Irvine Nature Center

What Irvine Nature Center does

Irvine Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (legal entity: Irvine Natural Science Center Inc, EIN 52-1231286) founded in 1975 and headquartered on a 211-acre nature preserve at 11201 Garrison Forest Road in Owings Mills, Maryland. The organization's core asset is its 211-acre campus featuring 8+ miles of trails, meadows, wetlands, and forests; an Aviary housing eight resident avian ambassadors (raptors); an Outdoor Classroom; a Native American Site; and a pollinator meadow used for FeederWatch citizen science data collection.

The organization delivers nature-based education programs segmented across five customer groups: families with children (Nature Preschool ages 3-5, Little Birds birth-3, Summer Nature Camp, Day Off Camps, Tales & Tails, Nature by the Fire); schools (field trips, Nature in the Classroom presentations, Eco-Explorers after-school clubs); adults and seniors (Eat Drink & Learn speaker series, Lunch & Learn, Wellness programs); wellness seekers (Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, sound immersion); and corporate groups (volunteer sessions and corporate partnerships).

Revenue is generated through six streams: annual memberships ($65+), general admission ($5/person age 6+, free for under-5 and members), educational program and camp fees ($10-$500 depending on program), facility rentals (birthday parties and weddings), donations and grants including foundation grants from The Orokawa Foundation and Springwell Senior Living, and corporate partnerships. The marketing motion is event- and community-driven, relying on content marketing (blog), email newsletters, social channels, and earned media (Baltimore's Child, Charity Navigator 4-star, Platinum Candid seal). Registration is handled through the DoubleKnot online platform. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, led by Executive Director Brooks Paternotte, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or equity investors disclosed.

Name

Irvine Nature Center

Legal name

Irvine Natural Science Center Inc

Website

https://explorenature.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Irvine Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 211-acre nature preserve in Owings Mills, Maryland. It delivers nature-based education programs for children, families, schools, and adults through preschool, summer camps, school programs, wellness activities, speaker series, and venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Owings Mills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual memberships providing free trail access, discounts on programs, and members-only event access. Membership contributions of $65 or more include a one-year membership.
2. General Admission: $5 per person for visitors age 6 and older. Children 5 and under are free. Members always free. Free Fridays offered through foundation support.
3. Educational Programs: Fees for nature programs including Eat Drink & Learn speaker series ($55-$65 per person), summer nature camp ($120/day or $500/week), and various workshops ($10-$50 per person).
4. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions including matching donation campaigns (e.g., Ingrid & Don Obrecht and Christa Riepe matching donations), foundation grants (Orokawa Foundation for Free Fridays), and corporate partnerships.
5. Facility Rentals: Birthday parties and weddings/rentals for special events at the nature center venue.
6. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorship and partnership programs including event sponsorships and workplace giving programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Irvine Nature Center operates a 211-acre nature preserve in Owings Mills, Maryland, providing environmental education programs, nature-based preschool, summer camps, school field trips, adult wellness classes, and community access events. Revenue is generated through program fees, memberships, general admission, facility rentals, donations, grants, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

Irvine Nature Center offers a diverse portfolio of nature-based educational programs and community services. The organization operates as a unified suite of programs including early childhood education (Nature Preschool, Little Birds, Earth Friends Homeschool), youth programming (Summer Nature Camp, Field Trips, Eco-Explorers, Day Off Camps), adult education (Eat Drink & Learn Speaker Series, Lunch & Learn, Health & Wellness Programs), and community access initiatives (FREE FRIDAYS, Tales & Tails, Nature by the Fire). The center also provides venue rentals for celebrations and hosts special events like World Snake Day. The programs are designed to serve all age groups from infants through seniors, integrating environmental education, wildlife awareness, and outdoor recreation across its 211-acre campus in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Nature Preschool: Early childhood education program for ages 3-5 focused on nature-based learning
• Summer Nature Camp
• Little Birds
• Eat, Drink & Learn
• Nature by the Fire
• Free Fridays

