Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center

What Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center does

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1956 and headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It operates a 300+ acre campus along Lookout Creek and the western slopes of Lookout Mountain, featuring over 12 miles of walking trails and a 3.4-mile loop drive. The organization was formed through the December 31, 2018 merger of the original Reflection Riding Land Conservation Trust (chartered September 1956) and the Chattanooga Nature Center (established in the late 1970s), and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under EIN #58-1311080.

The core product portfolio centers on the arboretum grounds, a native plant nursery, and wildlife conservation programs including participation in the endangered American red wolf breeding program. Educational programming comprises summer camps (weekdays June 1 – July 31), environmental field trips, the Wauhatchie Forest School, the Nature Playscape, the Native Landscape Apprenticeship, and a Biodiversity Inventory citizen science project on iNaturalist that has documented over 2,600 species with 750+ contributors. The organization also offers a Mobile Guide for self-directed visits, Behind the Scenes premium tours, and facility rentals for special events.

Revenue is generated through five diversified streams: annual memberships (with reciprocal admissions through the American Horticultural Society and Association of Nature Center Administrators), tax-deductible donations and contributions, program fees for camps, field trips, and events, native plant sales, and facility rentals. The customer base spans regional families and the general public (primary), school and educational groups, gardeners and conservationists, and event renters, with no disclosed enterprise anchor concentration. Certifications include Charity Navigator four-star rating, Candid Platinum Transparency Badge, and institutional membership in AHS and ANCA.

Name

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center

Legal name

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center

Website

https://reflectionriding.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center is a Chattanooga-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 300+ acre campus offering a native plant nursery, wildlife conservation including red wolf breeding, summer camps, field trips, and citizen science programs for regional families, schools, and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Centers and Environmental Education

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Native plant nursery
• Wildlife conservation
• Nature summer camps
• Arboretum trails

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: Annual memberships providing reciprocal admissions benefits at participating gardens and nature centers through American Horticultural Society and Association of Nature Center Administrators programs
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable contributions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
3. Program Fees: Fees for educational programs, summer camps, field trips, and special events
4. Native Plant Sales: Sale of native plants for home, office, school, or park restoration
5. Facility Rentals: Rentals and special events venue use

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center operates a 300+ acre nature preserve and arboretum in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offering public trail access, environmental education programs (summer camps, field trips, forest school), a native plant nursery, wildlife conservation including the American red wolf breeding program, and event venue rentals. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it is funded through memberships, donations, program fees, plant sales, and facility rentals.

Product overview

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center is a single, unified nonprofit nature center offering a diverse portfolio of environmental programs and facilities centered around its 300+ acre campus. The core offerings include the arboretum grounds with over 12 miles of trails and a 3.4-mile loop drive, a native plant nursery, and wildlife conservation programs. These are supported by educational programming including summer camps, environmental field trips, the Wauhatchie Forest School, and the Nature Playscape for children. The organization also offers visitor experiences such as the Mobile Guide for self-directed exploration, Behind the Scenes tours, and facility rentals for special events. Conservation initiatives include the American red wolf breeding program and a biodiversity inventory project using iNaturalist. The portfolio is unified under the mission to reconnect people with nature through accessible outdoor experiences and environmental education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center (Campus Admission & Trails) A 300+ acre nature center, arboretum, and native plant nursery located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offering public access to over 12 miles of walking trails, a 3.4-mile loop drive, gardens, and wildlife along Lookout Creek and the western slopes of Lookout Mountain. Designed for general visitors, families, and nature enthusiasts seeking outdoor recreation and education.
• Native Plant Nursery On-site nursery selling native plants for home, office, school, or park restoration, supporting local ecology and biodiversity. Available to gardeners, homeowners, schools, and conservation-minded customers.
• Summer Camp Day camp programs for children running weekdays from June 1 through July 31, offering nature-based adventure activities and environmental education at the arboretum campus. Targeted to families seeking summer programming for school-age children.
• Environmental Field Trips Educational field trip programs for school groups featuring immersive, nature-based learning experiences with hands-on activities at the 300+ acre campus. Designed for K-12 schools, teachers, and youth group organizers seeking curriculum-aligned environmental education.
• Nature Playscape An outdoor natural play area designed for children to engage in unstructured play in a nature-based environment at the arboretum campus. Aimed at families and young visitors.
• Wauhatchie Forest School A forest school program providing outdoor learning experiences for children using the natural environment as a classroom at the arboretum campus. Designed for families seeking nature-based ongoing education for their children.
• Wildlife Conservation Program Conservation initiatives including participation in the endangered American red wolf breeding program and housing non-releasable wildlife and raptors for educational purposes. Supports species recovery, public education, and on-site conservation work.
• Behind the Scenes Experience Special guided tours offering exclusive access to areas of the arboretum not typically open to the public. Targeted to members and visitors seeking deeper, curator-led experiences.
• Native Landscape Apprenticeship An apprenticeship program training individuals in native landscape management and horticultural practices, leveraging the arboretum's nursery and restoration sites as a learning environment.
• Mobile Guide A smartphone-accessible guide to the arboretum providing information about trails, plants, and wildlife during visits. Aimed at on-site visitors seeking self-guided interpretation.
• Biodiversity Inventory (iNaturalist Citizen Science Project) A citizen science initiative cataloging species on the 300+ acre campus using the iNaturalist platform, with over 2,600 species documented and contributions from over 750 participants. Open to members, visitors, and the broader public for participation via the iNaturalist app.
• Annual Membership Annual memberships providing year-round visitor benefits plus reciprocal admissions at participating gardens and nature centers through the American Horticultural Society and the Association of Nature Center Administrators networks. Designed for local families, individuals, and visiting garden enthusiasts.
• Rentals and Special Events Venue Rental of the arboretum's indoor and outdoor facilities for private events, weddings, corporate gatherings, and celebrations in a distinctive natural setting.
• Campfire Concerts and Brunch & Blooms Events Ticketed community events held on the campus, including Campfire Concerts and Brunch & Blooms programming, providing entertainment and seasonal experiences for members and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,600 species cataloged with help from 750+ community members

