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HIGHLANDS CENTER FOR NATURAL HISTORY

PRESCOTT, AZ · EIN 860798677 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE C600 · Environment · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.highlandscenter.org
revenue
$866K
expenses
$875K
net assets
$3.4M
employees
18
volunteers
120
program ratio
76%
mission · from form 990

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF YAVAPAI COUNTRY (ARIZONA), PROMOTING A GREATER APPRECIATION OF NATURE, AND PROMOTING BETTER CARE TAKING OF THE CENTRAL ARIZONA HIGHLANDS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Highlands Center for Natural History is a nonprofit organization based in Prescott, Arizona, that provides outdoor education programs aimed at fostering a connection between individuals and the natural world. It serves children and adults through various initiatives, including field trips, nature camps, and community events, all designed to promote environmental stewardship and appreciation for the Central Highlands.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Field Trips
Science and experiential-based field trips for students to engage with the natural world and learn about ecology.
Nature Camps
Programs for children of all ages to immerse themselves in nature and learn about the local ecosystem.
Schoolyard Habitat
A partnership with local schools to develop and maintain outdoor native habitats and facilitate lessons.
Teen Internship Program
A free internship program for youth ages 14-17 to develop leadership and public speaking skills while connecting with nature.
activities · 8 groups

what they do

  • Nature-Based Environmental Education Programs 18 activities
    • Conducting School Field Trips
      Provides science and experiential-based school field trips for students on its trails, facilitated by education staff, including exploration, science education, hiking, and reflection. The program accommodates one class per day in the Fall and up to two classes per day (max 60 students) in the Spring.
    • Conducting School Field Trips
      Provides science and experiential-based school field trips for students, facilitated by education staff, which include exploration, science education, hiking, and reflection on Highlands Center trails. The program accommodates one class per day in Fall and up to two classes per day with a maximum of 60 students in Spring.
    • Conducting School Field Trips
      Provides science and experiential-based school field trips for students on its trails, facilitated by education staff, including exploration, science education, hiking, and reflection. The center accommodates one class per day in the Fall and up to two classes per day with a maximum of 60 students in the Spring.
    • Conducting School Field Trips and Educational Programs
      Provides science and experiential-based school field trips for students, facilitated by education staff, which include exploration, science education, hiking, and reflection. Accommodates one class per day in Fall and up to two classes per day with a maximum of 60 students in Spring.
    • Offering Early Childhood Nature Programs
      Offers "Family Forest Play" sessions for children ages 0-5 and their families, which include stories, games, crafts, hikes, and nature exploration. The organization also operates "Pinecone Pals," a nature club for children ages 3-5, featuring outdoor adventures, hands-on learning, and guided activities.
    • Offering Early Childhood Nature Programs
      Offers "Family Forest Play" sessions for children ages 0-5 and their families, which include stories, games, crafts, hikes, and nature exploration. The center also operates "Pinecone Pals," a nature club for children ages 3-5, featuring outdoor adventures, hands-on learning, and guided activities.
    • Offering Early Childhood Nature Programs
      Operates "Family Forest Play" sessions for children ages 0-5 and their families, which include stories, games, crafts, hikes, and nature exploration. Also runs "Pinecone Pals," a nature club for children ages 3-5, featuring outdoor adventures, hands-on learning, and guided activities.
    • Offering Early Childhood Nature Programs
      Operates "Family Forest Play" programs for children ages 0-5 and their families, which include stories, games, crafts, hikes, and nature exploration. Also runs "Pinecone Pals," a nature club for children ages 3-5, featuring outdoor adventures, hands-on learning, and guided activities.
    • Providing Adult and Community Education Programs
      Offers educational programs for adult learners on and offsite about the natural history of the Central Highlands of Arizona, including presentations, hands-on workshops, a Community Nature Study Series, and a Natural History Book Club. Also hosts "Discovery Saturdays" with learning stations.
    • Providing Adult and Community Education Programs
      Offers educational programs for adult learners on and offsite about the natural history of the Central Highlands of Arizona, including presentations, hands-on workshops, a Community Nature Study Series, and a Natural History Book Club. The center also hosts "Discovery Saturdays" with learning stations.
    • Providing Adult and Community Education Programs
      Offers educational programs for adult learners on and offsite about the natural history of the Central Highlands of Arizona, including presentations, hands-on workshops, a Community Nature Study Series, and a Natural History Book Club. The organization also hosts "Discovery Saturdays" with learning stations.
    • Providing Adult and Community Education Programs
      Offers educational programs for adult learners on and offsite about the natural history of the Central Highlands of Arizona, including presentations, hands-on workshops, a Community Nature Study Series, and a Natural History Book Club. The center also conducts guided nature walks with local experts.
