An opportunity was born when six Marion Community School teachers and thirteen junior high school boys set off for a canoe trip in northern Minnesota back in 1968. Motivated by the overwhelming success of subsequent outdoor study adventures, a group of Marion residents purchased a 160-acre camp in southern Wabash County for the Marion Community School Corporation entirely from non-tax funds.

Paper drives and other fund raising efforts brought in $8,000. Then two Marion businessmen, Bill and Dan Resneck, who were concerned about preserving nature and who had a vision for environmental education, stepped up. The Resneck brothers generously donated $21,000, the entire amount remaining that was needed to secure the property for the schools.

Since the property was purchased in 1974, numerous government and agency grants have been secured to support programs and science projects at Asherwood. Operating and maintenance funds have been provided by the Marion Community School Corporation.

The vision of these early supporters has brought incalculable benefit to the people of Grant, Wabash and Miami counties and beyond.

Now, as we look to the future, we realize that we have not yet arrived. Asherwood has struggled with seriously inadequate facilities and deteriorating buildings that in the beginning were built as temporary camp structures. A well-planned, permanent teaching center is critical to building excellence into the future.