CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER
Cincinnati Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 1,800 acres of nature preserves across two locations in greater Cincinnati, offering public trails, nature preschool, summer camps, scout programs, citizen science, and venue rentals funded by memberships, admissions, programs, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersMilford, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER does
Cincinnati Nature Center is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1965 and opened to the public in April 1967, operating two nature preserves in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio region: Rowe Woods (1,022 acres, public access at 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford) and the members-only Long Branch Farm & Trails (758 acres at 6926 Gaynor Road, Goshen). Across 1,800 acres of forests, prairies, streams, ponds, and wetlands linked by 20+ miles of maintained hiking trails, the organization delivers outdoor recreation, environmental education from preschool through adult certification (Nature Preschool, CincyNature Camp, scout programs, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist courses), and conservation programming including habitat restoration, native plant propagation, and citizen-science initiatives.
The core product surface is physical land combined with programmed experiences and amenities, supported by a modest digital layer including a mobile trail guide, an online ticketing and membership portal, and a customer account system. Differentiated physical assets include the historic Krippendorf Lodge and the National Register-listed Groesbeck Estate (added 2016) as event venues, a 1.6-acre Nature PlayScape natural playground, and a first-in-region 12-foot Forest Ear-nocular sound installation. Revenue is generated through six streams: annual membership subscriptions with reciprocal ANCA benefits at 150+ nature centers, daily gate admission ($8–$12), program and camp registration fees, venue rental for weddings and corporate events, Nature Shop retail, and charitable donations and grants. Operational scale in 2025 included 71,194 people served through educational programs, 26,200 volunteer hours, and 17,600 native plants propagated; the organization received a transformational approximately $28 million unrestricted bequest from longtime member Hugh Hoffman in 2023.
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER
- Legal name
- Cincinnati Nature Center
- Website
- https://cincynature.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Cincinnati Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 1,800 acres of nature preserves across two locations in greater Cincinnati, offering public trails, nature preschool, summer camps, scout programs, citizen science, and venue rentals funded by memberships, admissions, programs, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nature Preserve and Environmental Education
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB)
Keywords
Where CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Recurring membership subscriptions providing free daily admission to Rowe Woods and members-only access to Long Branch Farm & Trails, along with discounts on programs, facility rentals, and Nature Shop purchases.
- Daily Admission Fees: One-time admission fees for non-members visiting Rowe Woods: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Children 4-12 $8, Children 3 and under FREE, Pets $5.
- Program Registration Fees: Fees for educational programs including CincyNature Camp, scout programs, children's Saturday programs, club memberships, maple sugaring programs, and specialized workshops.
- Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting event venues including Krippendorf Lodge and Groesbeck Estate for weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings.
- Nature Shop Sales: Retail sales of nature-inspired products including hiking necessities, apparel, giftware, art prints, bird feeders, seed, books, toys, and locally made food products. All proceeds support the mission.
- Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. In 2023, received an unprecedented $28 million bequest from longtime member Hugh Hoffman. EIN# 31-6057978.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Daily Admission - Adults |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Daily Admission - Seniors/Military |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Daily Admission - Children |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Daily Admission - Pets |
| Subscription | Annual | Membership |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Program Fees |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cincinnati Nature Center operates two nature preserves totaling approximately 1,800 acres with more than 20 miles of hiking trails, offering daily admission, annual memberships, environmental education programs (including Nature Preschool, summer camps, scout programs, and OCVN certification), habitat conservation and citizen science initiatives, and venue rentals at historic lodges for weddings and corporate events. The organization also runs The Nature Shop retail store and accepts charitable donations to support its mission of inspiring conservation through personal experiences, education, and care for the land.
Product overview
Cincinnati Nature Center operates as a nonprofit nature preserve organization offering access to approximately 1,800 acres across two locations—Rowe Woods (1,022 acres, public access) and Long Branch Farm & Trails (758 acres, members-only). The core offering combines outdoor recreation (hiking trails, Nature PlayScape) with environmental education (Nature Preschool, school programs, summer camps, OCVN certification) and conservation initiatives (habitat restoration, scientific research, native plant sales). Revenue streams include daily admission fees, annual memberships with reciprocal ANCA benefits, retail sales at The Nature Shop, facility rentals at historic venues (Krippendorf Lodge, Groesbeck Estate), and charitable donations. The organization publishes the quarterly Newsleaf magazine for members and offers a mobile guide for trail navigation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rowe Woods Nature Preserve A 1,022-acre public nature preserve in Milford, Ohio featuring 10 trails with 14.5 miles of hiking paths, Powel Crosley Lake, historic Krippendorf Lodge, the Rowe Visitor Center, The Nature Shop, and the Nature PlayScape. Open to visitors through daily admission or membership.
- Long Branch Farm & Trails A 758-acre member-only nature preserve in Goshen, Ohio with 7 trails covering 5.9 miles of hiking paths through forests, meadows, prairies, streams, and ponds. Includes Creekside Barn, Bluestem Trail with prairie views, and other named trails such as Firefly Trail, Barred Owl Trail, Salamander Trail, and Woodpecker Trail.
- Nature PlayScape A 1.6-acre nature-based playground within Rowe Woods designed for children ages 12 and under, featuring forest, field, stream, and wetland habitats with native plants, fallen logs, boulders, and water elements for unstructured play, plus an early childhood area with materials sized for the smallest visitors.
