Environmental Nature Center

What Environmental Nature Center does

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental education organization founded in 1972 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California. ENC operates a 5-acre main campus featuring the first LEED Platinum-certified building in Orange County, with energy-conserving climate control, water-efficient systems, and a Zero Waste Policy achieving 95%+ waste diversion. A secondary 12-acre facility, the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, is operated within Cleveland National Forest in Modjeska Canyon. The organization's core technology and infrastructure are physical in nature — native plant habitat gardens (oak woodland, riparian, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, redwood forest, desert ecosystems), a butterfly garden, a Nature Playscape, an 8,500-square-foot LEED Platinum event building, and a natural history museum at Tucker.

ENC serves a diversified customer base including K-8 schools (field trips and distance learning programs aligned with Next Generation Science Standards), Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops (badge-fulfillment programs at $8-10 per participant), families (birthday parties at $22-32 per child, seasonal nature camps), event hosts (weddings, micro-weddings, corporate events at $200-$3,500+ per booking), homeschool families, neurodivergent learners, and adult educators (professional development workshops at $11.50-17 per teacher). The ENC Nature Preschool operates as a separate tuition-based offering on the main campus. Technology integrations are limited to commercial SaaS tools: Square for gift card sales, Robly for email marketing, Event Espresso for event registration, and SurveyMonkey for feedback.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure: (1) membership dues across tiers from $30 Individual to $10,000+ Sequoia Circle Gray Whale, (2) facility rental income for eco-friendly events, (3) transactional program fees for educational and recreational programming, (4) donations, grants, and event sponsorship, and (5) retail sales through the Nature's Gifts gift shop. GTM is community-led and event-driven, with marketing concentrated on email newsletters, school outreach, and community partnerships. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization is governed by a board of directors under Executive Director Bo Glover.

Name

Environmental Nature Center

Legal name

Environmental Nature Center

Website

https://encenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Environmental Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 in Newport Beach, California, operating a 5-acre LEED Platinum campus and 12-acre Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. It delivers NGSS-aligned environmental education, scout programs, nature camps, weddings, and a tuition-based Nature Preschool to Orange County schools, families, and event hosts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Nature-based preschool
• Wildlife sanctuary
• Nature camp programs
• Sustainable event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport Beach, CA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership program with multiple tiers ranging from $30 Individual to $10,000+ Gray Whale Circle, providing newsletter access, store discounts, program fee discounts, and event hosting privileges.
2. Facility Rental: Rental of LEED Platinum facility and grounds for weddings, parties, meetings, and corporate events. Pricing ranges from $200/hour for classroom meetings to $3,500+ for full venue rental, plus membership requirements.
3. Educational Programs: Fees for school field trips, scout programs, birthday parties, distance learning, and professional development workshops. Birthday parties $22-32 per child, scout programs $8-10 per participant.
4. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from supporters, event sponsorship, program sponsorship, and legacy gifts to support environmental education programs and facility operations.
5. Retail Sales: Nature's Gifts gift shop selling native plants, nature-themed merchandise, and educational materials. Store discount of 10% for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Environmental Nature Center operates two nature preserves — a 5-acre main campus in Newport Beach and the 12-acre Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary — and delivers hands-on environmental education through preschool, day camps, school field trips, scout programs, virtual distance learning, traveling naturalist visits, birthday parties, native plant workshops, and team-building events. The organization also hosts facility rentals for weddings, corporate meetings, and private gatherings in its LEED Platinum-certified sustainable facility, supplemented by a small gift shop and annual membership program.

Product overview

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) offers a diverse portfolio of environmental education products and services centered around nature connection and ecological literacy. The core offerings include two physical facilities: the main 5-acre ENC campus in Newport Beach (LEED Platinum certified) and the 12-acre Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon. Educational programs span school field trips, distance learning, traveling naturalist services, and a nature preschool. Youth programming includes scout badge programs, birthday parties, and seasonal nature camps. The organization also operates a facility rental business for eco-friendly events including weddings and corporate functions, utilizing LEED Platinum buildings with native plant gardens. Supporting offerings include native plant workshops, birding programs, membership tiers, and a gift shop. The portfolio is unified by the mission of providing transformative experiences through nature connection, with all programming emphasizing sustainability, environmental stewardship, and hands-on learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ENC Nature Preschool: A nature-based preschool program for young children operating at the ENC campus.
• Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary

Products and services

• ENC Nature Preschool
• School Field Trips
• Distance Learning / Virtual Programs
• Traveling Naturalist
• Team Building and Professional Development
• bEARthday Parties
• Scout Programs
• Facility Rental (Weddings, Meetings, Private Parties)
• Nature Camps
• Native Plant Workshops
• Nature's Gifts Gift Shop
• ENC Annual Membership
• Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 95%+ waste diversion from landfill achieved through Zero Waste Policy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Crystal Cove ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-facilitation of Excellent Educator Series professional development workshops for K-12 educators. Workshops focus on outdoor learning, inclusive conversations, indigenous voices, watershed education, and Earth Day extensions. Events include light meals and wine by campfire.
• California Native Horticulture FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for native plant workshop series including 'Staying in Relationship: Seeing the Landscape Through the Dry Season'. Shared commitment to advancing place-based ecological education in Orange County.
• Orange County Chapter of California Native Plant SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting of events including Indigenous Basket Weaving and California Native Plant Exchange. Community-centered gatherings connecting native plant enthusiasts.
• Child Creativity LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-facilitation of Engineering Design Challenge workshop for educators focusing on 4-Step Design Thinking process, upcycling, and STEAM education.
• Hi-Time Wine CellarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosting Wine Walk at ENC event, combining wine tasting with environmental education and fundraising for environmental programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NatureBridge: National nonprofit environmental education organization operating immersive field science programs for students in California national parks. Comparable in mission and youth-focused nature education model, though at larger geographic scale.
• Crystal Cove Conservancy: Orange County-based nonprofit that provides environmental education and community programs at Crystal Cove State Park. Directly comparable as a regional nature education peer with similar programming for schools, camps, and volunteers.
• Theodore Payne Foundation: Sun Valley-based nonprofit dedicated to California native plants and habitat through education, plant sales, and workshops. Directly comparable in native plant workshop programming and habitat education offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Audubon California: State office of the National Audubon Society operating birding programs, sanctuaries, and conservation education across California. Comparable in wildlife interpretation and birding programming, with broader geographic scale and brand recognition.
• California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco-based scientific institution combining aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum with LEED Platinum building. Comparable in sustainability certification and educational programming, with broader institutional scope.
• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Major natural history museum with exhibits, nature gardens, and educational programming. Comparable in natural history interpretation and educational programming, though at significantly larger institutional scale.

Regional players

• Orange County Coastkeeper: Orange County-based nonprofit focused on water quality, conservation, and environmental education. Comparable as a regional Orange County environmental nonprofit with educational programming.
• Pacific Marine Mammal Center: Laguna Beach-based nonprofit marine mammal rescue and education center. Comparable as a Southern California wildlife education nonprofit with visitor programming and conservation mission.
• Santa Monica Mountains Fund: Nonprofit partner supporting Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area with education, conservation, and volunteer programs. Comparable scope of environmental education and community engagement in Southern California.

Emerging players

• Pretend City Children's Museum: Irvine-based children's museum with interactive educational exhibits for early childhood. Comparable in early childhood and family educational programming serving Orange County families, though indoor-focused rather than nature-based.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/environmental-nature-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Environmental Nature Center