Stokes Nature Center
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We work to make nature available to everyone so we can all be better stewards of it. Nature cares for all of us by making us healthier physically and mentally, but it needs us to be better so it can continue to do so.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
School Programs
Stokes offers 4- and 7-month programming options for schools! These monthly programs are built to Utah State Core Science Standards, and focuses on a location within Logan Canyon which we explore using scientific methods and tools. We work hand-in-hand with schools to develop the programming they want, build rapport with students, and provide experiences only possible through Cache Valley’s oldest and most trusted Nature Center. Programs are custom built to suit each class's needs, and can be delivered outside or inside, year round.
Summer Camps
At Stokes, we focus on bringing our natural world to everyone through adventures and experiences in Logan Canyon. All of our camps are built to support students in exploring new places and learning new things about our local ecosystem. We hike, learn, and have fun in our National Forest!
Nature Preschool
Stokes Nature Center is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of nature stewards. That's why we founded the areas first nature preschool. Based on the Swiss innovation of "Forest Preschools" and the growing momentum of the No Child Left Inside movement.
Our Nature Preschool provides the freedom to explore and play in nature while following Montessori principles, ecological lessons, and school readiness curriculum. These methods give each child the opportunity to develop their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Adult workshops
Stokes Nature Center offers a variety of programs for adults, both series and one-off programs, such as Maple Tapping Workshops, Sweetheart Snowshoes, flyfishing, plein air watercolors, wreathmaking and more. These programs change as the seasons change, so are updated frequently on our website.
Free Community Programs
Stokes Nature Center offers two free programs on a weekly basis: Nature Tales story and craft time for children and Canyon Conversations for adults, featuring local experts exploring humans, nature, and how we interact. All are welcome!
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of administrators and staff who plan and experience professional development activities together
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Professional development brings together all of our staff, full and part time, as well as invites other like minded nonprofits in the area to participate. These programs are essential to our success.
Numbered of staff who are satisfied to be an employee of the institution
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Staff complete a survey every year to report if they are happy with management, the work environment, and the tasks they are assigned. All rate the organization and work as 5/5 for the past 3 years.
Number of students who exhibit kindergarten readiness
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Nature Preschool
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
All of the children in our preschool are ready for kindergarten upon completion. The low numbers are because class size is small and represents 100% of those enrolled. Each year is at full enrollment.
Total number of fields trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
School Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of students per teacher during the reporting period
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Nature Preschool
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
These numbers reflect our preschool, but we never have more than 8-10 students per instructor in any course we offer.
Number of student suspensions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Nature Preschool
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Average dollar price for performance tickets
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In 2020, we offered multiple free virtual concerts, thus the drop in cost.
Total number of performances
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
These are part of a summer concert series. It is only one part of our suite of summer programming.
Number of acres of land protected
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We are a small grassroots nonprofit but we hold a conservation easement on a property in the heart of the valley. We work to maintain it every year.
Number of conservation actions at site(s)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Conservation actions take place at multiple locations as we serve the entire valley. Include planting native pollinator gardens, trail cleanup, tree plantings, and invasive species removal.
Total number of exhibitions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2020, we undertook a renovation of our nature center/museum and created exhibition space that did not exist before. We hope to continue these moving forward.
Total number of audience members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2020 included virtual concerts due to COVID. 2021 was a return to in-person concerts but had to limit attendance due to COVID. 2022 was the first year of "normal" concerts.
Number of students educated through field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
School Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total dollar amount of scholarship awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We provide scholarships to any and all of our programs and are only limited by the amount of donations in the fund. The more we have, the more we give.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goal is that all people are better stewards of the natural world. We can all do better, and through high quality, accessible, and affordable nature education, we empower and equip participants to take better care of our environment and our community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We know that people do not care for that which they do not know. We cannot expect our communities to care for the climate if they do not know about it; therefore, our mission is to make nature education possible for all people. It is the first step to making all people better stewards of the natural world. As part of that, we have created standards based school programs that ensure all children have access to quality, nature based education and a highly in demand nature preschool that is proven to close the achievement gap for children before they enter kindergarten. Furthermore, we know that access to the outdoors is scientifically proven to improve the physical and mental health of all people - lowering the rates of 15 diseases and significantly improving mental health. To ensure this is possible for all people, we keep our programming free or low cost, are constructing a fully accessible outdoor classroom and nature park, and offer a suite of scholarships so no one is denied access to the outdoors.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have a highly qualified staff with decades of experience in leading nonprofits, designing environmental education, and delivering high quality program. Through the past 25 years, the organization has survived a recession, a pandemic, multiple environmental challenges, and more, and been able to build the trust of all those who attend. We have a dedicated board of directors that supplements the needs of the organization so that what we do not have on staff, we have available through the board.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have served more than 10,000 every year, and seen the impact as the children that go through our programs grow up to be advocates for our natural world. We have overseen the care and protection of multiple open spaces, including our own and our natural forest, and been involved in the effort to pass a bond to protect additional open and green spaces in our valley.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Stokes Nature Center
Board of directorsas of 07/27/2023
Alaina Montgomery
Cornerstone Real Estate Professionals
Term: 2022 - 2023
Jennifer Bettencourt
Space Dynamics Laboratory
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 07/27/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.