Woodland Dunes

What Woodland Dunes does

Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1965 and headquartered in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, operating a 1,500-acre preserve between Two Rivers and Manitowoc that contains hardwood and conifer forests, wetlands, and prairies. Portions of the preserve are designated a State Natural Area and classified by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as globally significant ridge-and-swale habitat, with over 250 documented bird species and Important Bird Area status. The organization serves approximately 3,500 students, adults, and families annually through a structured portfolio including school field trips (priced at $3 per student, minimum $25), Pre-K programs ($2 per student), summer camps for children ages 4-16 ($25-$65 per session depending on membership status and camp length), family programs (Raising a Wild Child, Wild Families), adult education (monthly guided hikes), and scout/youth group programs.

The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit funding stack: individual and household membership subscriptions (annual, with quarterly Dunesletter, email updates, gift shop discounts, and member pricing); tax-deductible donations from individuals; corporate memberships from local Wisconsin businesses (Bank First, Kerry, Fricke Printing, Community First Credit Union, CRAFTS Roofing, Vagabond Creative Studio, Shoto Conservation Club, Sauve's Auto, Briess, Shoreline Credit Union, Lakeside Foods); competitive grants from public agencies and foundations (US Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, WDNR Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, The West Foundation, The Kallies Foundation); planned giving and endowment contributions; and fundraising events (heiknbrew hike-n-brew fundraiser, Bird Breakfast & Migration Celebration, Candlelight Night, Enchanted Forest). Go-to-market is primarily regional, with school program driving times spanning Manitowoc (15 min), Sheboygan (40 min), Green Bay (45 min), and the Fox Valley (60 min).

Name

Woodland Dunes

Legal name

Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve, Inc.

Website

https://woodlanddunes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Woodland Dunes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 1,500-acre nature preserve in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, delivering environmental education programs, conservation research, and habitat restoration to schools, families, and community members in northeast Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education & Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation & Research Lodges (Citizen Science, Field Stations with Guests) (THAAAHAJ), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Nature preserve
• Conservation programs
• Wildlife habitat
• Citizen science

Headquarters

HQ city

Two Rivers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Individual and household memberships supporting the preserve with benefits including quarterly Dunesletter publication, email updates, gift shop discounts, and member pricing on programs and events.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting the preserve, nature education programs, trail maintenance, and habitat conservation.
3. Corporate Membership: Business memberships providing environmental education support, preserve access, and trail maintenance funding from corporate partners.
4. School Program Fees: Field trip fees at $3 per student with minimum of $25, covering environmental education experiences for school groups.
5. Summer Camp Fees: Age-differentiated camp programs charging $25-$65 per session for members and non-members, covering nature education and outdoor activities for children ages 4-16.
6. Planned Giving and Endowments: Bequests, endowment contributions, life income agreements, and charitable remainder trusts providing long-term financial sustainability.
7. Special Events: Fundraising events such as heiknbrew (hike-n-brew) featuring craft brews, wine, food, and live music to support education programs and conservation.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 1,500-acre nature preserve between Two Rivers and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It delivers environmental education (school programs, summer camps, family and adult programs), habitat conservation and restoration projects, and community science initiatives funded through memberships, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nature organization offering a unified portfolio of educational and conservation programs centered on its 1,500-acre preserve between Two Rivers and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The core offerings include the Nature Center & Preserve itself, paired with structured Education Programs (school programs, summer camps, family programs, adult education, and group programs), Conservation Services (research & monitoring, community science, and active restoration projects), and Support Services (membership, corporate membership, planned giving, and volunteer opportunities). The organization also publishes the weekly Nature Blog 'Ripples From the Dunes' and hosts seasonal events. Together, these programs serve over 3,500 students, adults, and families annually while protecting globally significant ridge-and-swale habitat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,500+ area students, adults and families served annually through environmental education programs
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Henry Wetland Preserve restoration through WDNR's Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust (WWCT). Also partner in Bald Eagle Nest Watch citizen science program and bumble bee monitoring through Bumble Bee Brigade.
• Wisconsin Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wild rice restoration effort in Two Rivers along West Twin River, working to restore native plant species and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
• University of Wisconsin-Green BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in wild rice restoration project along West Twin River.
• Ducks UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner in wild rice restoration effort along West Twin River for cultural and habitat enhancement purposes.
• Shedd AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Karen Murchie at Shedd Aquarium leads sucker migration monitoring network; Woodland Dunes staff participating since 2019 in climate change research on fish migration timing.
• Birds CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaborative research network operator of Motus Wildlife Tracking System. Woodland Dunes hosts two Motus receivers, among first stations in Wisconsin.
• Southern Wisconsin Bird AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly Madison Audubon. Partner in Bald Eagle Nest Watch citizen science program with Wisconsin DNR to monitor eagle populations statewide. Woodland Dunes is area lead for Manitowoc County.
• International Crane FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Annual Midwest Crane Count, allowing monitoring of crane abundance and distribution for conservation purposes. Woodland Dunes coordinates Manitowoc County participation.
• Stantec Consulting ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental contracting group hired to design, construct, and establish Henry Wetland Preserve restoration project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wehr Nature Center: Milwaukee-area nature center managed in partnership with Milwaukee County Parks, delivering K-12 environmental education, summer camps, and family programming on a comparable preserved-habitat footprint.
• Retzer Nature Center: Wisconsin nature center (county-operated) offering school programs, family programs, summer camps, and trail-based recreation on a similarly sized preserve, with a comparable mix of public-facing nature education and habitat management.
• Schlitz Audubon Nature Center: Wisconsin nonprofit nature center with school programs, summer camps, family programs, citizen science, and membership funding — directly comparable programmatic and revenue mix to Woodland Dunes.
• Heckrodt Wetland Reserve: Wisconsin nonprofit nature preserve focused on wetland education, school field trips, summer camps, and volunteer-driven conservation — overlapping directly with Woodland Dunes' school programs, summer camps, and wetland stewardship.
• Riveredge Nature Center: Wisconsin-based nonprofit nature center with similar scope: 350+ acres of preserved habitat, K-12 school programs, summer camps, family programs, citizen science, and membership-driven funding. Highly comparable operating model and regional footprint.

Others

• Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin: Wisconsin nonprofit that administers state conservation grants (C.D. Besadny Conservation Grants) and funds projects like Woodland Dunes' Forked Aster Ridge restoration; a key grantmaking peer/funder in the same ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• National Audubon Society: National bird-focused conservation nonprofit with Important Bird Area programs, citizen science (e.g., Christmas Bird Count), education programming, and chapter-based membership — directly overlapping Woodland Dunes' IBA status and educational mission.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global land and water conservation nonprofit with a Wisconsin chapter and similar land-protection, restoration, and donor-driven model; far larger in scale but operates the same underlying 'protect land, fundraise, steward' thesis.
• Ducks Unlimited: Large wetland and waterfowl conservation nonprofit partnering with WDNR and Wisconsin Sea Grant on habitat projects; comparable wetland-restoration and grant-funded operating model.

Regional players

• International Crane Foundation: Wisconsin-based global crane conservation nonprofit; already an active research partner of Woodland Dunes (sponsor of Midwest Crane Count). Closely aligned wetland-and-bird conservation mission and Wisconsin footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@woodlanddunesnaturecenterp7507
• Facebookfacebook.com/Woodland-Dunes-Nature-Center-and-Preserve-101537573056
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woodland-dunes-nature-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Woodland Dunes