Big Thicket Association
The Big Thicket Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1964 that serves as the official Friends organization for the Big Thicket National Preserve in Southeast Texas, operating the Ivory Bill pontoon boat for educational tours, coordinating biodiversity research, and delivering membership and community-event programs to schools, conservation supporters, and researchers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersSaratoga, Texas, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Big Thicket Association does
The Big Thicket Association (BTA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization founded on October 4, 1964, and headquartered in Beaumont, Texas. It operates as the official Friends group for the 84,550-acre Big Thicket National Preserve under a 2015 Friends Agreement with the National Park Service, a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve site since 1981. BTA's mission is to preserve, protect, and promote the Big Thicket region's natural resources and cultural history through advocacy, education, and research, serving schools, conservation supporters, and field researchers.
BTA's core operational assets are the Ivory Bill, a 45-foot Coast Guard-approved covered pontoon boat capable of navigating cypress-lined backwater channels of the Neches River, and the Thicket of Diversity biological field research program (3,283+ species documented, 28 new to science). Programs include public eco-history tours, private charters, a "floating classroom" school field-trip program (5,370+ students reached), and community events such as the annual Neches River Rally and Big Thicket Day on the Neches. Digital channels include a YouTube channel with the Neches River Series Playlist, Facebook pages, and a quarterly bulletin reaching members.
BTA's revenue model blends recurring membership dues (Student $10 through Couples Life $750), per-trip charter fees ($375-$475 for 2 hours), tax-deductible donations, event registrations, and episodic foundation and corporate grants (Brown Foundation, Georgia-Pacific, T.L.L. Temple Foundation; corporate sponsors include ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, BASF, Port of Beaumont, and Sabine Neches Navigation District). Distribution is regional, centered on Southeast Texas, with all boat tours departing from historic Colliers Ferry Park in Beaumont.
Big Thicket Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Thicket Association
- Legal name
- Big Thicket Association
- Website
- https://bigthicket.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Big Thicket Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1964 that serves as the official Friends organization for the Big Thicket National Preserve in Southeast Texas, operating the Ivory Bill pontoon boat for educational tours, coordinating biodiversity research, and delivering membership and community-event programs to schools, conservation supporters, and researchers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Thicket Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)
Keywords
Where Big Thicket Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saratoga, Texas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Big Thicket Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual and life membership fees providing access to conservation programs, bulletins, and member benefits including funding for scientific research through Thicket of Diversity Program.
- Boat Tours and Charters: Revenue from private charters and public tours aboard the Ivory Bill pontoon boat. Private charters at $475 for 2 hours (for-profit) and $375 for 2 hours (non-profit). Proceeds benefit the Big Thicket Association educational programs.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations to support conservation, education, research, and public engagement work in Southeast Texas.
- Event Registration: Registration fees for the annual Neches River Rally paddling event, which includes T-shirts, meals, and membership benefits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Student Membership - $10.00 annually for members 21 and under |
| Subscription | Annual | Senior Membership - $20.00 annually for members 65 and over |
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership - $45.00 annually |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Membership - $65.00 annually |
| Subscription | Annual | Institution/Organization/Business - $125.00 annually |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Individual Life Membership - $500.00 one-time |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Couples' Life Membership - $750.00 one-time |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Charter - $475 for 2 hours (for-profit) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Profit Charter - $375 for 2 hours |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Big Thicket Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Big Thicket Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization operating as the official Friends group for the Big Thicket National Preserve. It sells annual and lifetime memberships, operates the Ivory Bill pontoon boat for public eco-history tours, school field trips, and private charters on the Neches River, and coordinates the Thicket of Diversity biodiversity research program. The organization also runs annual fundraising/community events including the Neches River Rally and Big Thicket Day.
Product overview
The Big Thicket Association operates as a Friends of the Preserve organization supporting the Big Thicket National Preserve through four interconnected programs: the Ivory Bill Boat Tours (a 45-foot pontoon boat offering educational floating classrooms, public tours, and private charters on the Neches River), the Thicket of Diversity (a biological field research initiative coordinating All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory), membership programs with various tiers, and community events including the annual Neches River Rally paddling event and Big Thicket Day celebration. The organization also publishes the Temple Big Thicket Series documenting regional heritage. These programs work together to advance conservation, education, research, and public engagement in Southeast Texas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ivory Bill Boat Tours / Neches River Adventures Educational floating-classroom tours, public eco-history tours (Saturday mornings, spring through fall), and private charters aboard the 45-foot covered Coast Guard-approved Ivory Bill pontoon boat on the Neches River and through the Big Thicket National Preserve. Boat navigates the open river and shallows of cypress-lined backwater channels. Charters available year round for school field trips, social events, nature classes, and customized programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 5,370 students educated through floating classroom boat tours
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Thicket Association
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Big Thicket Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Big Thicket Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Lower Neches Valley AuthoritymajorKey sponsor and host location (LNVA Saltwater Barrier) for the 2026 Neches River Rally paddling event. Rally launches from LNVA Saltwater Barrier at 6790 Bigner Rd, Beaumont.
