“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 youngsters in grades Ok-8. Throughout these early life, a deep reference to Mom Earth was cast, and a seed was planted.
“After educating public faculty 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 Heart,” Dreves, the Government Director of the group, stated.
Wild Bear Nature Heart in Boulder County is an all-ages nature middle open to the general public 360-days a yr and a 2022 Elevations Basis grantee.
Sharing the thrill of nature
The nonprofit nature middle in downtown Nederland is open 360 days a yr 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 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 occasions together with guided snowshoe and summer time hikes, nature courses equivalent 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 time, youngsters journey from Boulder to Wild Bear in Nederland on the RTD bus with our workers. Wild Bear additionally enjoys guests and members from all around the world.”
Time for extra development
Wild Bear is at present 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 reveals, a wildlife remark window and group program house. Head exterior to a nature playscape, an amphitheater, ADA-accessible trails and extra.
“Since its founding, Wild Bear has turn into a powerful and rising group, offering 1000’s of individuals with alternatives to search out pleasure in nature, to unplug and really feel the therapeutic energy of the universe,” Dreves stated.
Getting exterior to breathe recent air, take heed to the birds and contact the Earth can even make us extra aware of the must 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 after I received the information and couldn’t wait to share with the entire staff!” Growth Director Kat Barr stated. “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 considered one of them.”
Barr and Dreves stated the funds will assist them proceed to offer free and nominal-fee alternatives to the character middle’s guests and transfer ahead on a brand new facility.
“We’ve quite a bit happening and the overall working assist offered by Elevations Basis is vital to our success as a rising group,” Barr added.
When you’d wish to study extra about Wild Bear Nature Heart, turn into a volunteer or donate to their efforts, click on right 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 assist one of many Elevations Basis’s causes, click on right here.