BUTLER TWP — The Butler County Community College Education Foundation announced this morning that it is transferring ownership and operations of the Succop Conservancy to the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.

The agreement is effective Friday.

The conservancy is a 50-acre estate at 185 West Airport Road in Penn Township.

Ruth Purcell, director of the foundation, said, “We are pleased to convey the conservancy to ASWP, an organization with expertise and experience in environmental education and programming. ASWP is committed to continuing and enhancing current events and programs at the conservancy.”

Scheduled programs and events include 75 weddings for 2011 and 2012; Geneva College’s Master of Organizational Leadership Program; The Rotary Jazz Festival on Aug. 21; and summer programs at the conservancy.

Over the past year, the foundation board looked at how the conservancy fits into the overall mission of the foundation. It concluded that a partnership was necessary to assure sustainability of conservancy operations and began discussions with other groups.

The Audubon Society was seen as the best organization to carry on the programs that the foundation and BC3 had during the 10 years the foundation owned the conservancy.