The Wilderness Center

What The Wilderness Center does

The Wilderness Center (TWC) is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) nature center and land conservation organization headquartered at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in Wilmot, Ohio. Founded in 1964 and currently led by Executive Director Jeanne M. Gural, TWC protects 3,499 acres of agricultural land, forest, meadow, wetland, and prairie across seven Ohio counties and additionally manages approximately 24,000 acres of privately owned forest through its wholly owned subsidiary TWC Consulting Forestry. The organization operates a free-admission Nature Center with 12 miles of public hiking trails, a Nature Playscape, a digital planetarium and observatory, a native plant nursery, a Wildlife Observation Room, and animal ambassadors, alongside a second member-only preserve (Doughty Gorge, 93 acres) and the Foxfield Preserve conservation burial ground.

TWC's core offerings span environmental education for Pre-K through 12 schools (aligned with Ohio Learning Standards), families, and adults; conservation services including forestry consulting, land donations, and Backyard Habitat and Dark Sky initiatives; community programs such as seven special-interest clubs and an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist training; retail sales of native plants and bird seed through online ordering with pickup; and a tiered membership program from $30 individual to $5,000 life membership. Two wholly owned operating subsidiaries — TWC Consulting Forestry (founded 2007) and Foxfield Preserve — generate earned income that supports the conservation mission.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of annual and lifetime memberships, individual and planned-giving donations, foundation and government grants (including a $296,368 Visit Canton Recovery and Destination Development Grant), consulting fees from TWC Consulting Forestry, native plant and bird seed sales, event sponsorship and ticket revenue (Ales for Trails, Enchanted Forest, Firefly Festival), facility rentals, and proceeds from the Foxfield Preserve conservation burial ground. With approximately 23 staff and 396 trained volunteer naturalists supporting a service area of 157 communities, TWC combines earned-income programs with charitable fundraising typical of a community-anchored regional conservation nonprofit.

Name

The Wilderness Center

Legal name

The Wilderness Center, Inc.

Website

https://wildernesscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Wilderness Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nature center in Wilmot, Ohio, founded in 1964, that protects 3,499 acres across seven counties and delivers environmental education, conservation services, and community programming to schools, families, landowners, and adult learners in northeast Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Conservation and Environmental Education

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation & Research Lodges (Citizen Science, Field Stations with Guests) (THAAAHAJ), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Nature conservation services
• Environmental education programs
• Forest management consulting
• Conservation burial ground
• Wildlife habitat protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmot

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership program with multiple tiers ranging from individual to life membership, providing recurring revenue and member-only perks
2. Donations and Fundraising: Annual campaigns, Tree of Life program, general donations, and legacy gifts through estate planning
3. Native Plant Sales: Seasonal native plant sales with member discounts, online ordering with pickup
4. Bird Seed Sales: Annual birdseed sale through supplier partnership with proceeds supporting wildlife observation room
5. TWC Consulting Forestry: Professional forest management and timber marketing services for private landowners, proceeds support TWC conservation programs
6. Event Revenue: Special events including Firefly Festival, Enchanted Forest, Ales for Trails with sponsorship opportunities
7. Facility Rentals: Conference room, classroom, and picnic pavilion rentals for events
8. Shelter and Venue Rentals: Picnic pavilion rentals and shelter room rentals for private events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Wilderness Center is a nonprofit nature center that conserves 3,499 acres across seven northeast Ohio counties and operates a free-admission visitor campus with hiking trails, a digital planetarium, observatory, Nature Playscape, and Wildlife Observation Room. It sells tiered memberships, runs educational programs for schools, families, and adults, manages the TWC Consulting Forestry service for private landowners, accepts land donations, and operates the Foxfield Preserve conservation burial ground. Seasonal native plant sales and annual birdseed sales, special events (Enchanted Forest, Ales for Trails), and the Backyard Habitat and Dark Sky conservation initiatives round out the offering.

