“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 baby, she attended a tiny, nature-immersed public faculty of simply 32 kids in grades Ok-8. Throughout these early life, a deep reference to Mom Earth was solid, and a seed was planted.

“After educating 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 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 kids 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 lessons similar 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 season, kids journey from Boulder to Wild Bear in Nederland on the RTD bus with our employees. Wild Bear additionally enjoys guests and members from all around the world.”

Time for extra progress

Wild Bear is presently 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 lecture rooms, nature displays, a wildlife remark window and group program area. Head exterior 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 search out pleasure in nature, to unplug and really feel the therapeutic energy of the universe,” Dreves mentioned.

Getting exterior to breathe recent air, take heed to the birds and contact the Earth may make us extra aware 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 after I acquired the information and couldn’t wait to share with the entire crew!” Growth Director Kat Barr mentioned. “I ran down the corridor to inform my coworkers immediately. Elevations Basis helps so many superb group organizations, and we couldn’t be prouder to be considered 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 loads happening and the final working assist supplied by Elevations Basis is vital to our success as a rising group,” Barr added.

For those who’d wish to study extra about Wild Bear Nature Heart, grow 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.