Wild Bear Nature Center

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Wild Bear Nature Center Wild Bear Nature Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation and is the only all ages nature center in Boulder County.

Wild Bear is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with a mission to inspire a lifelong connection to nature and community through creative exploration of the outdoors. Since 1995, Wild Bear has engaged hundreds of thousands of people with nature through the open and free nature center as well as hands-on programs for all ages. Wild Bear was a key partner in the preservation of Mud Lake Open Space (now thousands of acres preserved) and removed over 30 tons of trash from the land making it one of the healthiest wetland habitats in Boulder County. In 2010, Wild Bear opened the interim nature center in downtown Nederland and now is working toward building a permanent nature center near the Town of Nederland, the headwaters of the region's watershed.

Colorado is home to 19 bat species. Many of them stay and hibernate here, while others migrate. The species that stay a...
10/26/2026

Colorado is home to 19 bat species. Many of them stay and hibernate here, while others migrate.
The species that stay are more susceptible to White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease spreading throughout caves that causes the bats to wake up and burn fat reserves too quickly.
Help stop the spread by decontaminating your gear and staying out of closed caves.

10/23/2026

Fun field trip Friday! It was a beautiful day to run & play with NES 1st & 2nd grade! See you next time at the NEW Wild Bear!

Major thanks to Rayback Collective for having us as the non profit of the month! We loved having our staff & capital cam...
10/22/2026

Major thanks to Rayback Collective for having us as the non profit of the month! We loved having our staff & capital campaign meetings outside on a beautiful Boulder day. Thanks Rayback! Give ‘em a visit and show everyone some love!

Grab your costumes, family, and friends and join us on a night hike at Mud Lake listening and learning about owls and no...
10/21/2026

Grab your costumes, family, and friends and join us on a night hike at Mud Lake listening and learning about owls and nocturnal life in the mountains!

Register for the hike this Saturday night at wildbear dot org!

Bighorn sheep settle into high mountain valleys during the rut where males clash horns at speeds up to 40mph! Oof. That'...
10/19/2026

Bighorn sheep settle into high mountain valleys during the rut where males clash horns at speeds up to 40mph!
Oof. That's a baaaad headache.

Thanks to for having us at the non profit of the month! While you’re enjoying great food, cold drinks, and the best bac...
10/14/2026

Thanks to for having us at the non profit of the month!

While you’re enjoying great food, cold drinks, and the best backyard vibe in Boulder at Rayback, you can make a mountain-sized difference with just a little bit of spare change. By rounding up your tab at the Rayback Collective this month, you are directly supporting Wild Bear Nature Center—Boulder County’s only free, all-ages nature center. Every single cent helps fund vital hands-on eco-education for kids, protects our local mountain ecosystems, and ensures that the wild spaces we all love remain vibrant and accessible. It’s the easiest way to give back to the outdoors while you kick back!

Pine squirrels bury cones deep under scales and cores of old cones where it is cool, damp, and without much oxygen. Thi...
10/12/2026

Pine squirrels bury cones deep under scales and cores of old cones where it is cool, damp, and without much oxygen. This preserves the cones without them opening for years.
Putting all thier cones in one midden makes for very territorial squirrels- perhaps you've heard them telling you that you're in thier territory?

There's still time to register your 6-13-year-olds to spend next Monday and Tuesday on the trail with us! 🍂🍁On Oct 12th,...
10/10/2026

There's still time to register your 6-13-year-olds to spend next Monday and Tuesday on the trail with us! 🍂🍁

On Oct 12th, we'll be getting our hands nice and dirty as we learn about the importance of the harvest and explore our artistic abilities! The following day, Oct 13th, will be full of spooky games and activities as we learn about the lives of our nighttime friends! 🌲🦇🦉🌙

Experience the joys and mysteries of the autumnal season with us at Wild Bear! 🌾🌻

Register at the link in our bio. Shuttle to/from Boulder available ✨✨

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the Lakeview Fire took Wild Bear’s home of 15 years, along with so many othe...
10/09/2026

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the Lakeview Fire took Wild Bear’s home of 15 years, along with so many other beloved businesses in our community.

Today, we remember Westie, Luna, Sal, Sally, Vinny, the isopods, the roaches, and the crickets— our much-loved animal ambassadors.

It’s been a year of limbo between our former and new nature centers, but so much has happened along the way! We ran programs as soon as two days after the fire, welcomed Trish as our new Executive Director, and managed to still hold an incredible summer camp despite the operational impact of the fire.

And now, we’re just weeks away from moving into our new home! We couldn’t be more excited to share the new Wild Bear Nature Center with you, but there are still important pieces to complete and we need your help to make it happen!

Whether you give, spread the word, or simply continue to cheer us on, we couldn’t do it without our incredible community— THANK YOU.

Have you heard of our new school days-off program? Well, it’s not too late to register for our upcoming PEAK Days Off (P...
10/07/2026

Have you heard of our new school days-off program? Well, it’s not too late to register for our upcoming PEAK Days Off (Playful Educational Adventures for Kids)!! 🥳🥳

On Oct 12th, we’ll celebrate the harvest season and learn about the significance of autumn around the world! Then prepare to get spooky on Oct 13th as we investigate the lives of our most elusive neighbors, nocturnal animals! It’s sure to be a jam-packed couple of days full of stories, crafts, science, and exploration! 🌲🍂🕸️

Shuttle to/from Boulder is still available. Register at the link in our bio ☀️

Address

PO Box 3017
Nederland, CO
80466

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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