“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 kids in grades Okay-8. Throughout these youth, a deep reference to Mom Earth was cast, and a seed was planted.
“After instructing public college for 9 years, in 1995 I went again to my roots of connecting kids (and now neighborhood) 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, mentioned.
Wild Bear Nature Heart in Boulder County is an all-ages nature heart open to the general public 360-days a yr and a 2022 Elevations Basis grantee.
Sharing the fun of nature
The nonprofit nature heart 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 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 occasions together with guided snowshoe and summer time hikes, nature courses comparable to snow science, water research, herbalism, birds and mushrooms, nature artwork courses and extra.
“The mountain ecosystems are essentially the most unimaginable academics to attach all ages to studying about water, geology, crops and animals,” Dreves added. “In the course of the summer time, kids journey from Boulder to Wild Bear in Nederland on the RTD bus with our workers. Wild Bear additionally enjoys guests and contributors from everywhere in the world.”
Time for extra development
Wild Bear is presently engaged on constructing a brand new 8,500-square-foot nature heart (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 statement window and neighborhood program area. Head outdoors 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 search out pleasure in nature, to unplug and really feel the therapeutic energy of the universe,” Dreves mentioned.
Getting outdoors to breathe recent air, hearken to the birds and contact the Earth also can make us extra aware of the have to be environmentally conscious and take steps to guard our planet.
Connecting with our neighborhood
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 group!” Growth Director Kat Barr mentioned. “I ran down the corridor to inform my coworkers immediately. Elevations Basis helps so many wonderful neighborhood 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 heart’s guests and transfer ahead on a brand new facility.
“We’ve lots occurring and the overall working help offered by Elevations Basis is important to our success as a rising group,” Barr added.
In the event you’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 neighborhood, to study extra about its grant program or to assist help one of many Elevations Basis’s causes, click on right here.