- National Parks Conservation AssociationmajorSponsor of the 2026 Neches River Rally, supporting conservation advocacy and the Big Thicket Association's work for the Big Thicket National Preserve.
- TotalEnergiescoreCorporate sponsor for the 2026 Neches River Rally and 2025 Big Thicket Day events, supporting conservation education and community engagement.
- ExxonMobilcoreCorporate sponsor of the 2026 Neches River Rally, supporting community conservation events.
- Port of BeaumontcoreSponsor for both 2026 Neches River Rally and 2025 Big Thicket Day events, supporting Southeast Texas conservation efforts.
- Sabine Neches Navigation DistrictcoreSponsor of the 2026 Neches River Rally and 2025 Big Thicket Day, supporting navigation and conservation initiatives.
- Kayaking TexascoreExclusive outfitter for the 2026 Neches River Rally providing boat rentals for paddlers who need equipment.
- BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemical LLCmajorGenerous funding provided for the Neches River Series Playlist video project on the Big Thicket Association YouTube channel, creating educational content for students, teachers, and the public.
- Mamie McFaddin Ward Heritage FoundationmajorGenerous funding provided for the Neches River Series Playlist video project, enabling creation of educational multimedia content about the Big Thicket region.
- National Park ServicemajorFormal Friends Agreement signed in 2015 between NPS and BTA. BTA operates as the official Friends organization for Big Thicket National Preserve.
- The Conservation FundmajorPartnership with The Conservation Fund to purchase the area surrounding the Visitor Center, with gift from Brown Foundation funding the acquisition.
- Temple-Eastex / The Nature ConservancymajorTemple-Eastex donated approximately 2,300 acres to The Nature Conservancy as the Roy E. Larsen Sandylands Sanctuary in 1976, supporting Big Thicket preservation.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big Thicket Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Parks Conservation Association: National non-profit that advocates for and supports the National Park System. NPCA is already a sponsor of BTA's Neches River Rally and shares the Friends-of-the-Preserve model applied to a US-wide portfolio of parks.
- The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation organisation that owns and manages land, including the Roy E. Larsen Sandylands Sanctuary in the Big Thicket region (donated by Temple-Eastex). TNC operates the same mix of land stewardship, fundraising, and corporate partnerships that BTA pursues at a smaller scale.
- National Wildlife Federation: National advocacy and education non-profit for wildlife conservation. Shares BTA's mission of public-facing environmental education, species-focused advocacy, and corporate partnerships, with a much larger national footprint.
- Sierra Club: One of the oldest US environmental organisations, with chapter-based advocacy, outdoor outings, and education programming. Comparable to BTA in grassroots-led conservation and event-driven community engagement, though it operates at national scale.
- Audubon Society (National Audubon Society): Bird- and habitat-focused conservation organisation with a network of local chapters, public education centres, and field-based programming. Shares BTA's structure of a national backer with local chapters delivering boat tours, walks, and classroom programmes.
Regional players
- Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary: Texas-based non-profit running a nature preserve, school field trips, and outdoor education. Mirrors BTA's mix of preserve-based education, membership tiers, and family events, though located in North Texas.
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation: Texas-focused non-profit that funds Texas Parks and Wildlife Department priorities. Operates in the same Southeast Texas geography and education/conservation mission as BTA, serving as a regional complement to NPS-focused BTA programming.
- Armand Bayou Nature Center: Houston-area non-profit preserving wetlands and offering boat and paddling programming. Comparable to BTA in operating boat-based eco-tours and paddling events on a coastal Texas waterway, with the same weather and volunteer model.
Direct peers
- The Conservation Fund: Non-profit focused on land and water conservation with a strong partnership model. The Conservation Fund is a documented BTA partner (purchased the Visitor Center land area together), making it a direct peer in Southeast Texas conservation real-estate work.
- Friends of the National Park Service (general class): National category of formal Friends groups organised under the NPS Friends Agreement framework. BTA signed its agreement in 2015 and is structurally comparable to dozens of small park-specific friends groups running tours, education, and volunteer programmes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big Thicket Association social profiles
Digital presenceBig Thicket Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Big Thicket Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Thicket Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Big Thicket Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Thicket Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Thicket Association
What does Big Thicket Association do?
The Big Thicket Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization operating as the official Friends group for the Big Thicket National Preserve. It sells annual and lifetime memberships, operates the Ivory Bill pontoon boat for public eco-history tours, school field trips, and private charters on the Neches River, and coordinates the Thicket of Diversity biodiversity research program. The organization also runs annual fundraising/community events including the Neches River Rally and Big Thicket Day.
Is Big Thicket Association a public or private company?
Big Thicket Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Thicket Association founded?
Big Thicket Association was founded in 1964. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Big Thicket Association based?
Big Thicket Association is headquartered in Saratoga, Texas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Thicket Association make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are boat Tours and Charters, donations and event Registration.
Who are Big Thicket Association's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Parks Conservation Association, The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club and Audubon Society (National Audubon Society). Regional players are Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and Armand Bayou Nature Center. Direct peers are The Conservation Fund and Friends of the National Park Service (general class).
Does Big Thicket Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Thicket Association.
What industry is Big Thicket Association in?
Big Thicket Association's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 800.