What Earthplace does

Earthplace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1958 and headquartered at 10 Woodside Lane, Westport, Connecticut, where it operates a 62-acre wildlife sanctuary — the largest open space in Westport — alongside a 22,000 square-foot Environmental Learning Center, trails, a 125-seat amphitheater, and 50+ animal ambassadors. The organization serves Fairfield County through four interlocking program areas: a NAEYC-accredited nature-based preschool (established 1967), youth and family programming (summer camp, vacation day camp, after-school, scouts), Harbor Watch (a Connecticut Department of Health-certified water quality research program founded in 1986 monitoring 250+ sites), and a public nature sanctuary with admission, special events, and venue rentals.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: annual memberships (Family, Individual, Senior/Student, Caregiver tiers with reciprocal benefits at 100+ nature centers), preschool tuition and camp/program registration fees (e.g., $120–$190/day vacation day camp, $5–$10 admission), venue rental for weddings, corporate events, and birthday parties ($450–$500 for parties up to 16 children), corporate sponsorships, individual donations and foundation grants, and animal sponsorship programs. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by A. Morris (Mo) Tooker, with Executive Director Amee Borys (appointed 2025) and a leadership team spanning early childhood education, environmental research, finance, development, and marketing. Distribution is primarily on-site at the Woodside Lane campus, supplemented by off-site school and scout outreach, municipal partnerships through Harbor Watch, and a community-led GTM reliant on earned media, email marketing, and local events.

Recent strategic activity includes a 2025 leadership transition, a five-year NAEYC re-accreditation with perfect scores across all ten standards in 2025, an in-progress Birds of Prey enclosure reconstruction funded in part by Saugatuck Financial, a 2024 on-site classroom build, and a 2023 Harbor Watch research vessel. Marketing channels center on the earthplace.org website, Constant Contact email, social media, local news coverage, and annual community events (Cocktails & Clams, Toast to the Trees, Moth Ball, Woodside Bash).

Name

Earthplace

Legal name

Earthplace, Inc.

Website

https://earthplace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Earthplace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nature center in Westport, Connecticut operating a 62-acre wildlife sanctuary, NAEYC-accredited preschool, youth and family camps, and Harbor Watch water quality research program serving Fairfield County residents and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Education and Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Viewing Hides, Observation Towers & Birding Sites (Managed Access) (THAAAFAE), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Nature education programs
• Wildlife sanctuary
• Water quality monitoring
• Nature-based preschool
• Summer camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Westport

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership program offering free admission, early camp registration, discounts, and reciprocal benefits at nature centers
2. Program Fees: Revenue from educational programs including preschool tuition, summer camp registration, vacation day camp, school visits, scouts programs, and after-school programs
3. Venue Rentals: Rental revenue from weddings, birthday parties, outdoor venue rentals, and corporate events
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from businesses supporting Harbor Watch, events, animal care, and general operations
5. Donations and Grants: Donor-supported nonprofit funding including individual donations, foundation grants, and government grants for environmental programs
6. Animal Sponsorship: Individual animal sponsorship programs where supporters fund care of specific animals