Quantifiable outcome
- 71,194 people served through educational programs and events
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)corePartnership with ODNR's Division of Wildlife on the ROBOTs (Repatriating Ohio's Box Turtles) initiative to return hundreds of captive eastern box turtles to the wild. Cincinnati Nature Center serves as a release site for the program.
- Cornell Laboratory of OrnithologycorePartnership for Project FeederWatch citizen science program. Cincinnati Nature Center serves as a participating site where volunteers collect bird observation data to submit to Cornell's research database.
- Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA)coreReciprocal membership benefits program connecting Cincinnati Nature Center members with over 150 nature centers nationwide. Members receive discounted or free admission at participating ANCA institutions.
- National Audubon SocietyminorHistorical partnership - National Audubon Society conducted an evaluation confirming the Rowe Woods site as an excellent setting for a nature center in 1965 during the founding period.
- Garden Club of AmericaminorAffiliated with the Garden Club of America since 1915. Both founding families (Krippendorfs and Groesbecks) had gardens featured on national tours.
- University of CincinnatiminorAcademic partnership for conservation research and education. Director of Conservation Cory Christopher earned PhD from University of Cincinnati and previous positions included Director of Undergraduate Research at UC.
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical GardenminorPrevious partnership through Director of Conservation's prior role as graduate and school Programs Manager for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
- The Ohio State UniversityminorAcademic partnership through Executive Director's graduate work at Ohio State University (doctorate in natural resources) and hosting of Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program.
- Appletree Pet ClinicminorSponsor of dog waste receptacles throughout Rowe Woods, supporting pet-friendly policies.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mohonk Preserve: New York-based nature preserve with extensive trail systems and educational programming. Comparable nonprofit operating model, member-supported land conservation, and visitor services in a similar mid-sized metro catchment.
- Tyler Arboretum: Pennsylvania nature preserve with preserved land, hiking trails, and educational programs for families and children. Closely comparable in mission, scale of preserved acreage, and audience focus.
- Morton Arboretum: Large Illinois nature preserve with trails, education programs, and a comparable nonprofit operating model. Similar in combining land conservation with public education, membership programs, and visitor facilities at scale.
- The Dawes Arboretum: Ohio-based nature preserve with similar trail systems, educational programming, and conservation mission. Comparable operating model with preserved land, members, and visitor services, though located in Newark, OH rather than Cincinnati.
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Cincinnati's other major nature-focused attraction, operating a zoological park and botanical garden in the same metro area. Comparable in that both serve Cincinnati families with nature experiences, education programs, and memberships, though CNC emphasizes preserves while the Zoo focuses on animal exhibits.
- Highlands Nature Sanctuary: Ohio nature preserve operated as a nonprofit with trails and conservation programming. Comparable in operating model, scale, and regional Ohio footprint, though with a more limited educational programming slate than CNC.
Others
- Cincinnati Parks Foundation: Local Cincinnati parks foundation supporting the city's public park system. Operates in the same catchment as CNC and supports similar conservation and recreation missions, though focused on public parks rather than preserved nature reserves.
Regional players
- Great Parks of Hamilton County: Public parks system serving Hamilton County (Cincinnati metro) with trails, nature education, and outdoor recreation. Directly competes with CNC for hiking and family outdoor visits, though free of charge, which constrains CNC's pricing power in the same catchment.
- Audubon Society of Ohio: Ohio chapter of the National Audubon Society focused on bird conservation and nature education in the same state. Comparable in conservation mission, citizen science programming (Project FeederWatch partnership with CNC), and educational outreach.
Broad incumbents
- The Nature Conservancy (Ohio): National conservation organization with Ohio operations focused on land preservation and stewardship. Comparable in conservation mission and Ohio operating geography, though TNC operates at much larger scale and lacks CNC's visitor-facing programming focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER social profiles
Digital presenceCINCINNATI NATURE CENTER financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER
What does CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER do?
Cincinnati Nature Center operates two nature preserves totaling approximately 1,800 acres with more than 20 miles of hiking trails, offering daily admission, annual memberships, environmental education programs (including Nature Preschool, summer camps, scout programs, and OCVN certification), habitat conservation and citizen science initiatives, and venue rentals at historic lodges for weddings and corporate events. The organization also runs The Nature Shop retail store and accepts charitable donations to support its mission of inspiring conservation through personal experiences, education, and care for the land.
Is CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER a public or private company?
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER founded?
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER was founded in 1967.
Where is CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER based?
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER is headquartered in Milford, United States, in the North America region.
How does CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are daily Admission Fees, program Registration Fees, venue Rentals, nature Shop Sales and donations and Grants.
Who are CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mohonk Preserve, Tyler Arboretum, Morton Arboretum, The Dawes Arboretum, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Highlands Nature Sanctuary. Cincinnati Parks Foundation is listed as an others. Regional players are Great Parks of Hamilton County and Audubon Society of Ohio. The Nature Conservancy (Ohio) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER have an API?
No public API is recorded for CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER.
What industry is CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER in?
CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER's product category is Nature Preserve and Environmental Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAFAB, Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations). Its NAICS code is 71219 and its SIC code is 7900.