Overview
What is Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center?
The Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center, located in Shaker Heights, Ohio, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving a natural area, connecting people with nature, and fostering environmental stewardship. Known for its exceptional environmental education programs, the center has made a significant impact on children's learning, serving thousands each year through classes, camps, and hands-on field experiences. Their curriculum emphasizes Ohio's academic content standards, as shown by their successful completion of the Applied Science for Kids (ASK) program for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Moreover, the center provides professional development opportunities for teachers and offers services to Head Start students and teachers, in addition to schools from the Cleveland Heights-University Heights and Shaker Heights school districts. The Nature Center also welcomes visitors for recreational visits, attracting over 140,000 people to its trails last year. Family and adult programming, outdoor adventure camps, and special events are among the offerings that cater to various age groups. Volunteers play a crucial role in the center's activities, providing over 6,000 hours of assistance annually in land management, education, events, and administration. The volunteer program contributes to youth development by offering job skills and opportunities. In addition to its educational initiatives, the Nature Center has launched the Enhancing Your Outdoor Classroom Campaign, a multi-year capital campaign aimed at restoring and enhancing its trails and habitats. Significant achievements in this campaign include constructing an ADA-accessible amphitheater, universally-designed boardwalks, renovating boardwalks, bridges, and a nature play area, and building an ADA-accessible treehouse, community trailhead entrances, parking lot renovations, and a sustainability hub. The center has also undertaken a comprehensive restoration initiative to remove invasive plant species and enhance biodiversity on its site, clearing 7 acres of invasive species and planting 8,000 native trees, shrubs, and perennials. By any measure, Fiscal Year 2022 was a successful year in furthering the mission of the Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center.
Official website here: www.shakerlakes.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 97% (Four-Star out of Four Stars)
Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center has received an impressive Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its high standards in accountability and finance. The organization boasts a perfect score of 100 in several categories, including independent board membership and financial oversight, indicating a strong commitment to governance and transparency. With a program expense ratio of 78.06%, the center effectively allocates funds towards its initiatives, demonstrating a focus on mission-driven activities.
The organization excels in maintaining low liabilities and a high working capital ratio, ensuring financial stability. Additionally, its fundraising efficiency ratio of $0.09 signifies effective fundraising practices. The center's commitment to leadership development is highlighted by a perfect score in this area, indicating a strong focus on cultivating effective leadership within the organization.
While it has a solid score in culture and community, at 82, there may be areas for improvement in engagement or outreach. Overall, Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center exemplifies a well-managed nonprofit with strong financial health and a clear mission focus, contributing positively to its community.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
What do the Facebook reviews say about Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center?
90% of 49 reviewers on Facebook recommend Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center. Here is a summary of their reviews:
Many users reflect positively on their experiences, highlighting the impactful role the nature center played in their lives, particularly in fostering a love for nature and education. One reviewer, reminiscing about their childhood, expressed gratitude for the center’s contribution to their development as a naturalist, illustrating its lasting influence.
Overall, the sentiment towards the nature center is warm and appreciative, with patrons recognizing the value of its programs and commitment to the community. The center seems to effectively deliver on its mission to connect individuals with the natural world, creating positive memories and experiences for visitors.
This AI summary has been generated from reviews found on Facebook.
Is Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center legitimate?
Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $122,616
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $777,929
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.shakerlakes.org
What is the mission statement of Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center?
The Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center's mission is dedicated to preserving a natural area, fostering connections with nature, and promoting environmental stewardship. To achieve this, the center engages in natural resource management and environmental education programs. Notably, it offers educational programs and camps for thousands of children annually, both in classrooms and outdoors, ensuring compliance with Ohio academic content standards. The center also provides professional development for teachers and serves numerous local schools and school districts. Additionally, the center hosts events, volunteers, and interns, contributing to youth development and opportunities, and undertaking capital projects to restore and enhance its trails and habitats. In 2022, the center completed several successful projects, such as constructing the Lavelle Family Outdoor Amphitheater and the All People's Trail Boardwalk, fostering a more immersive and inclusive experience for visitors and students.
Official website here: www.shakerlakes.org
Who is the CEO of Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center?
Peter Bode is the Retired 2023 of Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center.
Official website here: www.shakerlakes.org
What is the revenue of Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center?
Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center's revenue in 2022 was $1,822,866.