Product overview

The Wilderness Center is a nonprofit nature center and conservation organization offering a unified visitor experience centered around its main Nature Center in Wilmot, Ohio. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs: educational offerings for schools, families, and adults; conservation services including TWC Consulting Forestry, land donations, and the Foxfield Preserve conservation burial ground; community initiatives like the Backyard Habitat Initiative and Dark Sky Initiative; seasonal retail sales (Native Plant Sale, Bird Seed Sale); special events (Enchanted Forest, Ales for Trails); and member clubs (Astronomy, Birding, Hiking, Photography, etc.). The portfolio also includes recreational facilities (Nature Playscape, Planetarium, Wildlife Observation Room, Doughty Gorge Preserve for members) and membership programs at multiple tiers. Together these offerings serve to fulfill the mission of connecting people with nature through habitat conservation, environmental education, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Wilderness Center (Main Nature Center) Free-admission nature center campus in Wilmot, Ohio featuring 12 miles of hiking trails, an Astronomy Education Building with digital planetarium and observatory, Nature Playscape, Wildlife Observation Room, animal ambassadors, and the TWC Gift Shop. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am-4:30pm; trails open sunrise to sunset. Targets families, individuals, school groups, and visitors in northeast Ohio.
• TWC Consulting Forestry Professional forest management and timber marketing services for private woodland owners across eastern Ohio, providing forest management plans, timber trespass consultation, sustainable timber harvesting oversight, habitat improvements, and property tax reduction program qualification (CAUV, OFTL). Manages approximately 24,000 acres of privately owned forest.
• Foxfield Preserve Conservation burial ground offering an environmentally friendly alternative to modern burial that preserves natural land while providing sustainable funding for The Wilderness Center's conservation efforts. Approved Green Burial Council operations.
• Native Plant Sale Seasonal sale of native plants for gardens and landscapes via online ordering with pickup at the nature center; offers 10% member discount and early member access. Supports native plant landscaping and habitat creation.
• TWC Bird Seed Sale Annual bird seed sale through partnership with Lizzie Mae's Bird Seed, with online ordering and pickup at the nature center. Offers 10% member discount; proceeds support wildlife feeding at the Nature Center's Wildlife Observation Room.
• School & Youth Group Programs Science-based environmental education programs for Pre-K through 12th grade aligned with Ohio Learning Standards, including pond studies, water quality testing, stream studies, and outdoor science education, delivered on-site at the nature center, at schools, or virtually for PreK-12 schools, homeschool groups, scout organizations, camps, and afterschool programs.
• Family Programs Family-friendly recurring programs including Storytime Sprouts (ages 2-6), Nature Explorers (ages 3-7), Junior Naturalist (ages 7-10), Animal Keeper for a Day, and Planetarium Shows, designed for families with children seeking nature-based activities.
• Adult Programs Lifelong learning opportunities including Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) training via OSU Extension partnership, dark sky workshops, backyard habitat initiatives, and speaker presentations for clubs and civic organizations.
• TWC Special Interest Clubs Seven member-led special interest clubs: Astronomy Club, Backpackers & Dayhikers Club, Bird Club (founded 1988), Geocaching Club, Nature Photo Club, Readers Group, and Woodcarvers Club. Each club hosts regular meetings, field trips, and programs for members.
• Backyard Habitat Initiative Community conservation initiative advising and working with homeowners to increase wildlife habitat, protect watersheds, and conserve natural resources through native plant landscaping, rain gardens, and habitat improvements.
• Dark Sky Initiative Conservation program making TWC a model of dark sky practices, serving as a regional resource for dark sky-friendly practices, and training Dark Sky Citizen Scientists.
• Enchanted Forest Annual fall event creating an enchanted forest experience with tiered sponsorship opportunities for businesses to support conservation and community engagement.
• Ales for Trails Annual sponsorship event with tiered sponsorship levels ranging from Chickadee ($250) to Great Horned Owl ($5,000), supporting trail maintenance and conservation at TWC.
• Nature Playscape Natural playground built of natural materials encouraging children's self-directed play; currently undergoing upgrade for accessibility improvements funded in part by a $296,368 Recovery and Destination Development Grant from Visit Canton.
• Planetarium Shows Digital planetarium programs in the Astronomy Education Building with various astronomy topics and seasonal favorites like Season of Light, open to the public and member audiences.
• Wildlife Observation Room Indoor viewing space with multiple wildlife feeders, water feature, and outdoor microphone system bringing birdsong indoors, with live feed available to visitors.
• Doughty Gorge Preserve 93-acre member-only preserve near Charm, OH featuring mature eastern hemlock, white oak, and American beech, with nearly 160 plant species and 41 fish species.
• Land Donation Program Conservation program accepting land donations through life estates, wills, trusts, or conservation easements to protect natural lands in the Sugarcreek and Killbuck Creek watersheds.
• Membership Program Tiered annual memberships (Individual $30, Household $50, Wilderness Friend $150, Wilderness Champion $500) plus a $5,000 lifetime membership. Benefits include member-only hikes, early access to event tickets, 10% discounts on plant and birdseed sales, and other member perks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33,114 students impacted by educational programs since 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EnviroSciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with EnviroScience and The Nature Conservancy on the Fox Creek Restoration project to restore and preserve critical natural habitats.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with EnviroScience and TWC on Fox Creek Restoration project.
• The Buzz MakerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunched the #SaveOhioBees initiative to promote Ohio artists and conservation, with artists donating proceeds to benefit TWC and Pollinator Partnership.
• Ohio State University ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with OSU Extension to run the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists Program (OCVN) training program.
• American Foresters (ACF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as allied organization providing professional forestry expertise and networking.
• National Wildlife TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as allied organization supporting conservation efforts.
• Green Burial CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as allied organization supporting Foxfield Preserve conservation burial operations.
• LEAP (Local Environmental Agriculture Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as allied organization supporting local environmental and agricultural initiatives.
• Land Trust AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as allied organization providing land conservation expertise.
• Ohio ConservationVNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as allied organization supporting conservation in Ohio.
• Ohio WetlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as allied organization supporting wetland conservation.
• Save Ohio BeesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTWC partnered with Save Ohio Bees initiative to promote pollinator conservation.
• Stark Soil and Water Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped build two rain garden displays at TWC to be used as educational tools.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership organization supporting land trusts (of which TWC is an allied member) through advocacy, training, and accreditation—strategic ecosystem partner rather than competitor.

