Crossroads At Big Creek

What Crossroads At Big Creek does

Crossroads at Big Creek is a 501(c)(3) non-profit nature preserve and environmental learning center headquartered in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, founded in 1992 by the Sturgeon Bay Education Foundation. The organization stewards approximately 200 acres across three preserves—Big Creek Preserve (125 acres), The Cove Preserve (9 acres), and Ida Bay Preserve (64 acres)—with trails open to the public 24 hours per day, free of charge. Its stated mission is to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages through education, research, land restoration, and outdoor experiences.

The organization's core infrastructure includes the 14,000+ square foot Collins Learning Center with a five-station science laboratory and three exhibit galleries (Great Lakes Ecosystem, Escarpment Display, Wisconsin Wildlife), and an Astronomy Campus featuring the Leif Everson Observatory housing a PlaneWave Instruments 17-inch f/6.8 Corrected Dall-Kirkam Astrograph on an L-500 mount (owned by the School District of Sturgeon Bay), the StarGarden night-sky viewing area, a Human Sundial, and the Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center. Programming is free of charge and encompasses K-12 field trips aligned with Wisconsin Standards for Science and NGSS, the Summer at Crossroads series featuring self-guided Trail Tales hikes and naturalist-led Journeys, the Ski-For-Free equipment lending program, weekly Habitat Healers volunteer restoration sessions, and collaborative research with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Environmental Research and Innovation Center on water quality monitoring at 31 Door County beaches since 2004.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of individual donations, individual and business memberships (business memberships tiered at $250, $2,500, and above), facility rentals of the Collins Learning Center and outdoor event spaces, the annual Trails & Ales fundraiser, and grants from federal and regional funders including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Fund for Lake Michigan, Door County Community Foundation, and the Frog and Toad Fund. Professional staff of 11-50 includes an Executive Director (Sam Koyen, joined October 2023), Land and Facilities Manager, Business Manager, and Summer Naturalist, supported by a board of directors and a substantial volunteer base. Distribution is event- and community-driven via the website, email newsletter, blog, YouTube, Facebook, photo contests, and recurring community events.

Name

Crossroads At Big Creek

Legal name

Crossroads at Big Creek

Website

https://crossroadsatbigcreek.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Crossroads at Big Creek is a 501(c)(3) non-profit nature preserve and learning center in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, operating 200 acres across three preserves. It delivers free environmental education, research, and outdoor recreation programs to the Door County community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Preserve and Environmental Education

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Riparian & Watershed Reforestation (Streambank Stabilization) (AFAMACAK)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Nature preserve trails
• Citizen science research
• Habitat restoration services
• Outdoor learning facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Sturgeon Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting free programming and trail access. Donors can make one-time or recurring donations.
2. Annual Memberships: Annual membership program for individuals supporting the organization. Benefits include recognition and connection to the Crossroads community.
3. Business Memberships: Business membership program with levels ranging from $250 to $2,500 and above. Provides business visibility and community engagement opportunities for sponsors.
4. Facility Rentals: Rental of Collins Learning Center spaces including auditorium, lab, kitchen, lower level classroom for weddings, memorials, meetings, and events. Also outdoor spaces including amphitheater, council ring, and astronomy center.
5. Special Events: Trails & Ales annual fundraiser with ticket sales ($35 advance, $40 at gate) supporting programming and outreach. Additional fundraising through raffles and sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Crossroads At Big Creek is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates three contiguous nature preserves (Big Creek, The Cove, and Ida Bay) totaling approximately 200 acres in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, offering free public trail access year-round. It delivers environmental education programs for K-12 schools and the broader community, supports citizen science and university-partnered research, and hosts public events and facility rentals from the Collins Learning Center and Astronomy Campus.

Product overview

Crossroads at Big Creek is a 501(c)(3) non-profit nature preserve and learning center offering a unified portfolio of environmental education, research, and outdoor recreation services. The core offerings include three nature preserves (Big Creek, The Cove, and Ida Bay totaling ~200 acres) with 24/7 free trail access; the Collins Learning Center providing educational facilities and exhibits; and the Astronomy Campus featuring the Leif Everson Observatory and StarGarden. The organization delivers educational programming through structured field trips aligned with science standards, seasonal programs like Summer at Crossroads with Trail Tales, and community science initiatives including water quality monitoring and species surveys. Additional offerings include venue rentals, the Ski-For-Free equipment lending program, Habitat Healers volunteer restoration work, and annual fundraising events such as Trails & Ales and the Crossroads Trail Run.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nature Preserves (Big Creek, The Cove, and Ida Bay) Three contiguous nature preserves totaling approximately 200 acres in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, offering free year-round public access for hiking, wildlife observation, and outdoor recreation. The preserves serve local residents, families, and visitors interested in native Wisconsin habitat.
• Collins Learning Center On-site educational facility used to host K-12 field trips, public lectures, community programs, and private rentals. It anchors the non-profit's formal environmental education programming and provides indoor meeting and learning space.
• Astronomy Campus with Leif Everson Observatory Outdoor astronomy facility featuring a PlaneWave Instruments 17-inch telescope inside the Leif Everson Observatory, paired with a StarGarden gathering space for public stargazing events, school programming, and astronomical lectures.
• School and Group Field Trip Programs Guided environmental education field trips for K-12 schools, homeschool groups, and youth organizations, delivered at the Collins Learning Center and across the preserves. Programs emphasize hands-on science, ecology, and outdoor learning tied to curriculum standards.
• Summer and Seasonal Nature Programs Seasonal programming series including Trail Tales, Reading Rocks, Nature Tots and Trails, Open Door Birding Club, Camp Wild Bird, and the Summer Naturalist-led activities, designed for families, young children, and adult learners throughout the warmer months.
• Ski-For-Free Cross-Country Ski and Snowshoe Program Winter program offering free use of cross-country skis and snowshoes for visitors, enabling year-round recreation across the preserves when snow conditions allow.
• Trails & Ales Annual Fundraiser Ticketed annual fundraising event combining trail activities with local food and beverage, supported by named sponsorships from regional businesses. The event generates operating revenue and community visibility for the non-profit.
• Facility Rentals at the Collins Learning Center and Outdoor Spaces Rental of the Collins Learning Center and adjacent outdoor spaces for private events, meetings, and gatherings. Available to community members, businesses, and organizations seeking a nature-based venue.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 volunteer hours contributed to land restoration
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered foundational, supporting and core.

• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)foundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Original owner of Ida Bay Preserve. Transferred the parcel to Crossroads in 2014, along with an endowment for its ongoing care. The preserve was originally donated to TNC by Ida Bay.
• Leadership Door CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Leadership Door County Class of 2012 created the Human Sundial, a 249-square-foot analemmatic sundial installation at the Astronomy Campus.
• University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Environmental Research and Innovation Center (ERIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Since 2004, the Collins Learning Center has been the summer laboratory home for UW-Oshkosh ERIC which, in collaboration with Door County Health Department and Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department, monitors water quality at 31 beaches. The project includes collection and analysis of beach water to identify main sources of pollution and produce predictive models.
• School District of Sturgeon BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboratively manages the Astronomy Campus with Crossroads and Door Peninsula Astronomical Society. Owns the Leif Everson Observatory which houses a PlaneWave Instruments 17-inch telescope. Provides access to astronomical facilities for educational purposes.
• Door Peninsula Astronomical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboratively manages the Astronomy Campus. Operates the Leif Everson Observatory (through rental/use arrangements), StarGarden, and Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center. Also owns and operates an inflatable planetarium. Coordinates programming and outreach activities.
• Door County Historical SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage Village at Big Creek shares the main campus parking area with Crossroads and is operated by the Door County Historical Society. Provides historical education components integrated with the nature preserve experience.
• Door County Health DepartmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with UW-Oshkosh ERIC and Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department on water quality monitoring at Door County beaches.
• Door County Soil and Water Conservation DepartmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with UW-Oshkosh ERIC and Door County Health Department on water quality monitoring. Staff member Brian Forest also serves on Crossroads' land and facilities committee.
• Shedd AquariumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Karen Murchie of Shedd Aquarium conducts ongoing Great Lake fish migration research at Big Creek and other sites since 2017.
• The Nature Conservancy (Door County)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMike Grimm of The Nature Conservancy conducts bird surveys at Crossroads and provides species monitoring expertise.
• Ecological Restoration Services (Gary Casper)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGary Casper provides professional breeding bird monitoring and amphibian monitoring services and reports for Crossroads preserves.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Potawatomi State Park: Wisconsin state park in Sturgeon Bay offering trails, nature programs, and observatory programming. Closely comparable in immediate geography and serves a similar visitor base, but state-operated.
• Newport State Park: Wisconsin state park in Door County offering free trails and dark-sky viewing. Comparable geography and free public trail model, though state-operated rather than non-profit driven.

Broad incumbents

• National Audubon Society: National bird and habitat conservation organization with local chapters and centers offering education, citizen science, and preserves. Comparable mission areas and competes for nature-based education and conservation funding.
• Sierra Club Foundation: National environmental non-profit supporting conservation, education, and outdoor experiences. Comparable mission around outdoor access and environmental education, but operates at much larger scale and competes for donor mindshare.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation non-profit that originally owned and transferred the Ida Bay Preserve to Crossroads (2014). Comparable mission but vastly larger scale; competes for the same donor and grant dollars.

Direct peers

• Schlitz Audubon Nature Center: Wisconsin nature center offering trails, environmental education, and research programs. Directly comparable as a Midwest non-profit combining preserve access with structured K-12 programming and volunteer-driven restoration.
• Door County Land Trust: Regional land trust focused on preserving natural lands and providing public access in Door County. Closely comparable as a Door County conservation non-profit with overlapping donor and partner ecosystems.
• Woodland Dunes Nature Center: Two Rivers, Wisconsin nature center offering trails, school programs, and habitat restoration. Comparable scale, programming mix, and Wisconsin non-profit model to Crossroads.
• Aldo Leopold Foundation: Baraboo, Wisconsin-based non-profit operating the Leopold-Pine Farm Important Bird Area with education, land restoration, and research programs. Comparable mission and Wisconsin-based conservation/education focus.
• The Ridges Sanctuary: Door County, Wisconsin land conservancy and nature preserve offering trails, education, and research programs. Highly comparable given shared geography, non-profit status, and dual education/conservation mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CrossroadsAtBigCreek

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Crossroads At Big Creek