Name

Howard County Conservancy

Legal name

Howard County Conservancy

Website

https://howardnature.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Howard County Conservancy is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust and environmental education organization operating a 232-acre historic farmstead and stewarding more than 2,000 acres of conservation easements, serving children, families, schools, and the general public through nature-based programming and land stewardship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Outdoor / Nature-Based Before/After Care Programs (EDACAHAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Land conservation easements
• Nature preschool programs
• Summer nature camps
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodstock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees from nature preschool, summer camps, school field trips, scout programs, birthday parties, and other educational programming
2. Event and Facility Rentals: Wedding venue rentals, corporate event space, and photography passes at the Gudelsky Environmental Education Center and outdoor venues
3. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants supporting operations and mission
4. Conservation Easement Services: Land conservation services including easement administration and property management
5. Homeschool Club Memberships: Monthly series registration fees for Eco Explorers Homeschool Club

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Howard County Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that delivers nature-based educational programming for children and adults and conserves natural and historic land in Howard County, Maryland. Its core offerings include a nature preschool, summer and school-year day camps, K-12 school field trips, homeschool and scout programs, birthday parties, climate and watershed education programs, conservation easement services, community garden plots, and wedding/event venue rentals centered on its 232-acre Mt. Pleasant historic farmstead and the Belmont Historic Park location.

Product overview

The Howard County Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust and environmental education organization offering a diverse portfolio of programs and services centered around nature education and land conservation. The core offerings include educational programming (Nature Preschool, Summer Camp, School's Out Programs, Eco Explorers Homeschool Club, and school field trips from elementary through high school), public nature programs (guided hikes, butterfly walks, bird walks), outreach programs (Nature in Your Neighborhood, Scout Programs, Birthday Parties), and facility rentals (weddings, events, venue spaces). Specialized programs include Climate kNOWledge (sixth-grade climate education), the Watershed Report Card Program (ninth-grade watershed assessment), and the Youth Climate Institute (high school climate certification). Land management services include conservation easements, volunteer programs, and the Community Garden. The organization operates two main locations: Mt. Pleasant (232-acre farmstead with the Gudelsky Environmental Education Center, historic buildings, and native plant gardens) and Belmont (Nature Preschool location adjacent to Patapsco Valley State Park).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Climate Institute (YCI): A nationwide program offering high school students the chance to work on climate change through climate science certification, student ambassadors, and action projects including lobbying for climate legislation, organizing clothing swaps, and planting trees.
• Climate kNOWledge
• Watershed Report Card Program

Products and services

• Nature Preschool
• Summer Camp
• School's Out Programs
• Eco Explorers Homeschool Club
• Birthday Parties
• Scouting Programs
• Nature in Your Neighborhood (Outreach Programs)
• Elementary School Field Trips

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 12,000 students served annually through educational programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Preservation Howard CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Listed Montjoy Barn on Preservation Howard County's Ten Most Endangered Historic Sites since 2001. Partnered in effort to save the historic barn structure.
• Howard County Recreation and ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide environmental education programs at Belmont Manor and Historic Park. The Conservancy serves as nonprofit partner managing environmental education at this county park since April 2014. The park borders 16,000 acre Patapsco Valley State Park.
• Maryland Environmental TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for conservation easement administration. The Howard County Conservancy works with the Maryland Environmental Trust to preserve land in Howard County. Easements are held jointly by both organizations.
• Howard County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived grant funding from Howard County Government for purchased easement program enabling nonprofit property owners to participate in conservation easements.
• Howard County Public Schools (HCPSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurriculum-aligned field trip programs and environmental education partnerships. Programs aligned with HCPSS science curriculum, Environmental Literacy Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
• Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesignated as first Maryland Green Center in Howard County by MAEOE. Conservancy supports the Maryland Green School Awards Program.
• Howard County Bird ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert volunteers from Howard County Bird Club lead butterfly walks and provide bird identification expertise for conservancy programs.
• Youth Climate InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide network offering high school students climate science certification and climate action ambassador training. Programs certify student ambassadors on climate science at a pivotal time for their college and career goals.
• Maryland Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in the 1993 acquisition of Mt. Pleasant farmstead, holding the property in partnership with the Conservancy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Irvine Nature Center: A Maryland-based nonprofit environmental education center offering nature preschool, school programs, summer camps, and public events. Comparable in mission, programmatic mix, and regional scope to the Howard County Conservancy.
• Audubon Society of Central Maryland: A regional Audubon chapter offering birding programs, nature education, and conservation activities in central Maryland. Comparable to the Conservancy's bird walks, biodiversity documentation, and community-led nature programming.
• Maryland Environmental Trust: A statewide land trust that partners with the Howard County Conservancy on conservation easements. Direct peer in land conservation services, easement administration, and stewardship.

Broad incumbents

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: A large regional nonprofit focused on Chesapeake Bay watershed education, restoration, and advocacy. Operates education centers and curriculum-aligned school programs overlapping with the Conservancy's Watershed Report Card and outreach work.
• The Nature Conservancy (Maryland/DC Chapter): The largest global conservation nonprofit with active land conservation and stewardship in Maryland. Competes for donor dollars, conservation easement clients, and grants in the same Maryland geography.
• Sierra Club (Maryland Chapter): A large environmental nonprofit with active programming in Maryland. Competes for individual donors, members, and volunteer engagement in the same region.
• National Wildlife Federation: A national nonprofit offering K-12 environmental education programs and certifications. Competes for school district partnerships and foundation grants at the curriculum level.

Regional players

• Brookside Gardens: A Maryland public garden facility offering educational programming, weddings, and event rentals. Comparable in botanical garden experience, event rental revenue model, and visitor programming mix.
• Patapsco Valley State Park: A 16,000-acre Maryland state park bordering the Conservancy's Belmont location. Provides overlapping nature access, trails, and educational programming in the same geography.

Others

• EarthShare: A workplace-giving federation of environmental nonprofits that the Conservancy is a member of through EarthShare Mid-Atlantic. Comparable as a fundraising channel and peer in the nonprofit environmental ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HCConservancy
• Facebookfacebook.com/HowardCountyConservancy
• Instagraminstagram.com/hcconservancy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Howard County Conservancy