Alley Pond Environmental Center

What Alley Pond Environmental Center does

Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental education organization founded in 1972 by Douglaston residents Hy and Joan Rosner, with operations consolidated at its current Northern Boulevard site since 1976. The organization is housed in a building owned by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation within Alley Pond Park, a 635-acre preserve of forests, meadows, ponds, and salt/freshwater marshes that supports more than 300 species of birds and wildlife. APEC was designated a National Environmental Study Area in 1979 and opened a new $28 million LEED-certified facility at 229-10 Northern Boulevard in December 2023 after a 17-year development cycle. The center maintains an 80+ animal ambassador collection and serves more than 60,000 visitors annually.

APEC's core products are structured environmental education experiences delivered in person at the center and through outreach to schools, libraries, community groups, and senior centers. Programs span the full age continuum: early childhood classes (Wee Sprouts 18-23 months through Sunny Bunnies ages 3-4), homeschool programs, K-12 class visits aligned with New York State Curriculum Standards, scout badge programs, summer camps (ages 6-14), teen STEM, and adult clubs. Themed birthday party packages range from $100 to $525. The center operates on a community-led go-to-market with online registration via the DoubleKnot platform, direct walk-in visitation (suggested $5/person donation), and a tiered membership program ($30-$1,000 annually). The membership tiers and a tiered Green Gala sponsorship structure ($500-$25,000) provide recurring and event-based revenue alongside per-program fees.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of program fees, annual memberships, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants from NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, Con Edison, National Grid, ERM Foundation, and Lily Auchincloss Foundation. The business is operated by a lean team of approximately 15 paid staff under Executive Director Irene Scheid, supported by a volunteer board. There is no app, no proprietary software platform, and no AI/ML technology layer; the value proposition is fundamentally experiential and tied to the physical facility, the animal collection, and the surrounding park.

Name

Alley Pond Environmental Center

Legal name

Alley Pond Environmental Center Inc.

Website

https://alleypond.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alley Pond Environmental Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers in-person environmental education programs — from early childhood through adult — to over 60,000 visitors annually at a LEED-certified facility within Alley Pond Park in Douglaston, Queens, supplemented by school, scout, and community outreach across the New York metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO), Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Wildlife conservation
• Nature programs
• Outdoor learning
• School field trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Neck

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees from educational programs including early childhood classes, weekend programs, summer camps, homeschool programs, and adult programs. Pricing varies by program type and duration.
2. Birthday Party Packages: Revenue from birthday party packages ranging from $100 to $525 depending on package type and add-ons selected.
3. Memberships: Annual membership tiers (Rabbit $75, Turtle $40, Chipmunk $30, Woodpecker $100, Owl $250, Osprey $500, Hawk $1000) providing discounts on programs and events.
4. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting environmental education programs. Organization is IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
5. Annual Green Gala: Annual fundraising gala with ticket sales, sponsorships, journal ads, and raffle. Gala table at $1,250, individual tickets at $135-$150.
6. Grants and Public Funding: Support from NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, and private foundations including Con Edison, ERM Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and National Grid.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Alley Pond Environmental Center provides hands-on environmental education programs featuring live animal ambassadors, nature trail experiences, and curriculum-aligned nature programs for children, families, school groups, scout troops, homeschoolers, teens, and adults. The center also runs wildlife conservation initiatives, community events, and operates from a LEED-certified facility adjacent to a 635-acre park in Queens, NY.

Product overview

Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) is a nonprofit environmental education organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services for visitors of all ages. The center provides structured educational experiences including Early Childhood Programs (Sunny Bunnies, Lil' Hoppers, Toddler Time, Wee Sprouts), bEARTHday Birthday Parties, Weekend Programs, Weekday & Vacation Programs, Class Visits, Outreach Programs, Summer Programs (Animal Group Troop, Summer Science Squad, Alley Pond Pioneers, Teen STEM), Animal Care Programs, Homeschool Programs, Scout Programs, and Field Biology Internships. The center serves over 60,000 visitors annually with educational programming focused on environmental awareness, wildlife conservation, and hands-on nature experiences. APEC operates a Membership Program with multiple tiers offering discounts, and hosts annual fundraising events including the Green Gala.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Education Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 72,000 children and adults annually through educational programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PoposoapminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026Poposoap partnered with APEC to support World Environment Day community programs in NYC on June 5, 2026. Donating solar-powered water feature products including 40W Waterfall Pump Kits and 8W Solar Birdbath Fountain Pumps for educational activities and community giveaways.
• Bayside Anglers Group LTDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration providing fishing instruction for adults and children ages 12+ at APEC. Evening sessions with seasoned recreational fishermen covering beginner to experienced levels, all types of NY fishing, and environmentally sound recreational fishing practices.
• NYC Department of Parks & RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished APEC within Alley Pond Park in 1972 through partnership with NYC Parks Dept. The department owns the land and building housing APEC. Parks Dept created the Wetlands Reclamation Project in 1974 to rehabilitate natural wetlands.
• Hy and Joan RosnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounders who led the grassroots organizing effort to establish APEC in 1972, envisioning the damaged landscape as a wildlife refuge and living lab for environmental education.
• Friends of Alley Pond ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization with mission to sustain and improve the park for visitors, wildlife, and the community. Supports tradition of stewardship, history, education, recreation, and arts.
• Greater City Aquarium SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult club based at APEC, member of Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies and Federation of American Aquarium Societies.
• Queens County Bird ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-service organization of naturalists meeting monthly at APEC with noted speakers, field trips, and conservation projects.
• Bayside Anglers GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit fishing club established in 1994, promoting safe and environmentally sound recreational fishing practices through community outreach.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Larger environmental education institution with children's programs, school visits, and family programming comparable to APEC but with substantially greater resources and brand recognition.
• Prospect Park Zoo: Wildlife Conservation Society-operated wildlife education facility in Brooklyn with similar live animal and school program offerings, but at larger scale and with broader institutional backing.
• Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): Major wildlife education organization with deep resources, far larger scale, and an established K-12 programming apparatus that competes for the same NYC family and school audiences as APEC.
• New York Botanical Garden: Major NYC environmental education institution with school programs, family programming, and visitor experiences at far larger scale than APEC, competing for the same donor and school audiences.

Direct peers

• Queens Botanical Garden: Queens-based nonprofit operating educational gardens, family programming, and school visits aligned with state curriculum standards. Strong overlap with APEC in geography, audience, and educational mission.
• Staten Island Zoo: Smaller zoological institution with environmental education programming, live animal collections, and school visit offerings comparable to APEC's ambassador-based programming.
• Teatown Lake Reservation: Nature education center in Ossining, NY operating live animal ambassadors, school class visits, and family programs at a comparable scale to APEC. Closest regional peer by program mix and operating model.
• Wave Hill: Public garden and cultural center in the Bronx offering family nature programs, school visits, and seasonal visitor experiences at a comparable scale and mission to APEC. Most directly comparable as a community-based nature-focused institution serving NYC families.

Regional players

• Randall's Island Park Alliance: Urban park environmental education provider operating on a comparable park-based community programming model in NYC, but with different geography and outdoor sport emphasis rather than live animals.

Others

• NYC Audubon: Regional environmental nonprofit focused on bird conservation and habitat stewardship in NYC. Overlapping mission around urban wildlife and conservation education, though without APEC's facility-based programming model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apecofqueens

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Alley Pond Environmental Center