Dear Friend,
I never imagined CEED would be tested by a pandemic shutdown in 2020! I hope you and your loved ones are getting through this difficult time. What could have been a disaster for CEED turned into some amazing innovations, and I’m so grateful to you and all our friends.
When the pandemic shut down schools, it upended our 2020 budget, which was based on a host of school programs in April, May, and June.
We re-invented our Summer Nature Experience with COVID19 rules. And sold out all three weeks!!
To help students doing virtual and hybrid school models this fall, we designed the Nature of Science series. Watching kids get wet and dirty doing hands-on science outdoors reminded me of how I grew up, and why I fell in love with nature. What fun!
Thanks to volunteers and supporters, we made progress restoring the Washington Lodge and our grounds. We repaired some of the electrical system, created a public bathroom, and removed invasive plants.
One of 2020’s biggest developments is that the CEED Board hired Sally Wellinger as our first professional Executive Director. This is huge!
Sally has a deep commitment to outdoor education, and at a time when so many nonprofit organizations are struggling to survive, her leadership is moving CEED forward. She is stepping into the role of my co-founder, Rebecca Muellers. We are all so grateful to Rebecca for all she has done to help CEED thrive. Of course, continuing to thrive in a pandemic is a huge challenge. I’m writing today to ask if you can help again.
One major need is for funds to renovate what we call Great Hall West, one of the two large first floor rooms in the Washington Lodge. We need to install a fire protection system, repair walls and floors. Then we’ll finally be able to open the Lodge to the public!! We could teach classes, welcome field trips, hold meetings with volunteers … year-round!
I hope you can see how hard we’re working to serve our community. If you can help with a generous donation, I would be so grateful!
Sincerely,
Ranger Eric Powers
Wildlife Biologist, Program & Site Director