Products and services

• Nature Preschool A nature-based preschool program for children ages three to five, offering outdoor learning experiences as an introduction to nature-based education. Delivered by trained educators at Irvine's Nature Explore Certified Outdoor Classroom.
• Little Birds A caregiver and child class for children birth to 3 years, featuring animal encounters, nature walks, songs, stories, and art in outdoor settings. Designed for parents/caregivers and infants/toddlers.
• Earth Friends Homeschool Nature-based educational programs designed for homeschool families, integrating outdoor learning experiences at the Irvine campus for homeschool students.
• Summer Nature Camp A seasonal day camp for children offering nature exploration, environmental education, and outdoor activities during summer months. Priced at $120/day or $500/week, with an optional before/after care and a STEAM-themed bonus week.
• Field Trips Educational field trip programs for schools and groups, offering hands-on nature experiences and curriculum-aligned activities at the 211-acre Irvine campus.
• Nature in the Classroom School presentation programs that bring nature education directly into classrooms via naturalist-led presentations at partner schools.
• Eco-Explorers After-School Nature Club After-school nature club programs for children, featuring weekly themes and hands-on environmental activities at partner schools.
• Eat, Drink & Learn Speaker Series An adult education speaker series featuring expert presenters on environmental topics, combining dinner and drinks with presentations on wildlife, conservation, and nature. Single event: $55 member, $65 non-member; season subscription (8 events): $385 member, $455 non-member.
• Free Fridays A year-long initiative providing free admission every Friday, enabling community members to access hiking trails, the Aviary with resident raptors, Outdoor Classroom, Native American Site, and nature exploration at the 211-acre campus.
• Tales & Tails Story Time in Nature A free weekly story time program for caregivers and children featuring animal encounters in the Outdoor Classroom, ideal for children 5 and under. No registration required.
• Nature by the Fire A monthly campfire program featuring seasonal nature themes, roasting marshmallows, meeting animal ambassadors, and hands-on nature activities for families. Priced at $5/participant, free for members.
• Day Off Camps School holiday camps for children ages 5-9 offering nature activities, crafts, animal encounters, and outdoor exploration on days when school is not in session.
• Birthday Parties Nature-themed birthday party rentals offering animal encounters, outdoor activities, and educational entertainment for children's birthday celebrations at the Irvine campus.
• Weddings & Rentals Event venue rental services for weddings and special occasions at the nature center's scenic locations across the 211-acre campus.
• Lunch & Learn Programs Adult educational programs featuring catered lunch, presentations by experts on native plants, gardening, and environmental topics. Priced at $30 for members and $40 for non-members.
• Health & Wellness Programs Outdoor wellness activities including Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Nature Worx mindfulness programs, and sound immersion workshops. Individual programs priced from $12 to $40.
• Make & Take Workshops Hands-on craft workshops teaching skills such as willow weaving, herbal salve making, and nature-inspired art. Priced at $10-$50 per participant.
• World Snake Day Annual celebration of snakes featuring herp hikes at three difficulty levels ($10 each), presentations on snakes from around the world ($15), and animal art activities ($25). A Day Pass is available for $30 covering all three programs.
• Membership Program Annual membership offering free trail access, discounts on programs, members-only events, and other benefits. Contributions of $65 or more include a one-year membership. Members always receive free admission and access to Free Fridays.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Roland Park PlaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 16th annual Eat, Drink & Learn adult nature speaker series. Provides promotional support and brand visibility for the 8-event series featuring expert environmental educators.
• Springwell Senior LivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriting sponsor for Irvine's Lunch & Learn program series. Supports adult education programming with catered lunch and animal encounters.
• Jemicy SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring school campus. Irvine Nature Center is located across the street from Jemicy Upper School campus, facilitating potential educational partnerships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mass Audubon: Large regional nature conservation nonprofit operating dozens of wildlife sanctuaries with education programs, preschool, camps, and public access. Comparable mission and program mix but at significantly larger scale; a benchmark for the long-term scaling path available to Irvine.
• National Aquarium: Major Baltimore attraction offering animal exhibits, education programs, and conservation messaging. Competes for family outings, school field trips, and event rentals in the Baltimore market with a broader portfolio and substantially larger scale.
• Patuxent Research Refuge: Federally-managed wildlife refuge and nature education destination in Laurel, Maryland. Offers similar environmental education, trails, and visitor programming at a larger scale and with free admission, representing a public-sector competitor for the same regional audience.
• Maryland Zoo in Baltimore: Larger regional zoo offering animal encounters, educational programming, and school field trips. Overlaps with Irvine's Animal Ambassador / wildlife education offering but operates at significantly greater scale and as a paid attraction rather than a preserve.

Direct peers

• Carrie Murray Nature Center: Baltimore City nature center offering environmental education, animal ambassadors, and youth programming. Closely comparable scale and program mix to Irvine, also serving the broader Baltimore metropolitan market.
• Robinson Nature Center: Howard County nature center offering nature-based education, school programs, and public access to a forested preserve. Directly competes for the same Baltimore-region family and school market with a similar facility-and-program model.
• Oregon Ridge Nature Center: Baltimore County-operated nature center offering nature education programs, trails, and school field trips on a comparable suburban preserve. Most direct local competitor serving overlapping Baltimore-area families.
• Audubon Naturalist Society: Regional nature education nonprofit operating nature centers and environmental programs in the greater Washington DC / Mid-Atlantic area. Directly comparable as a membership-based nature education organization offering preschool, camps, adult programming, and conservation-focused land management.
• Brookside Nature Center: Montgomery County nature center offering nature preschool, school programs, public visits, and animal ambassadors. Operates an almost identical programming model and competes for the same Mid-Atlantic family demographic.

Others

• Children & Nature Network: National nonprofit that runs the Nature Explore Certified Classroom program — a credential Irvine Nature Center holds. Comparable as an enabling/ecosystem organization supporting the nature-based education sector Irvine operates in.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/irvinenature
• YouTubevimeo.com/irvinenaturecenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/explorenature
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irvine-nature-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/irvinenaturecenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Irvine Nature Center