menu inspired by the seasonal flavors and heritage of the Cuyahoga Valley.

And it is about preserving those moments of discovery for the thousands of students who visit CVEEC every year.

Funds raised at Exploration support CVEEC’s mission to connect young people with nature through immersive outdoor programs and its role as a leader in innovative nature-based education.

Exploration takes place rain or shine on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center, 3675 Oak Hill Road, Peninsula. Attire is casual fall, and valet parking will be available.

Tickets are $250 per person, with $125 tax deductible, and include valet parking, cocktail hour with full bar, locally sourced dinner and dessert.

Tickets and raffle tickets can be purchased through the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, by calling (330) 657-2909 ext. 133, or emailing events@forcvnp.org. Please RSVP by Friday, Sept. 11.