Organization: BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER
Mission: BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER IS A UNIQUE URBAN NATURAL AREA DEDICATED TO EDUCATING AND INSPIRING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO RESPECT, PROTECT, AND CONNECT WITH OUR NATURAL WORLD.
Activities: BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 365 DAYS A YEAR FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET, AND WE HAVE OVER 50,000 FREE CHOICE VISITORS VISIT THE SITE EACH YEAR. BLUFF LAKE IS LOCATED IN THE MIDST OF A DENSELY POPULATED URBAN AREA, AND MAKES THE OUTDOORS ACCESSIBLE TO THOUSANDS OF DENVER AREA FAMILIES. WE PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE EDUCATION TO OVER 8,000 KIDS PER YEAR THROUGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, 85% OF WHICH ARE TO FREE TO THE SCHOOL. IN ADDITION TO OUR FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS, WE PROVIDE ENGAGING EXPERIENCES FOR THOUSANDS MORE EACH YEAR THROUGH FREE FAMILY DAYS, FIRESIDE CHATS, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, BIRD WALKS, AND MORE. WE ALSO HOST 10 WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMP EACH YEAR, WHERE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS GET THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE OUR SITE.
IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE EXPERIENCES LISTED ABOVE WE MANAGE OUR WILDLIFE REFUGE, PRESERVING AND RESTORING OUR 123-ACRE SITE WHICH HAS PRAIRIE, WETLAND, AND RIPARIAN HABITATS. YEARLY ONGOING PROJECTS INCLUDE TRAIL RESTORATION, TREE PLANTING, SEEDING DISTURBED AREAS, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF FENCING, SITE SECURITY AND SIGNAGE, AND MORE. IN 2019 WE ALSO COMPLETED SEVERAL CAPITAL SITE PROJECTS INCLUDING A 10,000 GRANT FROM XCEL ENERGY TO ADD RENEWABLE ENERGY TO OUR BUILDING GIVING US ONSITE POWER FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND A 74,000 GRANT FROM GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO TO MAKE OUR BUILDING MORE USABLE BY ADDING ADDITIONAL SHADE, WINDOWS, AND REMOVING AN INTERIOR WALL.
NTEE category: Environment
Secondary category: Animal-Related