Shovels in hand, community leaders and a group of young campers celebrated the ground breaking of the new wet lab and educational space at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue this week.

The new project, known as Wet Lab II, is part of the biologically diverse 320-acre wetland nature park in the heart of urban Bellevue.

The group of eager campers, appropriately named The Decomposers, adorned bright neon green shirts as they learned about the wildlife habitat and explored the natural ecosystem, both inside and outside the classroom at the Center.

The Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center is a collaboration between the City of Bellevue and Pacific Science Center, working together to promote science-based education programs to inspire lifelong awareness, understanding, appreciation, and a sense of stewardship for the natural world.

“The ground breaking today marks another important piece in the fulfillment of a dream,” said Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger. “This is all possible because of the great partnership between the City of Bellevue and the Pacific Science Center along with the Master Builders Association and community members who believed in this project from the beginning.”

In honor of the Master Builders’ Centennial year celebration, the organization dedicated the Wet Lab II as the centerpiece of the 100 for 100 program, a MBA commitment to complete 100 community service projects in King and Snohomish Counties this year.

The Wet Lab II project represents the largest of the MBA 100 for 100 program and reflects the association’s commitment to the community and environmental stewardship, said Sam Anderson, CEO of the Master Builders Association.

The project will be certified as 5-Star Built Green for light commercial construction.

“When you stop and think about how far this community has come in the past 100 years and where it will be in another 100, it’s overwhelming,” Degginger said. “While most cities are busy paving their lands, Bellevue chose to preserve this great natural space for future generations.”

To help commemorate the ground breaking of the new Wet Lab II, referred to as the Legacy Project by the MBA, the organization has asked community leaders and members to contribute memories and materials to a time capsule to be sealed and installed at the Wet Lab building.

“Bellevue has always been the home to forward thinkers and strong leaders who hold true to their visions and dreams for the community,” explained Patrick Foran, the Parks and Community Services Director for Bellevue. “Along with others, I work to fulfill the work of projects set in motion 30 or 40 years earlier. Without those who believed this could one day be possible, we wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Master Builders has been a supporter of the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center since its inception in October 2008. In addition to the Wet Lab II, the Center is planning to add at least one additional future classroom.

For more information on the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, visit www.http://www.pacsci.org/slough/.