Official website here: www.shakerlakes.org
Who are the executives of Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center during 2022 was $25,015. There are 36 employees and 375 volunteers at Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center.
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Official website here: www.shakerlakes.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center?
Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.shakerlakes.org
Learn more at the official website: www.shakerlakes.org
Mission Statement of Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center
The Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center, a leading institution in environmental education, is committed to conserving a natural area, connecting people with nature, and inspiring environmental stewardship. To fulfill this mission, the center engages in natural resource management and environmental education programs.
Throughout the years, the center has been renowned for its excellent environmental education for individuals of all ages, particularly for its early childhood curricula for Head Starts and other preschools in the area. The center offers environmental education programs and camps for thousands of children each year, both in classrooms and on its trails and habitats, which serve as outdoor classrooms. The center regularly evaluates and modifies its curricula to ensure they meet all Ohio academic content standards.
In addition to serving visiting students and program attendees, the center welcomed over 140,000 additional recreational visits to its trails. The center also serves numerous schools and districts, including the Cleveland Heights-University Heights and Shaker Heights school districts. The center's efforts extend beyond education, with volunteer programs contributing to youth development and opportunities. Volunteers assist the center in achieving its goals of conserving the land, connecting people to nature, and inspiring environmental stewardship.
Volunteers are involved in various activities such as pulling invasive species, planting native species, demonstration garden maintenance, outdoor adventure camps, education classes, welcome desk assistance, special events assistance, and office work. The volunteer program at the Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center works with adult individuals, youth (13 and older), high school senior project candidates, school groups (both college and younger), and corporate groups to provide meaningful experiences at the center.
In September 2017, the center launched the Enhancing Your Outdoor Classroom Campaign, a multi-year, 6.1 million dollar capital campaign to restore and enhance its trails and habitats that serve thousands of visitors and school children annually. Capital projects completed between 2018-2021 included the new ADA-accessible Lavelle Family Outdoor Amphitheater, the New All People's Trail Boardwalk, reconstruction of boardwalks, two bridges, and the addition of an ADA-accessible entrance and nature play area, as well as a new wetland observation deck on the Stearns Trail, and an ADA-accessible treehouse, community trailhead entrances, parking lot renovations, and a new sustainability hub to house the land management equipment. Over the last four years, the center has undertaken a comprehensive restoration initiative to remove invasive plant species and foster biodiversity on its site. They have now cleared 7 acres of invasive species and planted 8,000 native trees, shrubs, and perennials, and erected extensive deer fencing to help protect this investment in their natural history and future.
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Impact
June, 2024
The Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center has had a significant impact on the community and the environment. It has been a leader in providing excellent environmental education for individuals of all ages, particularly known for its early childhood curricula for Head Starts and other preschools in the area. The Nature Center offers environmental education programs and camps for thousands of children each year, both in its classrooms and on its trails and habitats, serving as its outdoor classroom.
In addition to providing educational programs, the Nature Center also engages volunteers, interns, and service-learning groups to assist in land management, education, events, and administration. These volunteers contribute a substantial amount of hours, equivalent to having nearly 3.5 full-time staff members, helping the organization conserve the land, connect people to nature, and inspire environmental stewardship.
Furthermore, the Nature Center launched the Enhancing Your Outdoor Classroom Campaign, a multi-year capital campaign to restore and enhance its trails and habitats. Through this initiative, various projects have been completed, including the construction of an ADA-accessible outdoor amphitheater, boardwalks, bridges, nature play areas, and a sustainability hub. The Center has also undertaken a comprehensive restoration initiative to remove invasive plant species and promote biodiversity on its site.
Overall, the Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center's impact is evident in its efforts to educate and engage the community in environmental stewardship, conservation, and connection with nature.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $700
- Program Service Revenue: $238,528
- Gross Receipts: $2,003,053
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $7,355,532
- Total Liabilities: $455,239
- Net Assets: $6,900,293
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Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
SEASONAL YOUTH CAMPS/OTHER
Revenue
$146,165
TEACHING FEES
Revenue
$92,363
Organization Details
Founding Year
1966
Phone
(216) 321-5935Principal Officer
Peter Bode
Main Address
2600 SOUTH PARK BOULEVARD, SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH, 44120
Website
www.shakerlakes.orgNTEE Category
Code: C600 - Environment
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