Tenafly Nature Center

Name

Tenafly Nature Center

Legal name

Tenafly Nature Center

Website

https://tenaflynaturecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Nature-Based Recreation

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Nature preserve management
• Summer day camp
• Forest school programs
• Outdoor recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Tenafly

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. Memberships: Annual individual and family memberships providing unlimited trail access, program discounts, and member-exclusive events. Memberships are the primary recurring revenue stream and critical to the organization's sustainability.
2. Program Fees (Camps, Forest School, Field Trips): Revenue from fee-based programs including Summer Nature Day Camp ($360–$550/week), Full Year Forest School ($17,000/year), Afternoon Forest School ($320–$703 per session), and field trip/outreach programs for schools and scout groups.
3. Facility Rentals & Event Space: Visitor center and facility rentals for meetings, birthday parties, and special occasions. Premium members receive facility rental discounts.
4. Event Fundraising (Trail Races, Seasonal Events): Revenue from events including the Lost Brook Trail Run (5K/10K, $30–$45 entry fee), seasonal community events (Haunted Forest, Nature Day, Trash-a-thon), and spring/fall fundraisers.
5. Donations & Grants: Private donations, corporate sponsorships, and grant funding from organizations including the NJ Department of State Division of Travel and Tourism, TD Bank, and Arbor Day Foundation. No state or county government funding.
6. Trail & Exhibit Sponsorships: Sponsorship of Animal Ambassadors (species), trails, exhibits, and community events. Corporate sponsors receive recognition in newsletters, on the Partners webpage, in printed materials, and on social media.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Tenafly Nature Center is a non-profit nature preserve that operates a 380-400 acre wooded sanctuary in Bergen County, NJ, offering year-round public trail access, environmental education, summer day camps, and Forest School programs. The organization delivers nature-based programming for children, families, schools, and community visitors through on-site activities, outreach, and seasonal events, supported primarily by memberships, donations, and program fees.

Product overview

Tenafly Nature Center operates as a non-profit nature preserve offering a portfolio of environmental education and outdoor recreation services. The core offering is the nearly 400-acre preserve itself, open year-round with over seven miles of trails for self-guided and programmed visits. The educational programming portfolio includes Summer Nature Day Camp (ages 4–14), Forest School programs at multiple levels (Full Year for ages 3.5–6, Afternoon for ages 3.5–7, and Family for ages 18 months–3.5 years with caregivers), school Field Trips, TNC to Go outreach, and a Counselor-in-Training leadership program. Seasonal public programs span Butterfly House exhibits, the Bellflower Faerie Trail, Junior Naturalist activity guides, Trail Races (Lost Brook Trail Run), and the Annual Trails Challenge. Supporting offerings include Animal Ambassadors, Birthday Parties, Facility Rentals, Group Scholarships (Adopt-A-Class), Individual Scholarships (Sponsor-a-Camper), and an annual membership program with multiple tiers unlocking trail access, program discounts, and reciprocal nature center benefits. All programs interconnect under the center's conservation, education, and community mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preserve and Trails Access A nearly 400-acre nature preserve in Bergen County, NJ open seven days a week with over seven miles of hiking trails. Visitors enjoy self-guided hikes, wildlife watching, and passive outdoor recreation from one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset.
• Summer Nature Day Camp Week-long day camp sessions for children ages 4-14, running June-September. Led by professional Environmental Educators, campers explore forests, identify native plants and wildlife, and participate in nature-inspired crafts, games, and outdoor adventures aligned with NGSS and NJCCCS standards. State-certified NJ Youth Camp ID #2248.
• Full Year Forest School Year-long outdoor preschool program for children ages 3.5-6, running September-June. Emphasizes play-based, child-directed learning in a mixed-age outdoor setting, building independence and a lifelong connection to nature through exploration of the preserve. Requires Family-level membership or higher.
• Afternoon Forest School After-school outdoor program for children ages 3.5-7, meeting 3:30-5:00 PM on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday sessions. Provides mixed-age play-based learning following Forest School philosophy, with gear library support for rain boots and pants.
• Family Forest School

