Fern Valley gift and endowment ensure research and experiential learning for generations of Wooster students and faculty

Fern Valley Field Station is a 56-acre, predominantly forested valley with a stream running through it and a goldenrod meadow. The natural property with abundant trees, wildflowers, and wildlife was gifted to The College of Wooster in 2012 by Betty Crooks Wilkin ’64, and her husband, David Wilkin, emeritus professor of French who taught at Wooster from 1964-1968 and 1971-2002. In 2019, the Wilkins established the Betty and David Wilkin Endowed Fund to support Fern Valley, including the field station’s academic programs, research, site improvements, and maintenance—acting as a resource for students, faculty, and staff.

“At every turn, under every rock or log, at every bend in the stream, there is something new to discover at Fern Valley,” said Laura Sirot, professor of biology at the College. Other staff have taken an interest in Fern Valley over the years, too—and the interest has only grown in recent years.

“Fern Valley provides a location for class visits and student and faculty research, with a focus on projects that uphold or enhance the property’s safety, health, and sustainability,” said Rick Lehtinen, Fern Valley director and Theron L. Peterson and Dorothy R. Peterson Professor of Biology at Wooster. “Generations of Wooster students from many different majors have been able to put theory into practice in a real-world, natural environment at Fern Valley,” he said. “While biology classes take frequent trips there, students from environmental studies, earth science, English, and other departments have been regular visitors as well.”

Murphy worked with Lehtinen to use Fern Valley for his I.S. research.

James Murphy ’25, a biology major at the College, used Fern Valley to conduct Independent Study research. “Researching millipedes at Fern Valley has been really important and rewarding for me to put learned concepts into practice to create tangible research on my own,” said Murphy of the experience.

For the Wilkins, Fern Valley was their refuge, a place for walks and gardening. “It was more than enough to renew our spirits,” Betty Wilkin said, noting that in 2012, “We decided to share our little paradise. It pleased us so much to see the young peoples’ enthusiasm for getting out into nature, to explore the stream, and tramp in the woods. Over the years, David and I attended several I.S. presentations that involved observations at Fern Valley. We were pleased to note the interesting results, the rigor of the research, and the students’ overall satisfaction with their projects.”

As of 2025, 22 I.S. projects have focused on Fern Valley, five peer-reviewed publications and three publications with student coauthors have been released, and more than 100 experiential learning opportunities for students have been provided.

Lehtinen is hopeful for more research and focus on Fern Valley in the future. “The funds allow us to undertake key management efforts to keep Fern Valley accessible and in good condition for many years to come,” he said.

Featured image: James Murphy ’25, Professor Rick Lehtinen, Betty Crooks Wilkin ’64, and David Wilkin unite to share the beauty of Fern Valley. 

This story originally appeared in the summer 2025 issue of Wooster magazine. 

Posted in Homepage Featured, Magazine on June 24, 2025.