WILD BEAR CENTER FOR NATURE DISCOVERY
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Mission Statement
Inspiring a lifelong connection to nature and community through creative exploration of the outdoors.
About This Cause
Since 1995, Wild Bear has provided nature-based education to thousands of people of all ages through comprehensive formal programs as well as informal learning through exhibits at our public nature center located in downtown Nederland. In 1999, Wild Bear was a key partner in the preservation of Mud Lake Open Space and removed over 30 tons of trash from 260 acres north of Nederland. Now 3,200 acres have been preserved and Wild Bear (through donations) purchased its own 5 acres at the gateway of this preservation. After this site experienced a sinkhole, Wild Bear now has exchanged this unbuildable site with Boulder County for a new 5-acre property on the southeast corner of Mud Lake Open Space. Since our inception as a small nonprofit serving 24 children in 1995, Wild Bear has grown its impact each year, reaching more than 25,000 people of all ages through the free nature center as well as 6,761 people through formal all ages programs offered last fiscal year, 2016-17. Indian Peaks Wilderness, Mud Lake, and Caribou Ranch Open Spaces and other surrounding natural areas provide outdoor classrooms where Wild Bear programs engender a sense of place for our Front Range and Inter-Mountain youth, developing character, self-respect, and the empowering quality of being part of a community. In 2010, Wild Bear opened the interim nature center in downtown Nederland. With 80% of Nederland area residents commuting for employment, there is a serious gap in youth supervision when school is not in session. Wild Bear, as the only school-age licensed childcare, serves as a critical service for children in Boulder County, providing top quality natural science education outside of school hours (after school, on days off and during the summer). Wild Bear’s programs are modestly priced to serve lower middle income families and Wild Bear is a CCAP Provider (Childcare Assistance Program, government subsidy to support low income families) and Wild Bear provides sliding scale scholarships to families who don’t qualify for CCAP. Wild Bear also provides bus tickets to CCAP families who would like to attend mountain programs from the boulder area. Not only is Wild Bear’s youth program serving an important need for children, Wild Bear’s free nature center is a key part of the identity of the surrounding Nederland community. Families are able to visit and gather in the nature center at no cost as well as at the Mud Lake property, building positive relationships in nature. Wild Bear is part of the Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Coalition, working closely with EFA (Emergency Family Assistance) and CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program). During emergency situations in Nederland (the 2013 flood and the 2016 fire, where canyon access to outside resources were closed) Wild Bear serves as a community meeting place, communication resource and general support to all families in the community. Wild Bear believes that EVERY child should be afforded the experience of being guided by our high qualified staff (masters and bachelor’s degrees in the field of education, biology, environmental studies) to explore their backyard and find strength and joy in the simple discovery of nature. Wild Bear is committed to providing programs that are economically accessible to the whole community, including affordable pricing, flexible scheduling, transportation solutions from Boulder to Nederland, and scholarships/tuition subsidies. This year, 53% of participants in Wild Bear’s programs were able to do so through scholarships or government subsidies.