Cope Environmental Center

What Cope Environmental Center does

Cope Environmental Center (CEC) is an Indiana-based nonprofit founded in 1992 that operates a 130-acre outdoor classroom in Centerville for hands-on sustainability and nature-based education. Its mission is to promote sustainability through education and demonstration, anchored by a Certified Living Building Challenge facility that serves as both a working campus and a model of green building design. Programs target schools, families, businesses, and partner non-profits and universities through field trips, summer nature camps, monthly programs, an annual Birdathon event, and overnight wilderness experiences such as "A Night In The Wild."

The organization earns revenue through a diversified mix of streams: annual memberships, program and camp fees, facility rentals for private events, branded merchandise sales, and donations via a "Ways to Give" fundraising program. Distribution is community-led and largely on-site at the Centerville campus, supplemented by off-site school outreach and a digital storefront. Marketing is concentrated in low-cost, community-driven channels — an email newsletter, Facebook (@Copeenviro), TikTok (@copeenvironmentalcenter), and the visitcope.org website.

Operationally, CEC runs lean with 1-10 employees, a single regional footprint, and no disclosed technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, patents, or external funding rounds. Leadership includes co-founders Helen Cope and Jim Cope alongside executive director Alison Clark Zajdel. The asset base — particularly the certified Living Building and 130-acre land — functions as the primary durable asset underpinning program credibility and partner engagement.

Name

Cope Environmental Center

Legal name

Cope Environmental Center

Website

https://copeenvironmental.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cope Environmental Center is an Indiana-based nonprofit founded in 1992 that delivers hands-on sustainability and nature-based education at a 130-acre Centerville campus with a Certified Living Building Challenge facility, serving schools, families, businesses, and partner non-profits through camps, field trips, and community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eco-Camps & Sustainable Camping Retreats (THAGAOAE), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)

Keywords

• Environmental education services
• Nature-based learning programs
• Sustainability education
• Outdoor classroom programs
• Living building tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Centerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Cope Environmental Center offers membership programs that provide community members access to trails, facilities, and exclusive benefits while supporting the organization's mission.
2. Program Fees: Revenue generated from nature camp registrations (Summer Nature Camp), field trips, outreach programs, and monthly educational events.
3. Facility Rentals: Rental income from leasing the facility and outdoor spaces for events, gatherings, and corporate functions.
4. Store Sales: Revenue from the Cope Environmental Center store selling merchandise related to sustainability and nature.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable contributions and 'Ways to Give' programs supporting the non-profit's educational mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cope Environmental Center is a nonprofit organization that delivers hands-on sustainability and nature-based education through a 130-acre outdoor classroom and Certified Living Building Challenge facility in Centerville, Indiana. It sells nature camp registrations, school field trips, facility rentals, tours, memberships, and event-based programming (e.g., Birdathon, The Great Outdoors), and also retails sustainability-themed merchandise through an online store.

Product overview

Cope Environmental Center operates as a single unified nonprofit educational organization offering nature-based programming through its 130-acre outdoor classroom. The portfolio includes structured educational programs (Nature Education Programs, Summer Nature Camp, Field Trips & Outreach Programs), conservation-focused events (Birdathon), recreational offerings (Trail System, Rentals), sustainability resources (Eco Resources Hub, Living Building Tours), and membership/community engagement programs. The center positions its Certified Living Building Challenge facility as a model of sustainable innovation for visitors and partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nature Education Programs

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BusinessesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCope Environmental Center partners with local and regional businesses to teach principles of sustainability and conservation. These partnerships likely involve employee education programs, corporate volunteer initiatives, and business sponsorship opportunities.
• UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnerships enabling collaborative sustainability education, research opportunities, and student involvement in conservation programs at the Cope Environmental Center facility.
• Non-profitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with non-profit organizations aligned with environmental stewardship and sustainability missions, working together to advance conservation education and community engagement.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• White River Alliance: Indiana nonprofit focused on water stewardship and environmental education. Comparable regional nonprofit with overlapping conservation education mission and corporate partnership model.
• Earth Charter Indiana: Indiana nonprofit promoting sustainability education and community engagement. Similar regional nonprofit competing for the same school and community environmental education market.
• Sycamore Land Trust: Indiana-based land trust focused on land conservation and environmental education. Comparable to Cope as a regional nonprofit delivering nature-based programs and outdoor experiences in Indiana.

Broad incumbents

• Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nature Centers: State-run nature preserves and education centers across Indiana offering free or low-cost trails and environmental programming. Direct substitute for Cope's trail access and school programming at a price-advantaged level.

Others

• Project Learning Tree: National environmental education program for K-12 schools. Comparable to Cope's field trip/outreach programs targeting the same school customers with curriculum-aligned nature content.
• The Living Building Challenge (ILFI): International Living Future Institute administers the Living Building Challenge certification held by Cope's facility. Comparable as the standards body whose certification Cope uses as a key differentiator.

Direct peers

• Conner Prairie: Indiana interactive history and nature park offering school field trips, summer camps, memberships, and facility rentals. Strong peer overlap with Cope on experiential education programming and revenue mix.
• Reid Park Zoo / Indianapolis Zoo: Indiana-based zoological/environmental education institution offering nature-based programs, camps, memberships, and corporate rental events. Closely comparable in product mix (camps, memberships, education, events) to Cope.

Emerging players

• Audubon Society (local chapters): National birding/conservation organization with local chapters running Birdathon-style events and nature education. Comparable programming overlap with Cope's Birdathon and wildlife education offerings.
• Sierra Club (Hoosier Chapter): Indiana chapter of national environmental organization running nature outings, education, and advocacy. Comparable nonprofit advocacy and education mission targeting Indiana families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Copeenviro
• TikToktiktok.com/@copeenvironmentalcenter
• Xx.com/copeenviro

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cope Environmental Center