Fontenelle Forest

🌿 At this year's Feather Our Nest, Fontenelle Forest proudly honored our incredible Nature Search Volunteers! In 2008, Roland Barth and Neal Ratzlaff gathered a dedicated team to help photograph and document the unique species found within Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. Their efforts created Nature Search—an online portal highlighting the plants, animals, and fungi of Fontenelle Forest. Thanks to their hard work, Nature Search now features over 2,300 species and continues to grow as the team updates the site with new findings.🌱 Explore the rich biodiversity of our area and learn more about local species by visiting FFNatureSearch.org! Pictured: Neal Ratzlaff, Heidi and Ingrid Barth (representing Roland Barth), Loren and Babs Padelford, Craig Rotermund, and Phil Swanson. A special thank you to Eric Scholar, who is not pictured.

Thank you Helget Gas Products for volunteering with Fontenelle Forest's Land Stewardship team! These helpers from Helget assisted with brush piling, trail maintenance, and storm cleanup along Gray Squirrel Trail. Their time and effort helped us accomplish more than our team would on their own. Fulfilling our conservation goals is not possible without the help of volunteers! Visit our website to learn more about how you can volunteer individually or with a group: https://lnkd.in/gx7va4R7

🌿 At this year’s Feather Our Nes we honored lifelong educational ambassador Andy Saunders, whose contributions have left a lasting impact on Fontenelle Forest. Andy played a pivotal role in developing Fontenelle Forest's educational programs, including the invaluable Teacher Naturalists program. He connected countless visitors and members to the wonders of nature and has inspired generations to engage with the environment. Support Fontenelle Forest as a resource to our community for years to come with a gift in honor of Andy or your favorite naturalist educator. Give now: https://lnkd.in/gdpd_Yd7

Are you passionate about fostering a positive work environment and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations? Fontenelle Forest is seeking a dedicated Human Resources and Office Administrator to support our mission while overseeing HR processes and ensuring efficient operations. Learn more about this exciting opportunity and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gSxMXYhP

Thank you to Terracon for volunteering a second time this year! We're especially excited to see familiar faces as we continue our collaboration. During this volunteer workday, Terracon's team supported our conservation efforts by advancing the rain bar project along Ridge Trail. We appreciate the ongoing commitment from our partners and look forward to making a positive impact together! If you're interested in volunteering at Fontenelle Forest either with your organization/company or individually, visit https://lnkd.in/gx7va4R7 to learn more and sign up!

Thank you to Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service for sponsoring Acorn Acres Discover Day on Saturday, October 19! 🌳🍂 Not only did Arbor Aesthetics clear the the way for construction in Acorn Acres, their team has provided a generous donation to help us celebrate the opening of our reimagined outdoor playscape!🪵 During this fun filled day, you're invited to explore the long-awaited Acorn Acres, enjoy educational activities on the boardwalk, and grab some snacks from food vendors on the plaza. For details, visit https://lnkd.in/g43PM_Xd

Tomorrow, we look forward to seeing explorers of all ages enjoying the reimagined Acorn Acres after much anticipation! This playscape would not be possible without the generosity of our donor community, including: • John and Elizabeth Lauritzen Foundation • Bruce and Gerry Lauritzen • Pape Family Foundation • Bill and Sydney Winstrom • Parker Family Foundation • Dixon Family Foundation • Amy L. Scott Family Foundation • The Sherwood Foundation • Kiewit Company Foundation • William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation • Claire M. Hubbard Foundation

Fontenelle Forest would like to give a big thank you to Werner Enterprises for going above and beyond by volunteering a second time this year! This group of volunteers supported our conservation efforts by giving their time to support our Land Steward team. This included developing rain bars along Ridge Trail, located just off the first loop of the Boardwalk. When it rains, water flow into the channels and run off the trails, which help prevent erosion to our trails.

Fontenelle Forest is thrilled to share that in April of this year, Acorn Acres was awarded a Merit Award in the Unbuilt Design category by the Central States Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects! ⁠ ⁠ The intentionally accessible design, created by HDR showcases landscape architecture and utilizes innovative ideas to incorporate the native environment of the Forest. ⁠ ⁠ We are incredibly excited about the positive impact the design of Acorn Acres will bring to our community. Experience it in person starting October 9 and join us for a celebration at Acorn Acres Discovery Day on October 19! Visit https://lnkd.in/gE4vZQuE to learn more.

Volunteering at Fontenelle Forest can be a rewarding family experience! "I loved the ideas of the kids getting used to the habit of volunteering and starting them in a place we love, surrounded by nature, sounded great. We love coming to volunteer at the Forest and hope to continue to do it for years to come!!" -Gitzy Loder Stella (10), 4th grader: 'I enjoy helping volunteer at Habitat Hollow. I have learned to have fun even when you are cleaning.' Caleb (11), 6th grader: 'I have learned responsibility from volunteering at Fontenelle Forest. And it has showed me the things that come with helping the community.' We are so grateful for volunteers like Gitzy and her kids at Habitat Hollow. We couldn't do it without them! Join us and be part of something special at Fontenelle Forest. 🫂 We have so many ways to get involved. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/gnaJHA3i