Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center

What Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center does

Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center (NWDC) is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 through the merger of two organizations with 50 combined years of nature programming experience. It operates two campuses in Southern Colorado — a River Campus along the Arkansas River in Pueblo and a 611-acre Mountain Campus at Pueblo Mountain Park in Beulah featuring a National Register-listed WPA-era Horseshoe Lodge — delivering environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation, and outdoor recreation. The portfolio includes the Raptor Center (Southern Colorado's only dedicated raptor rehabilitation facility, operating since 1981 and admitting 250-300+ injured birds annually), Earthkeeper Nature School (licensed preschool/forest kindergarten for ages 4-7), the Outdoor Explorations Program (state-funded homeschool enrichment K-12 via ERBOCES chartering through Alpine International Preparatory Academy), Earth Studies (5th-grade programming for Pueblo School District 60), licensed summer camps, guided hikes, a low-ropes challenge course, monthly AVAS bird walks, and Adopt-a-Raptor symbolic adoption tiers.

NWDC engages over 20,000 participants annually and monetizes through a hybrid of earned and contributed revenue: tiered memberships ($25-$75/year, plus $15/month sustaining), tuition ($3,000-$5,400/year for nature school), facility rentals ($50-$100/hour across five venues), tiered Adopt-a-Raptor donations ($50-$2,000), corporate sponsorships, individual donations (including vehicle donations through Cars Helping Charities), Colorado Gives Day participation, and grants (notably Colorado Lottery funding for free public raptor tours from October 2025 through September 2026). Distribution is community-led and event-driven, leveraging email newsletters (Ranger Ramblings monthly, Nature Journal quarterly), Facebook, Instagram, signature events (Vulture Day, Winter Solstice Celebration), and a dense partnership ecosystem (Arkansas Valley Audubon Society, Pueblo Zoo, Boys & Girls Clubs, Lake Pueblo State Park, Generation Wild Coalition). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Interim Executive Director Caren Ermel, with Diana Miller heading the Raptor Center, Tami Montoya directing Earthkeeper Nature School, and Noel Zant directing youth and community programs.

Operational status is active but currently disrupted: the Mountain Campus at Pueblo Mountain Park is closed due to the Aspen Acres Fire, while the River Campus and Raptor Center remain operational with free parking introduced in January 2025 to expand equitable access.

Name

Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center

Legal name

Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center

Website

https://hikeandlearn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center is a Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating two campuses that deliver environmental education, raptor rehabilitation, nature-based early childhood and homeschool programming, summer camps, and facility rentals across Southern Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Wildlife Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Wildlife Viewing Hides, Observation Towers & Birding Sites (Managed Access) (THAAAFAE)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Wildlife rehabilitation services
• Nature-based preschool
• Raptor rescue care
• Outdoor recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pueblo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual membership program with multiple tiers (Individual $45, Senior $25, Two-Person $50, Family $65-$75, Sustaining $15/month) offering benefits including newsletters, discounts, and reciprocal ANCA benefits.
2. Adopt-a-Raptor Program: Symbolic adoption program with tiers from $50 (Friend) to $2,000 (Conservationist), providing certificates, photos, t-shirts, tours, and exclusive experiences in exchange for donations supporting raptor care.
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations solicited online, by phone, email, or mail. Includes Colorado Gives Day participation, employer matching gifts, planned giving, stock donations, and vehicle donations through Cars Helping Charities partnership.
4. Facility Rentals: River Campus venues rented for events including weddings, corporate events, birthdays, reunions: Riverfront Room ($100/hour or $600/day), River Deck ($70/hr), Riverside Pavilion ($60/hr), Plaza ($50/hr), Herb Garden ($50/hr). Mountain Campus Horseshoe Lodge available for retreats.
5. Earthkeeper Nature School Tuition: Nature preschool and forest kindergarten program with tuition: $3,000/year for 2 half-days/week or $5,400/year for 4 half-days/week, payable in 10 monthly installments. $200 enrollment fee per child.
6. Outdoor Explorations Program: Free, state-funded nature enrichment for homeschool students K-12, provided through partnership with Alpine International Preparatory Academy and chartering through ERBOCES. Families paying out of pocket is an option if OEP is not their only enrichment program.
7. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual corporate partnerships, event sponsorships (Vulture Day, Winter Solstice), and program sponsorships for raptor rehabilitation, trail stewardship, and youth scholarships. In-kind donations of materials, professional services, and equipment also accepted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center is a nonprofit environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation organization that operates two campuses (River Campus in Pueblo and Mountain Campus in Beulah) offering nature-based early childhood education, homeschool enrichment, summer camps, school field trips, raptor rehabilitation and education, public raptor tours, facility rentals for events, memberships, and volunteer programs across Southern Colorado.

