GiveBIG to the Dungeness River Nature Center

For many of us, change can be scary; something to be avoided. But when we look closely at nature, we see that change is both never-ending and necessary for growth and development: leaves turn colors and fall from the trees; salmon depart their native rivers and streams for years in the Pacific Ocean; spring rains give way to summer sunshine. In short, change just is.

Like the natural world around us, the River Center and the programs and services we offer are catalysts for personal change—opportunities for each of us to grow and reflect on the kind of world we want to live in. When we recognize change both in ourselves and in nature, it unites us into one system, one community, one family.

This GiveBIG, we’re highlighting how “Change is in Our Nature” by sharing impact stories from people who have been personally changed or transformed in some (often unexpected) way by the River Center. But we’ll also hear stories of recent and upcoming changes to the River Center itself in response to the changing needs, hopes, and values of those we serve and who support us.

Over the course of GiveBIG, you’ll hear how:

• A local student whose experience with River Center education programs inspired self-reflection, leadership, and the courage to consider new personal and professional paths.

• Following a life-changing injury, a local man found new meaning and new community in the accessible features and opportunities that the River Center provides.

• After 14 years in service to her community, one River Center employee reflects on the personal and professional gifts that helped prepare her for the next chapter in her life.

• The history of the River Center is a story of change, and the story continues with exciting new developments that enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation, community engagement, and connections to nature.

Together, these stories help us appreciate how more than simply a center for learning about and stewarding nature, the River Center represents something even bigger: Hope for positive change in our community, our planet, and ourselves.

Your GiveBIG donation to the River Center is a hopeful embrace of change that helps us:

• Provide hands-on environmental education for youth through field trips and summer camps.

• Offer engaging adult programs like guided nature walks, workshops, and classes.

• Build and maintain a welcoming and accessible space that fosters belonging and connection.

Join us this GiveBIG and be part of this story of change. We’ll be sharing these stories through email and on social media May 5. 

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Like the natural world around us, the River Center is a catalyst for personal change in our community.