“I took a stroll within the woods and got here out taller than the bushes.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
Jill Dreves grew up within the mountains of Colorado. As a toddler, she attended a tiny, nature-immersed public faculty of simply 32 kids in grades Ok-8. Throughout these adolescence, a deep reference to Mom Earth was cast, and a seed was planted.
“After instructing public faculty for 9 years, in 1995 I went again to my roots of connecting kids (and now group) to their yard nature and took $500 out of my financial savings account to start out Wild Bear Nature Heart,” Dreves, the Government Director of the group, mentioned.
Wild Bear Nature Heart in Boulder County is an all-ages nature middle open to the general public 360-days a 12 months and a 2022 Elevations Basis grantee.
Sharing the thrill of nature
The nonprofit nature middle in downtown Nederland is open 360 days a 12 months and free to the general public. Wild Bear gives year-round studying experiences for youngsters throughout their days off from faculty together with weekends, summer season 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 occasions together with guided snowshoe and summer season hikes, nature courses comparable to snow science, water research, herbalism, birds and mushrooms, nature artwork courses 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. “In the course of the summer season, kids journey from Boulder to Wild Bear in Nederland on the RTD bus with our employees. Wild Bear additionally enjoys guests and contributors from everywhere in the world.”
Time for extra development
Wild Bear is at the moment engaged on constructing a brand new 8,500-square-foot nature middle (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 get pleasure from school rooms, nature displays, a wildlife statement window and group program area. Head exterior to a nature playscape, an amphitheater, ADA-accessible trails and extra.
“Since its founding, Wild Bear has turn out to be a powerful and rising group, offering 1000’s of individuals with alternatives to seek out pleasure in nature, to unplug and really feel the therapeutic energy of the universe,” Dreves mentioned.
Getting exterior to breathe contemporary air, take heed to the birds and contact the Earth may make us extra conscious of the have to be environmentally conscious and take steps to guard our planet.
Connecting with our group
Just lately, Wild Bear was awarded a grant from the Elevations Basis.
“I used to be actually excited once I bought the information and couldn’t wait to share with the entire staff!” Growth Director Kat Barr mentioned. “I ran down the corridor to inform my coworkers instantly. Elevations Basis helps so many wonderful 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 middle’s guests and transfer ahead on a brand new facility.
“We have now so much occurring and the final working assist offered by Elevations Basis is vital to our success as a rising group,” Barr added.
For those who’d prefer to study extra about Wild Bear Nature Heart, turn out to be a volunteer or donate to their efforts, click on right here.
For extra info on Elevations Basis and the work it’s doing in our group, to study extra about its grant program or to assist assist one of many Elevations Basis’s causes, click on right here.
