STAR Eco Station

What STAR Eco Station does

STAR Eco Station is a 501(c)(3) environmental science museum and exotic wildlife rescue facility operating in Culver City, California, founded in 1997 by the Bozzi family as a division of STAR Inc. The organization houses over 200 rescued exotic wildlife specimens, including birds, reptiles, mammals, and ocean life, in a tropical jungle setting, and is designated an Official Wildlife Rescue Center by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for receiving confiscated exotic animals from federal seizures. It runs curriculum-aligned educational outreach programs in over 40 California school districts and extends its reach through parent organization STAR Education, which serves more than 500 schools across 60+ districts and reaches over 1 million students and families annually.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of paid programs and contributed income. Direct program revenue streams include weekend public guided tours ($14–$16 admission), weekday school field trips ($12/child, $14/adult, $200 minimum, max 120 people), birthday party packages ($1,000–$3,000), mobile exhibits and assemblies ($500–$2,500), and seasonal eco camps. The organization also operates a paid membership program, a volunteer program, an animal adoption program (currently on hold as of August 2024), and accepts tax-deductible donations and sponsorships (animal sponsorship, event sponsorship, educational program sponsorship, donor wall tiles). Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via walk-in weekend tours, phone/email bookings for groups and events, and online enrollment through a STAR Inc. checkout portal.

The business is family-controlled under the STAR Inc. non-profit umbrella, with no evidence of outside institutional investment. It maintains a broad ecosystem of strategic alliances spanning federal agencies (USFWS, NOAA, EPA, USDA), California state entities (Department of Education, Coastal Commission, South Coast AQMD), and international conservation organizations (Conservation International, Waterkeeper Alliance, Orangutan Foundation International, The Nature Conservancy), supporting both domestic operations and international initiatives in the Amazonian Rainforest and Cartagena Bay, Colombia.

Name

STAR Eco Station

Legal name

STAR Inc.

Website

https://ecostation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STAR Eco Station is a 501(c)(3) environmental science museum and exotic wildlife rescue facility in Culver City, California, serving individual visitors, schools, and event organizers with guided tours, field trips, birthday parties, mobile exhibits, and seasonal camps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Science Museum & Wildlife Rescue

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Wildlife rescue
• School field trips
• Summer day camps
• Exotic animal exhibits

Headquarters

HQ city

Culver City

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Tours Admission: Admission fees for guided weekend public tours (Saturdays and Sundays). Adults $16, Seniors $14, Children $14, Infants free. Tours run every hour on the hour from 10am-4pm.
2. Field Trips: School field trips offered on weekdays from 10am-12pm. Rate is $12 per child and $14 per adult visitor with a $200 minimum. Maximum capacity 120 people per field trip.
3. Birthday Party Packages: Three party packages: Turtle Island outdoor area at $1,000, Galleria del Mundo indoor room at $1,250, and full facility Take Over package at $3,000. Packages include 2-hour rental, up to 30 guests, guided tour, and 2 Eco staff members.
4. Donations and Sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Sponsorship opportunities include special event sponsorship, animal sponsorship, educational program sponsorship, and donor wall signature tiles.
5. Memberships: Annual membership program offering benefits to supporters. Members receive ongoing access and perks for supporting the organization.
6. Mobile Exhibits and Assemblies: Mobile Museum at $2,500 (3-hour exhibit), Eco Assemblies at $1,500 (1-hour presentation with 5-7 animals), Eco Workshops at $500 (1-hour hands-on experience), and GATE Classes.
7. Summer Camp Programs: Eco summer camp and childcare services available 9am-3pm, with camps offered in summer, fall, winter, and spring. Full-day programming with 4 rotations including animal care, art projects, conservation lessons, and activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

STAR Eco Station is an environmental science museum and exotic wildlife rescue facility housing over 200 rescued specimens. It offers public weekend guided tours, weekday school field trips aligned with California State Science Standards, birthday party packages, private events, seasonal eco camps, and traveling mobile exhibits/assemblies for schools and community events. As a designated Official Wildlife Rescue Center by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it receives and rehabilitates confiscated exotic animals while delivering hands-on environmental education.