Named customers4 records

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chattanooga Nature CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Formal merger completed December 31, 2018, combining Reflection Riding Land Conservation Trust and the Chattanooga Nature Center into a single 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
• American Horticultural SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerReflection Riding membership includes reciprocal admissions benefits at participating gardens and nature centers through the American Horticultural Society's reciprocal admissions program.
• Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member of ANCA providing reciprocal admissions benefits at participating nature centers and access to professional network.
• iNaturalistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity science platform used for the Biodiversity Inventory project, allowing visitors to document species observations that automatically add to the project's species catalog.
• Ivy AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAC Americorps position shared between Reflection Riding and Ivy Academy, supporting environmental education, native plant stewardship, outdoor learning, and community engagement at both sites.
• ArtsBuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting opportunity fellows through ArtsBuild, such as artist Zoe Rye who documented her experience as an opportunity fellow.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Rock City Gardens: Historic Lookout Mountain attraction featuring gardens, trails, and scenic overlooks. Direct geographic peer on Lookout Mountain competing for the same Chattanooga tourist market.
• Ruby Falls: Lookout Mountain cavern attraction drawing Chattanooga tourists. Regional visitor-competition peer on Lookout Mountain, though operating in a different category (underground cavern vs. outdoor nature).

Direct peers

• Dawes Arboretum: Mid-sized Ohio arboretum operating native plant collections, hiking trails, and educational programming on a comparable acreage scale. Closely comparable in size, programming mix, and visitor model.
• Tennessee Aquarium: Major Chattanooga-based visitor attraction focused on aquatic wildlife conservation and education. Comparable as a regional nature/wildlife visitor destination sharing the same Chattanooga market and conservation-education mission.
• Nashville Zoo: Tennessee-based zoological institution running wildlife conservation (including species survival plans) and educational programming. Comparable in wildlife conservation, family/education programming, and visitor-based revenue model.
• Huntsville Botanical Garden: 112-acre botanical garden in north Alabama with native plant collections, children's programming, and reciprocal admission participation. Comparable in size, Southeastern regional scope, and educational programming mix.
• Chattahoochee Nature Center: A 127-acre nature center in Roswell, Georgia operating wildlife exhibits, native plant gardens, and environmental education programs. Highly comparable to Reflection Riding in mission mix of wildlife conservation, native plants, and K-12 environmental education.
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens: 67-acre Southeastern botanical garden offering native plant collections, educational programs, and special events. Comparable as a Southeastern garden institution serving families and schools with similar programming.

Broad incumbents

• Morton Arboretum: 1,700-acre tree-focused arboretum near Chicago with extensive trails, education programs, and a native plant nursery. Comparable as a multi-program arboretum combining outdoor recreation, conservation, and plant sales.
• Atlanta Botanical Garden: Large Southeastern botanical garden with conservation, education, and visitor programming. Comparable in plant collections, conservation mission, and membership-based operating model, though at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center