Direct peers

• Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Pennsylvania nonprofit raptor sanctuary and conservation education center with a similar combination of protected habitat, membership base, citizen science programs, and educational programming.
• Brandywine Conservancy: Pennsylvania nonprofit combining land conservation (Brandywine River Valley) with environmental education programs—comparable hybrid conservation + education + cultural programming structure.
• Mohonk Preserve: New York nonprofit land trust protecting 8,000+ acres with extensive trail network, environmental education, and membership programs—closely aligned operating model with TWC's preserve and education focus.
• Bernheim Forest: 15,000+ acre Kentucky arboretum and forest preserve operating as a nonprofit nature center with education, conservation, and recreation programs—the closest structural analog to TWC at slightly larger scale.
• Cincinnati Nature Center: Ohio-based nonprofit nature center operating Rowe Woods and Long Branch Farm with similar education, conservation, and membership-based programming serving regional Ohio communities.
• Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge: New Jersey nonprofit wildlife refuge and education center where TWC's current Executive Director Jeanne Gural previously served as ED—directly comparable in mission, scale, and programming mix.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global land conservation nonprofit and a direct TWC partner (Fox Creek Restoration)—operates at vastly larger scale with similar land protection and member-based funding model.

Regional players

• Cleveland Metroparks: Regional park system in northeast Ohio (TWC's Director of Conservation previously worked there) providing outdoor recreation, education, and conservation programming—competitor for visitors and conservation funding.
• Holden Forests & Gardens: Northeast Ohio nonprofit operating Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden—overlapping geography with TWC and similar conservation + education programming focused on plant science.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/652827594815807
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-wilderness-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 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 The Wilderness Center