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 26,000 people taught annually to enjoy, understand, and gain appreciation for the natural world
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026NJ4S is the 2026 sponsor of the Butterfly House exhibit. This state-level program supports student wellness and access to enrichment programs, aligning with TNC's mission to connect youth with nature and environmental education.
• Bergen VolunteersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Bergen Volunteers is used as the platform for CIT (Counselor-in-Training) program applications. Teen applicants complete and submit applications through the Bergen Volunteers portal for Tenafly Nature Center.
• Township of TenaflycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with the Township of Tenafly for open-space preservation and trail maintenance. The Lost Brook Trail Race originated in 2010 with Township support, and TNC's preserve is a municipal asset managed by the nonprofit.
• TD BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTD Bank logo appears in the Partners section of TNC's website. TD Bank is a supporter of environmental causes and community organizations, providing sponsorship and marketing visibility through TNC's partner recognition program.
• Arbor Day FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArbor Day Foundation logo appears in the Partners section. As a tree-focused organization, their partnership aligns with TNC's reforestation and tree preservation efforts within its 400-acre forest.
• Natural Start AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a research organization supporting the value of outdoor education in early childhood settings. TNC's Forest School program aligns with Natural Start Alliance's research and advocacy for nature-based early childhood education.
• Children & Nature Network (CNNH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a research partner providing evidence for the value of outdoor education. TNC aligns its programming with CNNH research on benefits of children spending time in nature.
• ANJEE (Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNC is a proud member of ANJEE, the state alliance for environmental education organizations in New Jersey, providing networking and advocacy for environmental literacy.
• ANCA (Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education — appears as ANJEE duplicate)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (also shown as ANJEE in the source). Promotional partner in environmental education community.
• Association for Nature-Based EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNC is listed as a proud member of the Association for Nature-Based Education, aligning with national standards and best practices in nature-based pedagogy.
• Earthshare NJminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a member organization of Earthshare NJ, a workplace giving program that enables employees to contribute to environmental nonprofits through payroll deductions.
• Tenafly Environmental CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in community environmental initiatives including the Earth Day Trash-a-Thon. Collaborates on local conservation and environmental stewardship projects.
• Tenafly Green TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity environmental group partnering with TNC on sustainability initiatives including the Trash-a-Thon and other green community events.
• Tenafly High School Green TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led environmental organization at Tenafly High School that partners with TNC on community events like the Earth Day Trash-a-Thon.
• Nature Adventure Travel Club (NATC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal membership network providing TNC members free or discounted admission to 130+ nature and science centers across North America. TNC participates as a member center providing reciprocal admissions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association: New Jersey-based environmental education nonprofit operating nature preserves and education centers with a similar mission mix of conservation, school programs, and member-supported operations. Directly comparable as a regional NJ environmental education nonprofit with comparable programmatic offerings.
• Wave Hill: 28-acre nonprofit public garden and cultural site in the Bronx, NY. Comparable as a member-supported nonprofit operating nature-based programming, family and youth education, seasonal events, and school partnerships serving a similar affluent NY/NJ demographic catchment.
• Tyler Arboretum: 650-acre nonprofit arboretum in Delaware County, PA with comparable member-supported model, school field trips, summer camps, family programming, and trail-based recreation. Directly comparable scale and operating model for a regional arboretum/nature center.
• Plainsboro Preserve: New Jersey nature center with similar size (90+ acres) and comparable programming including summer camps, school field trips, and family nature programs. Operates as a comparable small-to-mid scale member-supported nature center in central NJ.
• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Nonprofit farm and education center in Pocantico Hills, NY. Comparable as a member-supported nonprofit operating educational programming, seasonal events, family and youth programming, and farm-to-table community engagement in the NY/NJ region.
• Greenbrook Sanctuary: Adjacent nonprofit nature sanctuary in Alpine, NJ — a 165-acre preserved watershed on the Palisades. Directly comparable as a Bergen County-adjacent nonprofit nature preserve focused on conservation and passive recreation, with overlapping member and donor communities.
• Teatown Lake Reservation: Nonprofit nature preserve in Ossining, NY with ~1,000 acres, environmental education programs, summer camps, and a similar member-supported funding model. Operates in the same lower-Hudson Valley / northern NJ demographic catchment and offers directly comparable nature-based programming for families and schools.

Broad incumbents

• New York Botanical Garden: Large nonprofit botanical garden in the Bronx, NY with member-supported model, extensive educational programming, school field trips, summer camps, and family nature programming. Operates as a broader-scope incumbent with overlapping programming and tri-state audience.
• New Jersey Audubon Society: Statewide nonprofit operating multiple nature centers, wildlife sanctuaries, and environmental education programs across NJ. Comparable in mission and educational programming, but operates at greater geographic and programmatic scale than TNC's single Bergen County site.

Regional players

• Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center: New Jersey-based nature center offering environmental education programs, school field trips, and family nature programming. Comparable as a regional NJ nature center, but operates as a public/governmental entity rather than a private nonprofit, representing a different funding model than TNC's member-supported approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfJRWVRtqVXz-_0_wQ2mrfQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/tenaflynaturecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tenafly-nature-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/tenaflynature

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 Tenafly Nature Center