Tree Hill Nature Center

What Tree Hill Nature Center does

Tree Hill Nature Center is a Jacksonville, Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that operates a 51-plus acre urban wilderness preserve with 1.2 miles of trails, a hands-on natural history museum, live animal exhibits, the Flight of Fancy Butterfly House, and the 250-seat Joseph A. Strasser Amphitheater. The organization serves families, individual visitors, K-12 school groups (notably all Duval County Public Schools 3rd graders), and corporate event clients through on-site admission, structured educational programs (Animal Encounter, Guided Trail Tours, Combination Programs), off-site outreach (Energy Detective, Water Detective) funded by partner JEA, and a Conservation Camp run with The Rattlesnake Conservancy.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of pay-as-you-go admissions ($4-$6 per visitor), tiered annual memberships ranging from a $45 Family Value Level to a $5,000 Donor Partner tier with corporate-sponsorship features, hourly amphitheater rentals ($100/hour with a 3-hour minimum), birthday party packages, educational program fees ($10-$15 per participant), corporate sponsorships, individual donations, the annual Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival, and operational support from the City of Jacksonville. The Arlington Community Garden partnership adds a food-security program that has contributed more than 3,000 pounds of produce to Arlington Community Services' food pantry since 2010.

The business operates on a community-led go-to-market model with no proprietary technology, no mobile app, and no API surface; marketing is conducted through the treehill.org website, email, earned local media, and direct community outreach. Operations are delivered by a 13-employee staff under Executive Director Mark Mummaw, governed by a board including President Vince Seibold, Treasurer Dr. Gary Bowers, and Secretary Amy Pierce, and supported by long-tenured partnerships with JEA, the Rattlesnake Conservancy, Jacksonville University, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville.

Name

Tree Hill Nature Center

Legal name

Tree Hill Nature Center

Website

https://treehill.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Nature Preserve Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAH

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAIAMAF

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

Keywords

• Environmental education services
• Nature preserve operations
• Outdoor venue rentals
• School field trip programs
• Nonprofit membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Public admission fees charged for entry to the 51-acre nature preserve, museum, trails, and animal exhibits. Revenue from daily visitors paying standard admission rates.
2. Educational Programs: Revenue from paid educational programs including Animal Encounters, Guided Trail Tours, and Combination Programs for school groups and organizations.
3. Facility Rentals: Revenue from renting the Joseph A. Strasser Amphitheater for weddings, birthday parties, workshops, corporate events, and team building activities.
4. Memberships: Annual memberships providing free admission, special event access, and day pass allocations. Includes Value Level (non-tax-deductible) and Donor Level (tax-deductible) tiers.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships, individual donations, annual fund contributions, honorary/memorial gifts, planned giving, and event sponsorships including the annual Butterfly Festival.
6. Special Programs and Events: Revenue from annual events including the Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival, birthday parties, and conservation camp registrations.
7. Naming Opportunities and Brick Program: Naming opportunities for benches and bricks through the memorial brick program, and animal adoption programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tree Hill Nature Center operates a 51+ acre urban nature preserve and natural history museum in Jacksonville, FL, offering public admission to trails and animal exhibits, paid hands-on environmental education programs for schools and groups, venue rentals for events, and annual memberships. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supplements earned revenue with donations, corporate sponsorships, and municipal support to deliver environmental stewardship programming.

