SHAKER LAKES REGIONAL NATURE CENTER
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. Would you like to join their team?Profile owner : c**a@s*********s.o*g
Mission Statement
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes conserves a natural area, connects people with nature and inspires environmental stewardship.
About This Cause
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes’ 20-acre property is located within the 279-acre Shaker Parklands, which were threatened in the 1960s by the proposed Clark-Lee Freeway. Hundreds of area citizens organized to fight the freeway through a number of strategies, including the establishment of the non-profit Nature Center. Since then, the Nature Center’s mission has remained consistent: to conserve a natural area, connect people with nature and inspire environmental stewardship. The Nature Center’s building, outdoor facilities, and trail systems are free and open to the public year-round. Each year, 140,000 visitors explore our woodlands, wetlands, streams and meadows. These habitats serve as living examples of northeast Ohio ecosystems for both formal, hands-on science education programs, as well as informal learning for casual visitors. The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes’ vision is to be a model urban environmental resource that welcomes all and enriches people's lives through education, innovative programs, and community involvement. While we serve the entire community, our educational programming is focused on serving children who have little direct exposure to nature in their day-to-day lives. Over 65% of the students we work with come from families living in poverty. Our programs provide much-needed access to nature for these children. As one Cleveland first grade teacher recently noted, “I believe this is the first time many of my students took a nature walk in the woods to observe birds and plants in their natural habitat.” Over the last year, we saw a 68% increase in engagement with the Nature Center, with 2.8 million engagements through trail visits, educational programming, school field experiences, social media, and other online platforms. Since the pandemic began, we have also experienced a threefold increase in trail visitation. This increase highlights the tremendous demand the pandemic has created for the Nature Center’s public trails and accessible natural areas. Unlike most parks, the Nature Center does not receive property or income tax revenues, and must instead secure its funding from fees, contributions and grants. We rely on the generous support of foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Thank you!