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Places We Protect

Grand River Conservation Campus

Ohio

Two people paddle a red plastic canoe on a calm, broad stream lined with trees.
Grand River at Morgan Swamp Preserve Canoeing the Grand River at Morgan Swamp Preserve © Kent Mason

Nestled within Morgan Swamp Preserve, the Grand River Conservation Campus includes facilities and grounds for recreation, environmental education and restoration.

Overview

Description

The Grand River Conservation Campus has been shaped by the generations of people who have lived and worked here—from early settlers who farmed the land, to a private hunting retreat in the early 1900s, to a religious retreat for Jewish and, later, Christian communities.

Today, as part of The Nature Conservancy’s Morgan Swamp Preserve, the Grand River Conservation Campus remains a place where people can enjoy nature through numerous passive recreation opportunities, all within a beautiful backdrop of unique habitats, rare plants and abundant wildlife. In fact, a hemlock yellow-birch forest community, one of the rarest swamp forest communities in Ohio, still thrives on the Campus grounds.

The Campus offers a number of amenities that are open to the public, including the Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center, nature trails, an accessible fishing pier at Bliss Pond, a canoe/kayak launch on the State Designated Wild & Scenic Grand River and a children’s playground. There is also a pavilion for picnicking and a gymnasium that can be rented out for athletic activities and other events. Click the Visit tab on this page for facilities rental information or check out our schedule of 2024 Bissell Nature Center programs.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Address: 3973 Callender Road, Rock Creek OH 44084 Phone: 440-563-3081

Hours

The Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center is currently closed for the season. The Nature Center is free and open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., April through October. The trails, canoe launch and grounds at the Campus and Morgan Swamp Preserve are open year-round, daily from dawn to dusk.

Wheelchair Accessible

The Bissell Nature Center is wheelchair accessible, as is the public pavilion, which is connected to the nature center by a 4-foot-wide concrete pathway. There is an accessible section of the Grand River Trail adjacent to the pond, which leads to the Grand River Overlook and fishing pier (catch and release only). There is accessible parking available near the pavilion/nature center as well as by the Grand River Trailhead.

Highlights

The Grand River Conservation Campus at Morgan Swamp Preserve offers a nature center, playground, pavilion, fishing pier, pond, trails, interpretive signage, canoe/kayak launch and a gymnasium available for community rental. 

Explore our work in this region

Photos from the Grand River Conservation Campus

The Grand River Conservation Campus at Morgan Swamp Preserve is a serene setting of facilities and grounds used for recreation, environmental education and restoration.

Grand River Conservation Campus signage.
Hikers walking one of the trails at the Grand River Conservation Campus.
People canoeing on the Grand River.
Hikers walking along a pond in the woods.
People wading in the Grand River.
Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center.
Playground at the Grand River Conservation Campus.
Vernal pools amid a forest of trees and ferns.
Signage for the Grand River Conservation Campus.
A group of hikers following a trail overlooking a pond.
Grand River Conservation Campus signage.

Grand River Campus: The Campus is part of Morgan Swamp Preserve. © Kent Mason

Hikers walking one of the trails at the Grand River Conservation Campus.

Hiking on Campus: There are 3 hiking trails to choose from at the Campus. © Kent Mason

People canoeing on the Grand River.

Grand River at Morgan Swamp Preserve: Canoeing is one of many activities at the Campus. © Kent Mason

Hikers walking along a pond in the woods.

Morgan Swamp Preserve: One of the four trails travels through the woods and along a portion of the Grand River. Stay observant, as otter, beaver and other wildlife are known to inhabit the river. © Kent Mason

People wading in the Grand River.

GLRI Strike Team: Volunteers often assist with invasive species removal. © Randall L. Schieber

Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center.

Bissell Nature Center: The Center is a resource for educators & students. © David Ike

Playground at the Grand River Conservation Campus.

Grand River Campus: Kids can play in nature on the Campus playground. © Kent Mason

Vernal pools amid a forest of trees and ferns.

Morgan Swamp Preserve: Extensive vernal pools at the preserve are the breeding sites for many amphibians like spotted salamanders and wood frogs. © Terry Seidel/TNC

Signage for the Grand River Conservation Campus.

Conservation Campus Signage: The Grand River Conservation Campus is a part of TNC's Morgan Swamp Preserve in Ohio. © Kent Mason

A group of hikers following a trail overlooking a pond.

Grand River Hiking: A group of hikers following the trail overlooking Bliss Pond at the Grand River Conservation Campus at Morgan Swamp Preserve. © Kent Mason

Visit

  • As part of the Morgan Swamp Preserve, the Grand River Conservation Campus harbors an array of interesting and rare species, many of which are associated with boreal habitats and are near the southern edge of their ranges in North America. Beautiful trails throughout the Campus provide the opportunity to take it all in, through a walk along the state-designated Wild and Scenic Grand River and into a rich hemlock swamp, dotted with vernal pools that teem with life.

    The Grand River Conservation Campus also offers a nature center, a playground, a pavilion, a fishing pier and trail, interpretive signage, a canoe launch and a gymnasium available for community rental.

  • Visitors to Grand River Conservation Camp can explore several walking trails:

    • Bliss Pond Trail—an easy .2 mile trail with overlooks of the Grand River and the Conservation Campus and a fishing pier.
    • Grand River Trail—an easy .3 mile trail along the Grand River that connects with the Hemlock Swamp & Bliss Pond trails. Visitors can enjoy an accessible section of the Grand River Trail adjacent to the pond, which leads to the Grand River Overlook and fishing pier (catch and release only).
    • Hemlock Swamp Trail—a moderate, 1-mile trail that starts from the Grand River Trail, winds through a unique hemlock yellow birch forest and overlooks a beaver pond.

