“I took a stroll within the woods and got here out taller than the timber.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
Jill Dreves grew up within the mountains of Colorado. As a toddler, she attended a tiny, nature-immersed public college of simply 32 youngsters in grades Ok-8. Throughout these childhood, a deep reference to Mom Earth was solid, and a seed was planted.
“After educating public college for 9 years, in 1995 I went again to my roots of connecting youngsters (and now group) to their yard nature and took $500 out of my financial savings account to begin Wild Bear Nature Center,” Dreves, the Government Director of the group, mentioned.
Wild Bear Nature Middle in Boulder County is an all-ages nature heart open to the general public 360-days a 12 months and a 2022 Elevations Foundation grantee.
Sharing the thrill of nature
The nonprofit nature heart in downtown Nederland is open 360 days a 12 months and free to the general public. Wild Bear offers year-round studying experiences for youngsters throughout their days off from college together with weekends, summer time break and over the winter holidays.
As well as, you’ll discover all-ages actions and nature workshops geared towards adults, households and college teams on the calendar of events together with guided snowshoe and summer time hikes, nature lessons corresponding to snow science, water research, herbalism, birds and mushrooms, nature artwork lessons and extra.
“The mountain ecosystems are probably the most unbelievable academics to attach all ages to studying about water, geology, crops and animals,” Dreves added. “Through the summer time, youngsters journey from Boulder to Wild Bear in Nederland on the RTD bus with our workers. Wild Bear additionally enjoys guests and individuals from all around the world.”
Time for extra development
Wild Bear is presently engaged on constructing a brand new 8,500-square-foot nature center (rendering proven above) on the gateway to three,000 acres alongside the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway with 16 miles of nature trails in western Boulder County.
Inside, guests will take pleasure in school rooms, nature reveals, a wildlife remark window and group program house. Head outdoors to a nature playscape, an amphitheater, ADA-accessible trails and extra.
“Since its founding, Wild Bear has grow to be a robust and rising group, offering hundreds of individuals with alternatives to seek out pleasure in nature, to unplug and really feel the therapeutic energy of the universe,” Dreves mentioned.
Getting outdoors to breathe recent air, take heed to the birds and contact the Earth can even make us extra aware of the have to be environmentally conscious and take steps to guard our planet.
Connecting with our group
Lately, Wild Bear was awarded a grant from the Elevations Basis.
“I used to be actually excited once I received the information and couldn’t wait to share with the entire workforce!” Growth Director Kat Barr mentioned. “I ran down the corridor to inform my coworkers instantly. Elevations Basis helps so many superb group organizations, and we couldn’t be prouder to be certainly one of them.”
Barr and Dreves mentioned the funds will assist them proceed to supply free and nominal-fee alternatives to the character heart’s guests and transfer ahead on a brand new facility.
“We have now rather a lot occurring and the overall working help offered by Elevations Basis is crucial to our success as a rising group,” Barr added.
When you’d prefer to study extra about Wild Bear Nature Middle, grow to be a volunteer or donate to their efforts, click on here.
For extra data on Elevations Basis and the work it’s doing in our group, to study extra about its grant program or to assist help one of many Elevations Basis’s causes, click on here.
