By Staff
story and photos by Kerry Whipple Bean
With the snip of a ribbon, parents, students and community members were ushered into a serene circle, the home of hundreds of butterflies.
Turtle Point Environmental Science Center celebrated its 10th anniversary Saturday with the opening of the major new exhibit, which itself has been four years in the making.
Word credited West — who founded Turtle Point — with the idea for the butterfly house. “Turtle Point was her vision,” Word said.
The Neal Trust, McMillan Trust and Legacy Foundation provided the funding for the butterfly house.
With that, children and their parents were able to tour the house, a screened-in facility featuring a fountain and various flowers and plants and even sugar water feeders to help sustain the butterflies. The house’s inhabitants also include, of course, caterpillars. 
As part of the 10th anniversary celebration, there were several other activities Saturday: a tile painting project to raise funds for future endeavors; face painting;  Vicky Smith’s bats; Steve Trash, who performs eco-friendly magic tricks; and Reno’s Reptiles.