Product overview

Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center (NWDC) is a nonprofit environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation organization operating as a multi-service nature center with two campuses. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including the Raptor Center (Southern Colorado's only raptor rehabilitation facility since 1981), Earthkeeper Nature School (nature preschool and forest kindergarten), Outdoor Explorations Program (homeschool enrichment K-12), Earth Studies (school program for 5th graders), Summer Camps, Facility Rentals, Raptor Tours, School & Group Programs, Adopt-a-Raptor Program, Guided Hikes, Challenge Course, Memberships, and AVAS Bird Walks. These services are interconnected, with the Raptor Center serving as both a wildlife rehabilitation facility and an educational hub, while the nature schools and camps use both campuses as outdoor classrooms. Facility rentals provide community access to the campuses while generating revenue to support conservation efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Raptor Center Southern Colorado's only raptor rehabilitation facility (operating since 1981), providing rescue, clinical care, and release of injured, ill, and orphaned birds of prey. Also houses non-releasable ambassador birds that participate in educational programs.
• Earthkeeper Nature School Nature-based early childhood program combining forest-school-inspired curriculum with play, fresh air, and child-led learning. Includes Nature Preschool and Forest Kindergarten for ages 4-7, licensed under Colorado Department of Human Services.
• Outdoor Explorations Program (OEP) Free, state-funded nature-based enrichment program for homeschool students in grades K-12 (ages 5-17), meeting once weekly for 34 weeks. Covers fishing, archery, animal tracking, and ecological restoration, chartered through Alpine International Preparatory Academy and ERBOCES.
• Earth Studies Outdoor-based nature education program for 5th grade students of Pueblo District 60, exploring different life zones and ecosystems at the Mountain Campus and River Campus, with lessons aligned to state and district educational standards.
• Summer Camps Licensed, professionally led summer camps for children kindergarten through 10th grade, including Fish Tales Day Camp, Raptor Camp, Fish Master's Quest, Raptor Naturalist Camp, Nature Explorers, Nature Explorers II, and overnight Camp W.I.L.D.
• Facility Rentals Venue rentals at River Campus and Mountain Campus, including Riverfront Room, River Deck, Riverside Pavilion, Plaza, Herb Garden, and Horseshoe Lodge, for weddings, corporate events, retreats, reunions, and community gatherings.
• Raptor Tours Public tours of the Raptor Center offered twice monthly on Saturdays (free from October 2025 through September 2026 thanks to Colorado Lottery funding), plus private tour options, featuring up-close encounters with hawks, owls, eagles, and vultures.
• School & Group Programs Outdoor education programs for schools, scout troops, and community groups aligned with Colorado State Standards, including field trips K-12, early childhood programs, overnight experiences, low-ropes challenge course team-building, and raptor education.
• Adopt-a-Raptor Program Symbolic adoption program supporting raptor ambassador birds, with tiers from $50 (Friend) to $2,000 (Conservationist) offering certificates, photos, t-shirts, private tours, and exclusive experiences.
• Guided Hikes Guided nature hikes at River Campus and Mountain Campus, offering educational outdoor experiences led by NWDC rangers.
• Challenge Course Low-ropes challenge course at the Mountain Campus for team-building activities that strengthen communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
• Memberships Annual membership program with tiers including Individual ($45), Senior ($25), Two-Person ($50), Family up to 4 ($65), Family up to 6 ($75), and Sustaining ($15/month), offering newsletters, discounts, and ANCA reciprocal benefits.
• AVAS Bird Walks Monthly public bird walks at River Campus, sponsored by Arkansas Valley Audubon Society on the 4th Saturday of each month, documenting observed bird species and providing community education on local bird populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250+ raptors rehabilitated annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Crystal Moon WitcheryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 December 2024Community contributor for land and solstice acknowledgment at Winter Solstice Celebration event.
• CSU-Pueblo Astronomical SocietyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 December 2024Community contributor for land and solstice acknowledgment at Winter Solstice Celebration event.
• Schuster's (cookies)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 December 2024In-kind donor providing cookies for Winter Solstice Celebration event refreshments.
• Pueblo City CouncilminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 December 2024Pueblo City Councilor Sarah Martinez participated in owl release ceremony at Winter Solstice Celebration, lending official support to event.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo CountyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2024Community partner providing educational outreach table at annual Vulture Day celebration event, engaging families with nature activities and conservation education.
• Lake Pueblo State ParkminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2024Community partner providing educational outreach table at annual Vulture Day celebration event.
• Pueblo ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 September 2024Conservation collaboration partner presenting educational exhibits such as 'Endangered Species: Here and Around the World' at Rawlings Library. Includes ZOOAlive teen program collaboration for research and creativity projects.
• Arkansas Valley Audubon Society (AVAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVAS sponsors and hosts monthly public bird walks at NWDC River Campus on the 4th Saturday of each month. One of 500 Audubon chapters around the country, AVAS promotes conservation through education, political action, and field activities focusing on birds, wildlife, and habitat in Southern Colorado.
• Alpine International Preparatory AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter school partner for Outdoor Explorations Program (OEP), a nature-based enrichment for homeschool students ages 5-17 meeting weekly during the school year. OEP is state-funded through this partnership.
• Education reEnvisioned Board of Cooperative Education Services (ERBOCES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChartering partner for Outdoor Explorations Program enrollment. OEP enrollment is processed through ERBOCES, allowing students to select 'AIPA (Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center, Pueblo)' as their school option.
• Rawlings Library (Pueblo)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner hosting NWDC/Pueblo Zoo conservation exhibit 'Endangered Species: Here and Around the World' on second floor throughout September 2024.
• Cars Helping CharitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation program partner handling all details of car, truck, RV, boat, or other vehicle donations including free towing and maximizing donation value. Proceeds benefit NWDC's wildlife rehabilitation, education, and conservation efforts.
• Generation Wild CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year campaign designed to reconnect kids, youth, and young adults to the outdoor world. Gianna Carleo serves as Generation Wild's Pueblo Region Coalition Coordinator, housed at NWDC.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Denver Zoo: Denver Zoo is a large AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo and conservation organization in Colorado offering wildlife education, animal care, and conservation programs. It is a broader incumbent in the regional wildlife education and conservation space, with greater scale and a wider portfolio of programs.
• The Nature Conservancy - Colorado: The Nature Conservancy's Colorado chapter is a large global conservation organization working on land and water protection in Colorado. It shares NWDC's nature stewardship mission but operates at a much larger scale, primarily through land conservation deals rather than visitor-facing education.
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a nonprofit zoo in Colorado Springs focused on animal welfare, education, and conservation. It serves a similar Colorado family and education audience and competes for regional school field trip and membership dollars, making it a comparable broad incumbent.
• National Audubon Society: National Audubon Society is a large national nonprofit focused on bird and habitat conservation with a network of 500+ chapters including AVAS. It is a broad incumbent in the same conservation and education space as NWDC, with significantly greater scale and resources.

