Wild Bear Nature Center

What Wild Bear Nature Center does

Wild Bear Nature Center is a Nederland, Colorado-based nonprofit environmental education organization founded in 1995 by Jill Dreves (originally as Wild Bear Science School, rebranded in 2024). The organization delivers hands-on mountain ecology programming for children, families, schools, and adults, with a portfolio that includes multi-tier summer nature camps (NederRangers, Mountain Rangers, Wild Naturalists, Wild Adventurers for ages 5-14), Nature Adventure Days during school breaks, SnowSchool winter programs delivered in partnership with Winter Wildlands Alliance, school field trips and homeschool group programs, Scout and corporate group bookings, and a forthcoming Forest Preschool. A free hands-on nature center in downtown Nederland provides low-barrier public access, while program distribution extends to Mud Lake preserve, Baker Reservoir, Indian Peaks Wilderness, and Eldora Nordic Center, with a shuttle service from Boulder.

The organization operates with 1-10 employees and no proprietary technology platform; its primary physical asset under construction is an 8,500-square-foot net-zero nature center at Mud Lake Open Space, a $16 million project that will be the highest-altitude net-zero nature center in the United States, open 360 days per year, featuring live exhibits, two preschool classrooms, a makerspace, a co-working area, an observation deck with Continental Divide views, and a solar-powered amphitheater.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model combining fee-for-service program tuition (pay-as-you-go unit pricing across camps, field trips, and SnowSchool sessions), individual donations, and foundation/capital campaign grants. Pricing is set to maintain accessibility, with scholarships and Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) acceptance. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the physical nature center, the website, email newsletter, and community events, supplemented by direct sales to schools and group-booking customers. The organization was disrupted in October 2025 when the Lakeview fire destroyed its interim Caribou Village facility and animal ambassadors; new Executive Director Trish Krajniak was hired in March 2026 to lead the organization into the new permanent facility.

Name

Wild Bear Nature Center

Legal name

Wild Bear Nature Center

Website

https://wildbear.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wild Bear Nature Center is a Nederland, Colorado-based nonprofit founded in 1995 that provides hands-on mountain ecology education through summer camps, SnowSchool, school field trips, and nature programs for children, families, and adults. The organization is constructing an $16M net-zero facility at Mud Lake Open Space, expected to open in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nederland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from summer nature camps, SnowSchool, Nature Adventure Days, and group programs charged on a per-session or per-hour basis.
2. Donations and Grants: Capital campaign fundraising through individual donors and foundation grants for the new nature center construction.
3. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wild Bear Nature Center is a nonprofit environmental education organization that operates a free hands-on nature center in Nederland, Colorado, and delivers fee-based year-round outdoor learning programs including summer nature camps, Nature Adventure Days, SnowSchool, school field trips, and group bookings focused on mountain ecology. Its offerings are anchored by hands-on wildlife exhibits, citizen science partnerships, and outdoor education programming for children, families, schools, and adults in the Colorado Front Range.

