AUSTIN CARY FOREST CAMPUS

Our Facilities

Stern Learning Center, Conference Room

The Conference Room in the Stern Learning Center is a large, impressive space for events ranging from lectures, symposia, and retreats to award banquets and even weddings. The clerestory and ground-level windows provide ample natural lighting for daytime events, or you can control the overhead lighting in a variety of different arrangements. Events reserving the Stern Learning Center Conference Room include access to the warming kitchen, gallery, library, porch, and impressive deck. (Note: The Classroom is included in the full building rental or can be excluded at a reduced cost for events, which do not require its use.)

The Conference Room is fully equipped with audiovisual equipment, including a podium with computer, additional hookups for laptop or other devices, microphone, built-in room speakers, and HD overhead projector. The entire Stern Learning Center provides wireless internet through the UF network.

Tables and chairs to accommodate 110 participants are pre-arranged in classroom (forward-facing) style. If your event requires a different setup, we are happy to work with you or you may rearrange them at your convenience. With advance notice, tables and chairs can be completely removed for events wishing to use round or other rented tables. The room size is 2,300 sqft with multiple seating arrangements.

Stern Learning Center, Classroom

The Classroom in the Stern Learning Center is a venue well-suited for traditional classes, smaller meetings, and workshops. Several windows provide pleasant scenery and natural lighting.

The Classroom seats 30 participants at forward-facing tables and is equipped with a high-definition, wall-mounted monitor for your projection needs, as well as two adjacent wall-mounted whiteboards. The podium includes a built-in PC with additional hookups for laptops and other devices.

Reservation of the Classroom is made in 4-hour blocks, 8:00am-12:00pm or 1:00pm-5:00pm. Tables and chairs can be rearranged on your own or by request, depending on your needs. Note: Classroom rentals include access to the Classroom and restrooms only; use of the kitchen, deck, and other areas in the Stern Learning Center are subject to availability and not guaranteed. The room size is 474 sqft with classroom-style seating arrangements.

Education Building

The Education Building is a long-standing facility nestled in Austin Cary Forest, and is ideal for smaller meetings or breakout groups. The two adjoining meeting rooms seat 20 individuals each, centered around impressive wooden conference tables surrounded by artifacts highlighting the history of Florida forestry.

The Education Building includes dedicated bathrooms, a small deck, and the use of the Teaching Pavilion at no charge (by request). It borders a lovely open field featuring a bat house and wildlife information kiosks. The room size is 2 @ 20 people with meeting style seating arrangements.

Teaching Pavilion

The Teaching Pavilion is a screened room overlooking an open field and connected to the Education Building via deck and walkways. Often used as an outdoor classroom for courses in natural resources or Extension workshops, it’s perfect for low-key events or as a lunch break area for meetings held in the Education Building

The Teaching Pavilion includes picnic tables and benches to accommodate approximately 30-40 people. The room size is ~400 sqft. It is typically not rented on its own, but can be included at no charge with rentals of the Education Building. If you wish to use the Teaching Pavilion as a stand-alone for an event, please contact us.