Product overview

STAR Eco Station is an environmental science museum and exotic wildlife rescue facility offering a portfolio of educational and visitor-facing programs. The core offerings include public guided tours (weekends only), weekday field trips for schools aligned with California Science Standards, private tours and events, and birthday party packages at three price tiers. Seasonal eco camps provide day-long educational experiences for children, while the Museum on Wheels mobile program brings traveling exhibits, assemblies, and workshops to schools statewide. The organization also operates animal adoption, volunteer, and membership programs, plus accepts donations and animal sponsorship. The facility is a division of STAR Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and serves as an Official Wildlife Rescue Center designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Guided Tours

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner that confiscates illegal exotic animals and directs them to STAR Eco Station for rescue, rehabilitation, and public education. STAR Eco Station is designated an Official Wildlife Rescue Center by USFWS.
• Conservation InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned memorandum of understanding to operate two biological research and education centers in the Amazonian Rainforest, funded by Conservation International.
• Waterkeeper AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for water conservation efforts. Signed memorandum of understanding with Corporation ECO Habitat for environmental conservation program in Cartagena Bay, Colombia to recuperate aquatic ecosystems.
• California Coastal CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner organization providing environmental discovery exhibits.
• Environment NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner organization supporting conservation initiatives.
• Heal the BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner organization focused on marine conservation and environmental education.
• Los Angeles Water KeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater conservation partner organization for local environmental protection.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for environmental science and ocean conservation exhibits.
• Natural Resources Defense CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental advocacy partner organization.
• Orangutan Foundation InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for primate conservation education.
• South Coast Air Quality Management DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional air quality management partner for environmental education.
• Surfrider FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner organization providing environmental discovery exhibits from this coastal conservation group.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal conservation partner organization.
• The Paw ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted The Paw Project founded by Dr. Jennifer Conrad to increase awareness of declawing effects on cats and to rehabilitate declawed big cats.
• US Environmental Protection AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for environmental protection education and exhibits.
• US Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing wildlife rescue exhibits and animals confiscated from illegal trafficking.
• United States Department of AgricultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for agricultural and environmental education.
• Will's WormsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner organization for vermiculture and soil health education.
• The Environmental MagazineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental publication partner for environmental education awareness.
• StopGlobalWarming.orgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate change education partner organization.
• CDA (Corporation for Sustainable Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking partnership with CDA to conduct environmental education project in schools directed toward conservation of the Amazonian ecosystem. Received commendation from President of Columbia for environmental education in the Amazon jungle.
• Corporation ECO HabitatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned memorandum of understanding to collaborate in an environmental conservation program in Cartagena Bay, Colombia to recuperate aquatic ecosystems.
• PetfinderminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnimal adoption listing partner allowing rescued animals to be listed for adoption to worthy forever homes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CuriOdyssey: San Mateo, CA science-focused zoo and museum featuring native and exotic animal exhibits with school field-trip programs and family programming. Comparable combination of small-scale zoo, science museum, and hands-on animal education aligned to state standards.
• Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary: Prescott, AZ nonprofit wildlife sanctuary offering guided tours, animal encounters, and education programming. Comparable small-scale visitor-operated exotic wildlife sanctuary with a similar educational mission and donor-supported model.
• Wildlife Learning Center: Sylmar, CA nonprofit that rescues exotic and endangered animals and offers guided public tours, school field trips, and birthday parties in a small, intimate setting. Directly comparable in scale, mission, and Southern California geography to STAR Eco Station.
• Big Cat Rescue: Tampa, FL nonprofit sanctuary rescuing exotic cats and other wildlife, with daily guided public tours, school programs, and a strong donor/sponsorship model. Comparable to STAR Eco Station in the rescue-plus-public-education operating model, though specialized in big cats.
• Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center: Scottsdale, AZ nonprofit wildlife rescue and education facility offering public tours and school programs for native and exotic species. Comparable nonprofit rescue-and-educate operation, similar small-scale footprint and visitor programming.
• Lindsay Wildlife Experience: Walnut Creek, CA-based nonprofit wildlife hospital and education center that rehabilitates native and exotic animals and offers public visitor programs. Closely comparable to STAR Eco Station in combining wildlife rescue/rehabilitation with hands-on public education at a single California site.
• PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society): California-based nonprofit wildlife sanctuary network rescuing exotic and performing animals, with limited public tours and education programs. Comparable in exotic wildlife rescue focus and California footprint, though more sanctuary than museum.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles Zoo: Large accredited zoo operated by the City of Los Angeles in the same metro as STAR Eco Station, offering animal exhibits, school programs, and family visits. Comparable in product category (animal exhibits + education) but vastly larger scale and publicly operated, not a direct competitor for rescued-exotic niche.
• Aquarium of the Pacific: Long Beach, CA aquarium and marine education institution offering school field trips, family visits, and conservation programming. Overlaps with STAR Eco Station on the school field trip and Southern California family education market, though marine-focused rather than land-exotic.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: World-class zoo and conservation organization in California operating large-scale animal exhibits, education, and wildlife conservation programs. Comparable in the combination of zoo operations, education, and conservation advocacy, though orders of magnitude larger than STAR Eco Station.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/starecostation
• Facebookfacebook.com/starecostation
• Instagraminstagram.com/starecostation
• TikToktiktok.com/@star.ecostation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star-eco-station

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 STAR Eco Station