    • Providing Nature Camps for Children
      Operates Nature Camps for children of all ages (3.5-13 years old), including a "Seedlings" program, to immerse them in nature, teach about the Central Highlands' ecology, and provide day programs with hiking, experiments, games, and nature-based activities. Partial scholarships are available through the Juniper Fund.
    • Providing Nature Camps for Children
      Operates Nature Camps for children of all ages (3.5-13), including Seedlings programs, to immerse them in nature, teach about the Central Highlands' ecology, and provide day programs with hiking, experiments, games, and nature-based activities.
    • Providing Nature Camps for Children
      Operates Nature Camps for children of all ages (3.5-13 years old), including a "Seedlings" program, to immerse them in nature through hiking, experiments, games, and nature-based activities, teaching them about the Central Highlands' ecology. Partial scholarships are available through the Juniper Fund.
    • Providing Nature Camps for Children
      Operates Nature Camps for children of all ages, including specific programs for ages 3.5-5 (Seedlings) and 6-13, immersing them in nature through hiking, experiments, games, and nature-based activities to teach about the Central Highlands' ecology.
    • Volunteer Engagement
      Supports nature-based education programs, welcomes visitors, supports events, and assists with daily operations on campus through volunteer involvement.
    • Volunteer Program
      Supports nature-based education programs, welcomes visitors, supports events, and assists with daily operations on campus through volunteer involvement.
  • Nature Center & Trail Maintenance 8 activities
    • Maintaining Accessible Trails and Facilities
      Maintains ADA-accessible grounds around its buildings, including a paved Discovery Gardens loop and a three-quarter mile gravel Stretch Pebble Loop Nature Trail. The center also provides accessible pathways, interpretive signage, restroom facilities, and free parking.
    • Maintaining Hiking Trails
      Maintains three miles of hiking trails at its Lynx Creek campus site within the Prescott National Forest, including the ADA-accessible 0.75-mile Stretch Pebble Loop Nature Trail and the 1.5-mile Highlands Trail loop, both with interpretive guides. The organization also provides free parking and restroom facilities at its trailheads.
    • Maintaining Hiking Trails
      Maintains three miles of hiking trails at its Lynx Creek campus site within the Prescott National Forest, including ADA-accessible trails like the three-quarter mile Stretch Pebble Loop Nature Trail and the 1.5-mile Highlands Trail loop, both with interpretive guides. The center also provides restroom facilities and free parking at its trailheads.
    • Maintaining Hiking Trails
      Maintains three miles of hiking trails at its Lynx Creek campus within the Prescott National Forest, including the ADA-accessible three-quarter mile Stretch Pebble Loop Nature Trail and the 1.5-mile Highlands Trail loop, both with interpretive guides. The center also provides free parking and restroom facilities at its trailheads.
    • Operating a Nature Center and Gardens
      Operates a nature center in Prescott, AZ, which includes the James Family Discovery Gardens (a five-acre arboretum showcasing Central Highlands biodiversity), ADA-accessible grounds, and various learning circles with interpretive signage. The center and gardens are open seven days a week with no admission or parking fees.
    • Operating a Nature Center and Gardens
      Operates a nature center in Prescott, AZ, featuring the James Family Discovery Gardens, an accessible native garden and arboretum showcasing the biological diversity and plant communities of the Central Highlands. The center includes ADA-accessible grounds, various Learning Circles with interpretive signage, and facilities open seven days a week with no admission or parking fees.
    • Operating a Nature Center and Gardens
      Operates a nature center in Prescott, AZ, which includes the James Family Discovery Gardens, an accessible native garden and arboretum showcasing the biological diversity of the Central Highlands, and three miles of hiking trails within the Prescott National Forest. The center is open seven days a week with no admission or parking fees.
    • Operating a Nature Center and Gardens
      Operates a nature center in Prescott, AZ, featuring the James Family Discovery Gardens, an accessible native garden and arboretum showcasing the biological diversity and plant communities of the Central Highlands. The center includes ADA-accessible grounds, various learning circles with interpretive signage, and offers free admission and parking.
  • Meeting & Conference Room Rental 4 activities
    • Hosting Community Events and Facility Rentals
      Organizes an annual community-wide Hiking Spree event and offers various facilities for events, including the Kieckhefer Ramada, Kiwanis Amphitheater, Kieckhefer Classroom, and Margaret T. Morris Patio, with capacities ranging from 85 to 120 people.
    • Hosting Community Events and Facility Rentals
      Hosts an annual community-wide Hiking Spree event and offers various facilities for events, including the Kieckhefer Ramada, Kiwanis Amphitheater, Kieckhefer Classroom, and Margaret T. Morris Patio, with capacities ranging from 85 to 120 people.
    • Offering Event Venue Rentals
      Provides various spaces for events, including the Kieckhefer Ramada (open-air, seats 85), the Kiwanis Amphitheater (open-air, seats 120), the Kieckhefer Classroom (indoor with kitchen access), and the Margaret T. Morris Patio (outdoor, seats 120).