Product overview

Wild Bear Nature Center operates as an environmental education nonprofit offering a portfolio of outdoor programs centered on mountain ecology. The core offering includes Summer Nature Camps (NederRangers, Mountain Rangers, Wild Naturalists, Wild Adventurers), Nature Adventure Days during school breaks, Snow School in partnership with Winter Wildlands Alliance, School Programs & Field Trips, and Group Programs. The organization also operates a free hands-on nature center and is developing a Forest Preschool as part of its new facility. Educational content is shared through an online blog featuring nature crafts, wildlife guides, and citizen science resources. A flagship project is the new 8,500-square-foot net-zero nature center at Mud Lake, expected to open in 2026, which will serve as the permanent year-round hub for all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Nature Camps Outdoor adventure day camps for children ages 5-14 held during summer months, incorporating natural science, ecology, stewardship, arts, writing, survival skills, team building, and mindfulness. Camp tiers include NederRangers (ages 5-6), Mountain Rangers (ages 6-7), Wild Naturalists (ages 8-9), and Wild Adventurers (ages 10-14), with optional Boulder shuttle service.
• Nature Adventure Days Specialty outdoor education programs for children ages 5-12 offered during school holidays and breaks, featuring full-day outdoor studies at Mud Lake and surrounding areas incorporating science, ecology, arts, writing, and survival skills, with optional Boulder shuttle service for $10/day.
• SnowSchool All-ages group program partnering with Winter Wildlands Alliance, bringing classrooms to 8,250 feet elevation for hands-on snow, water, and winter ecology education with climate scientists and local naturalists. Programs run 2-3 hours with snowshoes included, priced at $150/hour for groups of up to 30 participants.
• School Programs & Field Trips Educational field trip programs for school groups providing hands-on nature exploration and environmental education aligned with curriculum standards, delivered at Mud Lake and surrounding natural areas.
• Group Programs Programs for classes, homeschool programs, Scout groups, staff groups, friends, or families offering learning, team building, and outdoor fun experiences, delivered at Wild Bear Property, Eldora Nordic Center, or other locations.
• Free Hands-On Nature Center Free admission hands-on nature center in downtown Nederland providing visitors with interactive exhibits and experiences focused on mountain ecology, offering free daily access to the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest-altitude net-zero nature center in the United States
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Winter Wildlands AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring SnowSchool program to classrooms up to 8,250 feet elevation. Wild Bear is considered a flagship SnowSchool site nationally. Climate and snow scientists participate in hands-on winter ecology education programs.
• Nature's EducatorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal ambassador program bringing 7 global animal ambassadors for Wild Earth Day Celebration, teaching about conservation, habitat restoration, and wildlife appreciation.
• Rocky Mountain WildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity science partnership for Front Range Pika Project, surveying Pika populations throughout Colorado in collaboration with Denver Zoo.
• Denver ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Front Range Pika Project community science initiative to monitor and protect Pika populations in Colorado.
• 1% for the PlanetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental membership organization certifying Wild Bear's commitment to environmental giving and sustainability.
• NAAEE (North American Association for Environmental Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association membership providing resources, standards, and network for environmental education professionals.
• CAEE (Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level alliance connecting Wild Bear to regional environmental education resources and network.
• Boulder ChamberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business chamber membership supporting community visibility and business networking.
• Leave No TraceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental ethics organization whose principles align with Wild Bear's outdoor education and conservation mission.
• ANCA (American Nature Center Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature center membership organization providing professional resources and standards for nature-based education centers.
• High Performance Earth WorksminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal Nederland construction company (Jesse and Angela Seavers) handling excavation and foundation work for the new nature center.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES): Aspen Center for Environmental Studies is a Colorado-based nonprofit offering year-round environmental education, mountain ecology programs, summer camps, school field trips, and adult programming — directly comparable to Wild Bear's mission, program mix, and Colorado mountain setting.
• Walking Mountains Science Center: Walking Mountains is a Vail Valley, Colorado nonprofit science and nature center providing summer camps, school programs, and adult naturalists programming — directly comparable in scope, geography, and educational mission.
• Beaver Brook Nature Center: Beaver Brook is a small nonprofit nature center offering hands-on environmental education, live animal exhibits, and school programs — closely comparable as a community-based nature interpretation center similar in size and operations to Wild Bear.
• Hudson Highlands Nature Museum: A regional nature museum offering outdoor environmental education, school field trips, summer camps, and live animal exhibits — directly comparable in visitor-center-and-programs model.

Broad incumbents

• Denver Zoo: Denver Zoo is a large zoological institution offering educational programming, live animal collections, and Front Range community science initiatives. Wild Bear partners with Denver Zoo on the Front Range Pika Project, and both serve as regional environmental education anchors in Colorado.
• Mass Audubon: Mass Audubon is a large regional environmental nonprofit operating wildlife sanctuaries, nature centers, and educational programs. Comparable in mission and program mix but at substantially greater scale than Wild Bear.
• National Wildlife Federation: NWF is a national nonprofit operating wildlife education, certification programs, and conservation initiatives. Broadly comparable as an environmental education organization, though vastly larger and operating nationally rather than locally.

Others

• Winter Wildlands Alliance: Winter Wildlands Alliance is the national organization behind the SnowSchool program of which Wild Bear is a flagship site. Listed as an ecosystem partner and program co-developer rather than a direct competitor.
• The Nature Conservancy: TNC is a global conservation organization that shares Wild Bear's conservation and education mission. Functions as an adjacent enabling/ecosystem organization rather than a direct competitor.
• Eldora Mountain Resort: Eldora is the Nederland-area Nordic ski venue that hosts Wild Bear's off-site SnowSchool programming. Listed as a venue/distribution partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/wildbearnaturecenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/wildbearnaturecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wild-bear-nature-center-nederland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Wild Bear Nature Center