BUTLER TWP — The Children’s Creative Learning Center at Butler County Community College is now nationally certified as a Nature Explore Classroom.

The certification comes from the Dimensions Educational Research Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation.

The Nature Explore program was developed in response to a growing disconnect between children and nature, and it aims to use research-based learning opportunities to teach children.

The center’s outdoor nature classroom was named the Green Garden Park and was designed by Moore Design Associates.

The center is for 3- to 6-year-old children of BC3 students and employees and the community.

The outdoor classroom, which was partially funded by a $25,000 grant from The Alcoa Foundation, opened in the fall of 2015.