“I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are, “ reports a fourth-grader from child advocacy expert Richard Louv in his landmark novel, Last Child in the Woods, Saving Our Children From Nature-deficit Disorder. Things have changed so much over the last 30 years that people today have become homebound, plugged in and wired. Fear is instilled at an early age, fear of weather, fear of insects, fear of nature. This fear has created lifestyles restricted to the indoors, creating a society that is disconnected, unfocused and depressed. Research shows interactions with the natural world to be critical to healthy development. We believe when people connect with nature they will not only be happier but will work to preserve the earth’s natural resources.

Wild Bear’s comprehensive efforts to initiate the community toward sustainability is evidenced through its growth in program participation, its ability to engage the community in efforts to preserve and protect the environment and through its long term vision to create a nature center facility that will inspire and educate visitors from all over the world for years to come.

There are many ways to join this effort: attend a program, tell a friend, volunteer or donate. Together we can all make a difference to moving toward the sustainability of the earth and of our culture.
-Jill Dreves, Executive Director

Meet the Nature Center Gurus

“Hey, I have an idea, let’s build a nature center!” What a splendid idea, creation of a place where people can gather, learn, create and share knowledge about the natural world. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? That’s why Wild Bear invited four nature center administrators from across the U.S. to share their pearls of wisdom. And, the pearls piled high!

Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery has been working toward creating a nature center for the past 10 years. In 1999 Mud Lake Open Space was preserved, where Wild Bear owns five acres purchased through individual donations. In 2005 Wild Bear secured a Great Outdoors Colorado grant to plan the center, including concept drawings and strategic plans.

Wild Bear sought the assistance of ANCA, the Association of Nature Center Administrators who sent four experts to analyze the entire organization.

Elizabeth (Buffy) Cheek, Executive Director, Schlitz Audubon Center, Milwaukee, WI (http://www.schlitzauduboncenter.com). Buffy led a campaign to raise $8.5 million and created a LEED’s Gold nature center.

Bo Glover, Executive Director, Environmental Nature Center, Newport Beach, CA (http://www.encenter.org). The ELC is similar in size to Wild Bear and currently in the midst of a multi-million dollar capital campaign.

Tim Sandsmark, Executive Director, Lookout Mountain Nature Center, Golden CO has 15+ years as a nature center director in the nonprofit and government sectors.

Carolyn Chipman Evans, Founder and Executive Director, Cibolo Nature Center, Boerne, TX. (http://www.cibolo.org). Carolyn and her team completed a successful campaign to build the center. Carolyn wrote the book, How to Create and Nurture a Nature Center in Your Community.

WBCND board, staff, volunteers and donors worked with this team for three days to analyze the organization. A strategic plan is now being developed t o assist Wild Bear in raising the funds to bring the nature center vision to fruition.

Imagine an off grid natural facility at the gateway of 3,200 acres... Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery is well on its way to creating an amazing community resource on its land at Mud Lake. With the exceptional teamwork of Barrett Studio Architects and Turnburke Associates, an inspiring vision has been formalized. Complete with an underground Kiva covered with a wild planted roof, the visitor can travel through the tunnel into the large sun filled room or enter through “Piazza to the Sun” courtyard and into the main entry way. The large naturally lit room will have the ability to transform into smaller workshop spaces or can be utilized as a grand room for larger group activities. Visitors will explore hands on exhibits and learning opportunities on the main floor or on the upper mezzanine. This educational facility will serve as a gateway to the unique mountain ecosystems of Mud Lake and Caribou Ranch Open Spaces.

A Word from Willow...

“Willow, come quick I caught one!” A rush of excitement ran through my body. The entire class ran around the lake to celebrate a first lifetime catch of a beautiful rainbow trout. This is just a glimpse of what we experienced during our Mountain Youth Adventurer Fisheries Biology class in August. Students learned about fish ecology and what it takes to be an ethical angler.

As a fifth generation Boulder County native, I cherish the memories of my childhood and appreciate my father and mother, Dick and Chris Lyman, as they helped the kids with casting and untangling fishing lines. My parents instilled a deep respect for nature in me and as an adult it was an honor to be co-teaching a class with them. We are so grateful for the dedication of all of our volunteers.

This past summer was a great success with over 790 youth participating in hands on workshops in the Mountains of Nederland and at Chautauqua in Boulder. This year the Wild Bears were shuttled up from Boulder using the RTD bus system instilling the importance of utilizing alternative transportation! We appreciate Nederland Elementary School for providing an exceptional space for our Mountain Youth Programs, located adjacent to thousand of wild acres!

During one of our last song circles together two young boys bravely stood before the group to recite a few songs that they had written on the RTD shuttle ride up from Boulder. With smiles on their faces they sang about what the Earth provides for them entirely on their own.

Tears came to my eyes as I looked at the other instructors. I thought to myself, this is what this work is all about: instilling respect for the land and its inhabitants. I can’t imagine a more rewarding or deeply moving life’s profession.
-Angie Francis, Program Director

El Pomar Foundation Chooses Wild Bear!

For the last two years Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery has been nominated for a statewide award, the El Pomar Award for Excellence. This year, Wild Bear was selected as one of three finalists for this award. El Pomar Foundation, established in 1937 by Spencer and Julie Penrose, is one of the largest and oldest private foundations in the Rocky Mountain West. Based in Colorado Springs, El Pomar Foundation’s mission is to enhance, encourage and promote the current and future well being of the people of Colorado through grantmaking and community stewardship.

As a finalist for the award, Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery will be honored on November 29, 2006 at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs where they will receive a grant of $7,500. With 1,000 people in attendance, the winner of the award will be announced.

Along with the grant, El Pomar has created a film about Wild Bear which will be aired at the Awards Ceremony as well as on PBS in April, 2007. With so many exceptional environmental groups across the state of Colorado, Wild Bear is extremely honored to be a finalist for this award. To learn more about El Pomar Foundation and the awards see their website at http://www.elpomar.org.

Adult & Family Workshops
Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery is proud to offer Adult and Family Workshops beginning next Spring. Let us know your interests! If you have expertise to share or have some great ideas, please email them to Wild Bear’s Outreach Coordinator, Molly
Ward at molly@wildbear.org!

A Focus in Nature And Science...
Wild Bear and Nederland Elementary School (NES) formed a partnership in August, 2005 to house Wild Bear’s youth programs and to support NES with their goals. Last year Wild Bear assisted NES to become a Green Star School, one of 8 across the nation! NES composts food and recycles its waste with the hope to generate zero waste. Wild Bear has also worked to make the Biodome a functioning geodesicgreenhouse.

Thank you to the Argosy Foundation and the Millenium Trust for funding Wild Bear’s efforts to provide Adult and Family Workshops, natural science programs to school groups and the NES collaboration! Thank you to Dave Felkley, “BIGfoot” for volunteering the most hours in our Mountain Programs! Dave volunteered for over 100 hours hiking with youth and sharing his great knowledge of local ecosystems!