    • Providing Event Venue Rentals
      Offers various spaces for events, including the Kieckhefer Ramada (open-air, seats 85), the Kiwanis Amphitheater (open-air, seats 120), the Kieckhefer Classroom (indoor with kitchen access), and the Margaret T. Morris Patio (outdoor, seats 120).
  • Environmental & Operational Certification Achievement 3 activities
    • Achieving Arboretum Accreditation
      Achieved ArbNet Level I Arboretum Accreditation, affirming its commitment to stewarding and celebrating the biodiversity of its ecoregion.
    • Arboretum Accreditation
      Achieved ArbNet Level I Arboretum Accreditation, affirming its commitment to stewarding and celebrating the biodiversity of its ecoregion.
    • Arboretum Accreditation
      Achieved ArbNet Level I Arboretum Accreditation, demonstrating its commitment to stewarding and celebrating the biodiversity of its ecoregion.
  • Youth Internship Placement 3 activities
    • Offering Teen Internship Program
      Offers a free Teen Internship Program for ages 14-17 to develop leadership, group management, public speaking skills, and foster a connection with nature.
    • Offering a Teen Internship Program
      Offers a free Teen Internship Program for ages 14-17 to develop leadership, group management, and public speaking skills, and foster a connection with nature.
    • Providing Teen Internship Program
      Offers a free Teen Internship Program for ages 14-17 to develop leadership, group management, and public speaking skills, and foster a connection with nature.
  • Needs-Based Educational Financial Aid 2 activities
    • Offering Program Scholarships
      Offers partial scholarships for its programs through the Juniper Fund to increase accessibility.
    • Providing Scholarships for Programs
      Offers partial scholarships for its programs through the Juniper Fund to increase accessibility.
  • Visitor-Facing Educational Retail Operations 2 activities
    • Operating a Nature Store
      Operates the Benson Family Nature Store from Tuesday to Saturday, offering nature-related books, guides, apparel, and gifts.
    • Operating a Nature Store
      Operates the Benson Family Nature Store from Tuesday to Saturday, offering nature-related books, guides, apparel, and gifts.
  • Uncategorized 7 activities
    • Hosting Community Events and Programs
      Organizes an annual community-wide Hiking Spree event and offers year-round outdoor educational programs and events for children and families on its trails and in its Discovery Gardens.
    • Hosting Community Events and Programs
      Offers year-round outdoor educational programs and hosts community events on its 80-acre campus, including programs for children and families on its trails and in its Discovery Gardens. The center also organizes an annual community-wide Hiking Spree event.
    • Implementing Schoolyard Habitat Program
      Implements a Schoolyard Habitat Program annually with a new school, developing and maintaining outdoor native habitats and facilitating standards-based lessons.
    • Implementing Schoolyard Habitat Program
      Annually implements a Schoolyard Habitat Program with a new school, developing and maintaining outdoor native habitats and facilitating standards-based lessons.
    • Implementing Schoolyard Habitat Program
      Implements an annual Schoolyard Habitat Program with a new school, developing and maintaining outdoor native habitats and facilitating standards-based lessons.
    • Implementing a Schoolyard Habitat Program
      Implements an annual Schoolyard Habitat Program with a new school, developing and maintaining outdoor native habitats and facilitating standards-based lessons.
    • Offering Guided Nature Walks and Interpretive Experiences
      Conducts guided nature walks on wooded trails with local experts to educate participants about the Central Highlands ecoregion. Provides interpretive signage at Learning Circles and complementary guides for popular hiking trails like the Stretch-Pebble Loop and Highlands Trail loop.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$866K
Contributions & grants$590K68%
Program service revenue$120K14%
Investment income$39K5%
Other revenue$116K
expenses
Total expenses$875K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$515K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.48M
Cash$744K
Investments$777K
Liabilities$124K
Net assets$3.35M
Liquid reserves20.9 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +21.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DAVE IRVINE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $86K
board members · 13
  • ANN BAUGH — BOARD MEMBER
  • GREG STEWART — BOARD MEMBER
  • LEE ATONA — SECRETARY
  • MARY ANN MIRA — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARY KRYZSIK — VICE CHAIR
  • MAURINE WISE — BOARD MEMBER (THRU 8/21)
  • MICHAEL BACCI — BOARD MEMBER (THRU 12/21)
  • NEAL SNELLER — BOARD MEMBER
  • NORM MEIER — CHAIR
  • PAM CATLIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • PETER PERCY — BOARD MEMBER
  • RON WILLIAMS — BOARD MEMBER
  • TIM JORDHEIM — FINANCE CHAIR
relationships · 5

who they work with

  • Arizona Master Naturalists (AZMN) of the Central Highlands Chapter Partner — Partners on the Community Nature Study Series for adults.
  • James Family Funder — The Discovery Gardens are named the "James Family Discovery Gardens".
  • Prescott National Forest Government — Operates under a special use permit with the Prescott National Forest.
  • Prescott National Forest Partner — Its Lynx Creek campus site features hiking trails within the Prescott National Forest, and its trails connect to other hiking trails within the forest.
  • Prescott community Partner — Provides nature-based education and community programs in partnership with the Prescott community.