Regional players

• Rocky Mountain Wild: Rocky Mountain Wild (Center for Biological Diversity) is a regional nonprofit protecting imperiled wildlife and wildlands in the Southern Rockies, with strong advocacy and education programs. It overlaps with NWDC in wildlife conservation focus but emphasizes policy and species protection rather than visitor-facing education.

Others

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Colorado Parks and Wildlife is the state agency managing Colorado's state parks and wildlife, including Lake Pueblo State Park, a partner of NWDC. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant that provides park infrastructure, wildlife expertise, and educational resources that complement NWDC's programming.

Direct peers

• Pueblo Zoo: Pueblo Zoo is a nonprofit zoological park in Pueblo, CO offering animal exhibits, conservation programs, and education. It is a direct peer in mission (wildlife conservation education) and geography, and the two organizations are formal collaboration partners on ZOOAlive and educational exhibits.
• Bird Conservancy of the Rockies: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is a regional nonprofit dedicated to bird conservation through research, monitoring, and education across the Rocky Mountain region. It is highly comparable to NWDC in mission, regional footprint, and educational programming on birds and habitats.
• Hawk Watch International: Hawk Watch International is a nonprofit raptor conservation organization focused on raptor monitoring, research, and public education. It is the most direct mission-aligned peer to NWDC's Raptor Center given its raptor-specific focus and educational programming model.
• Arkansas Valley Audubon Society: AVAS is a regional Audubon chapter that hosts monthly bird walks at NWDC's River Campus and promotes bird conservation through education and field activities. It is a direct peer in bird-focused community education and an active partner organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nwdcco
• Instagraminstagram.com/nwdcco/?hl=en

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center