  • The Grand River Conservation Campus gymnasium is available for hourly, daily and multi-day use. Please see the full GRCC Gymnasium Use & Rental Guide for more information. For questions, or to reserve the gymnasium, please contact Marcel Weigand at marcel.weigand@TNC.org or 440-563-3081, ext. 303.

  • Our vision is of a world where people and nature thrive together. The Nature Conservancy encourages people of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, gender expressions, and abilities to visit our preserves and has a zero-tolerance policy for racism and discrimination.

    The following activities are NOT permitted at the Grand River Conservation Campus and Morgan Swamp Preserve:

    • Biking and mountain biking
    • Camping
    • Driving an ATV or off-road vehicle
    • Cooking or camp fires
    • Horseback riding
    • Hunting
    • Picking flowers, berries, nuts or mushrooms
    • Removing any part of the natural landscape
    • Snowmobiling

    Morgan Swamp Preserve is pet-friendly. Leashed pets (leash no longer than 6 feet) are welcome on the trails. Pets are not allowed in the buildings, other than service animals.

    For information about the use of other power-driven mobility devices (OPDMDs) at our open preserves, please visit our OPDMD guidelines.

Gym Rental Information

Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center

Address: 3973 Callender Road, Rock Creek OH 44084

On October 21, 2017, The Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center opened its doors for the first time. The nature center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm April through October. Special events, programs and tours are offered seasonally.

The center features exhibits for both adults and children depicting the natural history of Morgan Swamp Preserve and the Grand State Wild & Scenic River. The creation of this center was made possible through grassroots efforts and a strong volunteer base interested in enriching area communities. Local schools frequently visit the center for field trips and special programs.

Check out of our schedule of 2024 programs. For teachers and group organizers, see our list of programs offered at Bissell Nature Center.

Please contact bissellnaturecenter@tnc.org or 440-563-3081 for more information or to volunteer. 

Photos from the Nature Center

Grand River Campus The Campus sits on the 2,000 acre Morgan Swamp Preserve. It's a place where people connect with nature through a number of recreation opportunities. © Kent Mason
Grand River Campus The Campus serves as a resource for educators and their students, who are invited to explore the grounds as part of field trip experiences. © David Ike
James K. Bissell Nature Center A class enjoys an educational nature hike through Morgan Swamp Preserve. © David Ike
James K. Bissell Nature Center There are many educational displays to explore and ways to learn about nature in Ohio. © David Ike
Bissell Nature Center The view inside the Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center with wildlife taxidermy and displays. © David Ike
× Grand River Campus The Campus sits on the 2,000 acre Morgan Swamp Preserve. It's a place where people connect with nature through a number of recreation opportunities. © Kent Mason
× Grand River Campus The Campus serves as a resource for educators and their students, who are invited to explore the grounds as part of field trip experiences. © David Ike
× James K. Bissell Nature Center A class enjoys an educational nature hike through Morgan Swamp Preserve. © David Ike
× James K. Bissell Nature Center There are many educational displays to explore and ways to learn about nature in Ohio. © David Ike
× Bissell Nature Center The view inside the Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center with wildlife taxidermy and displays. © David Ike

CURRENT CONSERVATION WORK

At the Grand River Conservation Campus, there is always a flurry of activity focused on ongoing restoration, recreation and education.

  • In 2022, solar panels and an EV charging station were installed at the Campus to improve sustainability through renewable energy.
  • In 2017, TNC opened the Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center—the first nature center of its kind in Ashtabula County.
  • In 2016, TNC entered into an agreement with Lake Erie College to allow students and faculty access to the Campus, Morgan Swamp Preserve, and other preserves in northeast Ohio for guided research opportunities.
  • In 2015, TNC was granted its third Great Lakes Restoration Initiative-funded project for northeast Ohio. The project resulted in the control of invasive species on an additional 500 acres throughout the Grand River watershed.
  • In 2014, the Civic Development Corporation of Ashtabula County gave TNC a grant of $44,350 to create accessible and primitive foot trails, an accessible fishing pier, and interpretative signage. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife grants TNC $6,000 to construct a canoe access point along the Grand River.
  • In 2013, outlying buildings were removed to reduce the Campus’ footprint and restore areas to a more natural condition.
  • In 2012, a TNC controlled 400 acres of invasive species in the Ashtabula River watershed through a project funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
  • In 2011, the first Great Lakes Restoration Initiative-funded project in the Grand River watershed helped control 831 acres of invasive plant species.
  • In 2011, TNC acquired the Grand River Conservation Campus through a generous donation from the Cleveland-based City Mission. The acquisition expanded the Morgan Swamp Preserve by nearly 60 acres and increased protection efforts along the Grand River.
Northern Ohio Watershed Corps Logo
Northern Ohio Watershed Corps As part of the Northeast Ohio Restoration Team, TNC hosts members of the Northern Ohio Watershed Corps (NOWCorps).

Northeast Ohio Restoration Team

Capacity, equipment and expertise are common threads that continue to challenge restoration and stewardship of natural areas as new lands are protected and new threats emerge. Recognizing this need, The Nature Conservancy created the Northeast Ohio Restoration Team to provide stewardship services for continuing conservation efforts in the region including knowledgeable staff, equipment and supplies. 

As part of the Northeast Ohio Restoration Team, TNC hosts members of the Northern Ohio Watershed Corps (NOWCorps). Funded through ServeOhio AmeriCorps, NOWCorps works with watershed groups, soil and water conservation districts, city and county government offices and other conservation nonprofits to facilitate outreach, education, capacity building, environmental stewardship and stormwater management. 

For more information, contact the Grand River Restoration Coordinator, Derrick Cooper, at derrick.cooper@tnc.org.

Find More Places We Protect

The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states. These lands protect wildlife and natural systems, serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world.

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