Dear Friends of BLNC,
The growth that Bluff Lake Nature Center has seen over the past handful of years is showing no signs of slowing down. Much of 2021 was spent strengthening our organization, ensuring that we will be here long into the future. Our staff and Board of Directors engaged in an analysis of our Mission, Vision, and Core Values (check them out below), giving them thoughtful updates that better reflect the important work we are doing. We also invested significantly in our staff and volunteers, providing more intentional trainings that included topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion; child mental health and development; and working with individuals experiencing homelessness.
As our organization has grown, so has the team that supports us. Our current team includes four full-time staff members, three full-time AmeriCorps environmental educators, a 10 person Board of Directors, multiple committees, eight full-time summer camp staff, and a dedicated cadre of both site and education volunteers and interns. Together we are able to manage our site, which had more visitors in 2021 than ever before, engage with thousands of kids and families through programing, and further our mission of making nature accessible in the city. I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish and excited for what's next!
-Rachel Hutchens, Executive Director
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Please contact BLNC staff if you would like a hardcopy of this report sent to your home. [email protected] |
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Our New Vision, Mission, and Values |
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VISION:
A place where people and nature coexist and thrive.
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MISSION:
BLNC educates individuals to be engaged, resilient, and curious; conserves a natural area in the city; furthers equity in outdoor access; and nurtures the health and well-being of communities and ecosystems.
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VALUES:
Education
Conservation
Equity
Community Wellbeing
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Major Highlights from 2021 |
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85,863 Site Visitors, +1,000 from 2020, 40% increase from 2019
83,187 Research grade observations made through eBird and iNaturalist by the public, volunteers, and staff to date
677 Documented plant and animal species on the site
2,260+ Hours of Volunteer Work from 240 Volunteers
8,200+ Students Learning Virtually and In Person
10 Weeks of Summer Camp with 407 Campers
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"Every day, they return dirty, sweaty and smelling like nature from the long day outside, and we love it!"
-2021 Camper Parent
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"Every day at Bluff Lake I am infected by the joy, energy, and curiosity of kids, and inspired by the passion, generosity, and brilliance of volunteers and staff."
-Heidi Pfeiffer, BLNC Education Manager
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"What an amazing place. So calming and peaceful. It’s places like this that show us that we can take care of nature."
-2021 Visitor
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"I loved the scavenger hunt and getting to engage with more area of the preserve."
-2021 Boo on the Bluff Parent
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"The play stations are so fun and really get the kids excited about continuing along the trail!"
-2021 Site Visitor
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"I got hugs from my students as we got off the bus back at school, all with ear-to-ear smiles."
-School Teacher
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Thank you to our 2021 donors and sponsors over $1,000! |
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David and Jody Smith
Hillary and Aron Dobos
Scot and Karen Barker
Peter and Terri Konrad
Jonathan and Mollie Fitzpatrick
Katie Robb Davis and Bill Davis
Harold and Susan Skramstad
George and Katherine Ho
Cole and Margaret Lundquist
Susie Crane and Gary Prado
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Steve and Jackie Norris
Steve and Anne Hebert
Tania Zeigler and Kenneth Ho
Ann Lederer and Robert Hickler
Mark and Jann Engelstad
Eleanor and Bill Revelle
Maggie Rohs
Linda Brown
And all of our anonymous donors
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Community support makes our work possible. |
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Thank you for being a part of Bluff Lake! |
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(L-R) Front: Lauren Godfrey (AmeriCorps Educator), Rachel Hutchens (Executive Director), Leila Regan-Porter (Development Manager)
Back: Wyatt Ellison (AmeriCorps Educator), Erickson Smith (Land Manager), Heidi Pfeiffer (Education Manager)
Not pictured: Garrett Brown (AmeriCorps Educator)
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