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Earthplace operates a 62-acre wildlife sanctuary in Westport, Connecticut delivering nature-based education through a NAEYC-accredited preschool, summer and vacation day camps, school and scout programs, family and adult nature programs, and venue rentals. Its Harbor Watch subsidiary conducts scientific water quality monitoring for Long Island Sound and Connecticut waterways, providing longitudinal environmental data and student research training. The organization sustains itself through memberships, program fees, donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Earthplace is a nonprofit nature center in Westport, Connecticut offering a comprehensive portfolio of nature-based programs and services. The core offerings include NAEYC-accredited Earthplace Preschool (established 1967), Summer Camp and Vacation Day Camp programs, and Nature Programs encompassing drop-off programs for kids/teens, family events, adult programs, school visits, and scout programs. The organization operates the 62-acre Nature Sanctuary with trails and maintains a Birds of Prey Exhibit currently undergoing reconstruction (2025-2026). Harbor Watch provides water quality research and monitoring for Connecticut waterways. Additional services include venue rentals for weddings and events, birthday parties, membership programs, animal sponsorship, and seasonal events like Moth Ball, Toast to the Trees, and Cocktails & Clams fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Earthplace Preschool NAEYC-accredited nature-based preschool program established in 1967, offering full-time and part-time classes for children ages 2-5.
• Summer Camp Summer camp program for children offering nature-based sessions and activities at the 62-acre sanctuary, with online registration via CampDoc.
• Vacation Day Camp Day camp for children ages 3-12 when school is closed, offering nature-based activities, trail exploration, and animal encounters.
• Nature Programs Comprehensive nature education programs including drop-off programs for kids and teens, after-school programs, family events, adult programs, school visits, and scout programs.
• Family Programs Family-oriented activities including pick-your-own bouquet, canoe paddles, hikes, butterfly walks, community volunteer days, and eco-explorers programs.
• Adult Programs Programs for adults including naturalist hikes, craft and sip sessions, canoe paddles, butterfly walks, environmental learning series, and mindfulness programs.
• Harbor Watch Water quality research and monitoring program founded in 1986, providing data and expertise to safeguard Connecticut waterways through river monitoring, pollution track-down projects, embayment studies, and student education programs.
• Birds of Prey Exhibit Live bird exhibit featuring resident birds of prey including bald eagles, barred owls, great-horned owls, screech owl, turkey vulture, black vulture, red-tailed hawks, raven, and crow.
• Birthday Parties Nature-themed birthday party packages including various naturalist-led programs for children ages 3 and up, with options for indoor/outdoor venues, traveling parties, and add-ons like campfire and pizza.
• Wedding Venue Rental Outdoor wedding venue rental featuring 120-seat wooded amphitheater, picnic grove with string lighting, and various tables and A/V equipment options.
• Outdoor Venue Rentals Venue rental services for events accommodating 15-150 people, including amphitheater, picnic grove, and options for nature programs and guided trail walks.
• Membership Program Annual membership tiers offering free admission to Animal Hall & Natureplace, early summer camp registration, event discounts, shop discounts, newsletter, and reciprocal benefits at over 100 nature centers.
• Animal Sponsorship Program allowing supporters to sponsor resident animals including birds of prey, reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates, providing enrichment, food, and veterinary care.
• Nature Sanctuary & Trails 62-acre wildlife sanctuary with about two miles of trails including Meadow Grass Trail, Swamp Loop Trail, High Woods Trail, Newman-Woodward Trail, and Wadsworth Trail.
• Canoe Paddles Guided canoe excursions along the Saugatuck River searching for osprey, egrets, turtles, and other wildlife, for ages 3+.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000+ high school students, college interns, and adult volunteers trained in water quality protection
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Copps Island OystersmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor for Cocktails & Clams 40th anniversary fundraiser benefitting Harbor Watch
• Brown and Caldwell, King Industries, Veolia, Tzedakah House, Outdoor Sports CenterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsors for Cocktails & Clams 2026 fundraiser
• Multiple Craft Breweries (Athletic, Barn Brew, CT Beer, East Rock, Elicit, Greenwich Brewing, New England Brewing, NewSylum, Nod Hill, Angry Orchard)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Beer and beverage tasting sponsors for Toast to the Trees 2026 event
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 72coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Since 2006, partnered to monitor water quality of Norwalk Harbor and Norwalk River. Auxiliary continues to conduct monitoring today
• Trinity SolarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrinity Solar incentive program where Earthplace receives $100 when someone schedules a consultation and mentions Earthplace, $1,000 if they install solar panels, and $500 when referred friends install panels
• Sustainable WestportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with local organizations to inspire and empower residents toward sustainability. Earthplace gift shop offers Sustainable Westport composting starter kits
• MOWGreenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEco-friendly landscaping partner using battery-powered equipment with no gasoline, pollution, or noise. Referenced as preferred lawn care alternative
• Save the Sound (Unified Water Study)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarbor Watch is an active participant in the Unified Water Study led by Save the Sound, a collaborative study across dozens of organizations to understand Long Island Sound water quality
• Wilton High School Marine Biology ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term partnership where students participate in Norwalk Harbor trawl studies conducted May through October
• Town of FairfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to install litter boom on Rooster River to intercept trash and debris before it reaches Long Island Sound
• UConn, Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Northeastern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborators on salt marsh research projects with Harbor Watch
• REIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerREI contributed to Partrick Wetlands development through their Co-op Impact program

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Regional players

• The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk: A regional aquarium and Long Island Sound-focused education center in Norwalk, CT that partners with Earthplace's Harbor Watch on water-quality studies. Closely aligned on coastal conservation, water-quality monitoring, and student research programs.

Broad incumbents

• Mass Audubon: The largest Massachusetts-based conservation nonprofit operating wildlife sanctuaries, summer camps, preschool, and education programs across the state. Comparable operating model at significantly larger scale and geographic footprint.
• Audubon Connecticut: The statewide Audubon chapter operating sanctuaries, education centers, and conservation programs across Connecticut. Comparable mission (wildlife, habitat, environmental education) with a broader portfolio across multiple sites.
• The Nature Conservancy (Connecticut Chapter): A global conservation organization focused on land and water protection, including Long Island Sound restoration that benefits Earthplace's Harbor Watch. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but a major peer in regional conservation funding and programming.
• Roger Williams Park Zoo: A mid-sized urban zoo and education center in Providence, RI combining animal ambassadors, summer camps, school programs, and venue events. Comparable on the animal-ambassador/education model with broader species scope and more visitors.
• The Trustees of Reservations: A Massachusetts-based conservation nonprofit managing 120+ properties with trails, education programming, events, and membership. Comparable as a sanctuary operator and environmental-education nonprofit on a larger portfolio scale.

Emerging players

• Wolf Conservation Center: A smaller New York-area nonprofit operating a wildlife facility with animal ambassadors, school and scout programming, and species conservation focus. Partially comparable on the animal-ambassador/exhibition programming model but with narrower mission and smaller scale.

Direct peers

• Connecticut Audubon Society: A Connecticut-based nonprofit operating wildlife sanctuaries, nature centers, and conservation programs with bird-of-prey ambassadors, environmental education, and school/scout programming. Directly comparable to Earthplace as a regional nature-education nonprofit with protected land and bird-focused exhibits in the same state.
• Stamford Museum & Nature Center: A nearby Fairfield County nonprofit combining a working farm, nature center, animal ambassadors, trails, preschool, summer camp, and event rentals on a multi-acre campus. Closest functional peer to Earthplace in terms of operating model, geographic market, and integrated programming.
• New Canaan Nature Center: A 40-acre nonprofit nature center in nearby New Canaan, CT running preschool, summer camp, scout programs, school visits, animal exhibits, and seasonal programming. Very comparable scale, mission mix, and demographic focus to Earthplace.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/epndc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Earthplace