Product overview

Tree Hill Nature Center is a nonprofit nature center offering a diverse portfolio of environmental education products and services. Core offerings include 51 acres of preserved land with 7 nature trails and a Natural History Museum featuring live animal exhibits and butterfly displays. Educational programs encompass on-site experiences (Animal Encounter, Guided Trail Tours, Conservation Camp) and off-site outreach (Energy Detective, Water Detective programs in partnership with JEA). The center operates venue rental services through the 250-seat Joseph A. Strasser Amphitheater for events including weddings and corporate functions, plus birthday party packages. The center hosts the annual Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival and maintains the Arlington Community Garden. Membership programs provide tiered access with Value Level ($45-$100) and Donor Level ($500-$5,000) options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Admission to Nature Preserve and Museum Daily admission to 51+ acres of trails, the Natural History Museum, and animal exhibits for general public visitors; priced per person by age category ($4–$6).
• On-Site Educational Programs Hands-on group programs including Animal Encounter, Guided Trail Tour, and Combination Programs for schools and organizations with tiered per-person pricing ($9–$15) based on group size.
• Off-Site Outreach Programs Free educational programs delivered off-site at schools and community locations in partnership with JEA, including Energy Detective, Water Detective, Search for A Better Light, and the You Can't Beat That interactive game show for K-5 students.
• Conservation Camp 5-day summer camp for children ages 8–13 hosted by The Rattlesnake Conservancy at Tree Hill, providing hands-on wildlife biology experience with dedicated scientists covering Florida ecosystems and conservation.
• Joseph A. Strasser Amphitheater Rental Year-round open-air amphitheater rental for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, workshops, and team-building; three levels of informal seating, central stage, capacity for 250 guests, $100/hour with a 3-hour minimum.
• Birthday Party Packages Saturday morning birthday parties including 2-hour picnic space reservation, goat feeding, animal experience, and museum/trail access. Flat rate of $75 for groups under 15 people, $5 per person for 15 or more.
• Annual Membership Program Annual memberships providing free park access for 12 months. Value Level tiers include Family ($45) and Group ($100, may not be tax-deductible). Donor Level tiers include Corporate ($500, 100 day passes), Premium ($1,000, 200 day passes), Supporter ($2,500, 200 day passes plus 12x14 recognition sign), and Partner ($5,000, 200 day passes plus 15% off amphitheater rental and 18x24 recognition sign) — all Donor Levels are tax-deductible.
• Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival Annual community event featuring live butterfly release, animal encounters, live music, games, crafts, and local vendor booths. Signature annual event of Tree Hill Nature Center.
• Natural History Museum Hands-on natural history museum featuring exhibit animals, hands-on displays, and a Florida Wetland exhibit room; included in general admission.
• Nature Trails Seven walking trails covering approximately 1.2 miles total, including Sabal Palm Trail, Red Bay Branch Trail, Longleaf Pine, Howland Creek Trail, Boardwalk Trail, Happy Trail, and Stable Loop; included with general admission.
• Animal Exhibits Live animal exhibits featuring native Florida wildlife including mammals (skunk, opossum, pygmy goats), birds (barred owl, chickens), reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies; included with general admission.
• Arlington Community Garden Community garden with 35 plots operated in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville and Jacksonville University, growing food for Arlington Community Services' food pantry using organic methods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ visitors served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Jacksonville Port AuthorityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20152015 sponsor of the Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival.
• JaxMetro Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20152015 sponsor of the Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival.
• Mallen ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20152015 sponsor of the Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival.
• Jax4KidsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20152015 sponsor and media partner for the Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival. Jax4Kids also named Tree Hill as a Best of Jacksonville winner in 2012.
• Krispy KrememinorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20152015 sponsor of the Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival.
• Arlington Community GardencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Collaboration between Tree Hill, Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville, and Jacksonville University to operate a community garden dedicated to growing food for Arlington Community Services' food pantry. The garden has 35 plots and has provided over 3,000 pounds of fresh produce.
• The Rattlesnake ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rattlesnake Conservancy hosts Conservation Camp at Tree Hill Nature Center, a 5-day program for kids ages 8-13 providing first-hand experience in wildlife biology. The partnership brings dedicated scientists to teach about Florida ecosystems, native plants and animals, and wildlife conservation.
• JEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJEA partners with Tree Hill to provide free environmental education programs including Energy Detective and Water Detective programs for K-5th grade students. JEA provides funding for energy instruction, teacher training, and conservation education materials.
• JM Family EnterprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Tree Hill Nature Center supporting environmental education programs and community outreach initiatives.
• Southeast Toyota DistributorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Tree Hill's mission of environmental stewardship and community education.
• Jacksonville UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in the Arlington Community Garden collaboration, contributing to environmental education and community outreach efforts.
• Unitarian Universalist Church of JacksonvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner in the Arlington Community Garden collaboration, providing monetary and labor support for growing food for the food pantry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Sweetwater Organic Community Farm: A Tampa-area nonprofit operating an organic community farm with educational programs and food donations. Comparable specifically to Tree Hill's Arlington Community Garden program — both operate organic gardens producing food for local food pantries while offering volunteer and educational opportunities.

Direct peers

• Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: Jacksonville's primary zoological and botanical attraction, operating animal exhibits, gardens, and educational programs on a larger scale. Directly comparable in offering live animal encounters, school field trips, memberships, and event rentals to a similar Jacksonville family audience that Tree Hill also serves.
• Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary: A Jacksonville-based nonprofit wildlife sanctuary offering live animal exhibits and educational tours. Closely comparable as a regional nonprofit animal/education facility in the same metro, sharing the live-animal-exhibit and school-group programming model that competes for the same Jacksonville visitor base.
• Museum of Science & History (MOSH): Jacksonville's primary science and history museum featuring hands-on exhibits, educational programming, and school group visits. Operates as a comparable nonprofit educational attraction in the same metro, targeting families and school groups with admission-based programming in the same discretionary entertainment category as Tree Hill.

Broad incumbents

• MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry): A larger Tampa-based science center with hands-on exhibits, educational programming, and school field trip offerings. Comparable as a Florida nonprofit science/nature education attraction serving families and schools, but operating at significantly larger scale and broader science scope than Tree Hill's nature-focused programming.
• Florida State Parks: Florida's state-managed park system offering free or low-cost trail access, nature programs, and environmental education across hundreds of sites. Serves as the primary free alternative for nature-based recreation that competes with Tree Hill's paid admission model in the same Northeast Florida region.
• The Nature Conservancy (Florida): A large national conservation organization with significant Florida operations focused on land preservation, restoration, and environmental education. Comparable in mission around land stewardship and conservation education, but operates at a much larger scale and through different funding mechanisms (major donor fundraising, conservation grants) than Tree Hill's community-based nonprofit model.

Regional players

• Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve (NPS): A federally managed Jacksonville preserve combining ecological and historic conservation with public trail access and educational programming. Comparable as a Northeast Florida natural preserve offering trails and environmental education on conserved land that competes for the same nature-seeking visitors Tree Hill serves.
• St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park: A historic Northeast Florida zoological park featuring native Florida wildlife, exhibits, and zookeeper experiences. Comparable in operating a regional wildlife attraction with animal encounters, school programming, and memberships, but located in St. Augustine rather than Jacksonville.
• Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens: A Jacksonville nonprofit museum combining art collections with curated gardens and educational programming on the St. Johns River. Comparable as a Jacksonville nonprofit cultural attraction offering gardens, educational programs, memberships, and event rentals that overlap with Tree Hill's family/school/tourist audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tree-hill-nature-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Tree Hill Nature Center