Search

The Nature Consortium 

Description

The Nature Consortium engages community members of all ages and backgrounds in educational activities that connect people to nature, the arts and each other. The organization began as a simple effort to engage neighbors through a sharing of the idea that everyone has the ability to create and explore the arts and care for the environment. We bring our programs to youth and adults living in low-income neighborhoods and subsidized public housing communities throughout King County, Washington with special emphasis on the communities in south and southwest Seattle.

Mission Statement
The Nature Consortium connects people, arts, and nature.
Donate Now
The Nature Consortium
4408 Delridge Way SW Ste 107 
Seattle 
WA
98106-1348 
(206) 923-0853 

Ms. Nancy M. Whitlock 
Executive Director 

Programs

The Nature Consortium Programs

Youth Art Program offers free environmental art classes and field trips for at-risk youth, ages 5-19, living in lower-income neighborhoods & subsidized public housing communities throughout King County, WA. Between 1,750 - 2,000 youth are served through this program each year. Classes encompass music, dance/movement, 2-D & 3-D visual arts, literary arts, culinary arts, tech classes, organic gardening. Classes are offered year-round both during out-of-school time as well as during school time. Three key locations for this program include Yesler Community Center, Rainier Vista Boys & Clubs, and the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Other locations include community centers, Neighborhood House locations, schools and libraries.

Urban Forest Restoration Project is a long-term restoration, education & advocacy project in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, which is the largest remaining contiguous forest in Seattle. On-going work parties, 3-5 per week year round, encompass hands-on restoration activities, Forest Ecology Workshops and performing artists "coming out to play in the woods." In the past 7 years we have planted over 13,000 native conifers and over 10,000 native understory plants and have removed tons of invasive vegetation. This project engages community members of all ages, from high school interns and court-appointed youth to toddlers with parents and companies engaging in community service days.

Arts in Nature Festival is our founding project, which is a funky, eclectic, community-based festival encompassing music, dance, fire performances, wandering performers, a museum of sound, interactive arts, naturalist & restoration activities. Our next festival is scheduled for August 21st & 22nd, 2010 at Camp Long.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Nature Consortium was recently engaged by the King County Library System to bring our unique brand of environmental art programming to communities ranging from Covington, Algona, Snoqualmie and Skykomish to White Center, Des Moines, Bellevue and Bothell. Many of these communities lack access to this type of programming.

One of our organization's greatest needs include general operating support to assist with expenses such as personnel and benefits.

Evaluation


As an environmental arts organization, the Nature Consortium (NC) connects community residents to each other, to their neighborhoods, and to the natural world through a multi-pronged approach. They offer over 300 days of programming a year through three programs: the Youth Art Program, the Urban Forest Restoration Project and the annual Arts in Nature Festival.

Collaboration
NC’s Youth Art Program collaborates with numerous schools, districts and nonprofit organizations. Classes are held out-of-school time, year-round, at multiple low-income and public housing community locations throughout Seattle and King County as well as during in-school time at partner schools in Seattle and Highline school districts. They have designated sites at the Yesler Community Center and the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club, supported through a contract with the Seattle Housing Authority.

Accessibility and Cultural Competency
NC programs have significant reach, serving thousands of youth and adults each year in neighborhood-based settings like community centers, public libraries, and other nonprofit organizations. They particularly focus on low-income, underserved communities, exposing them to a wide range of cultural art forms, artistic mediums and environmental learning. New and repeat participant numbers continue to grow.

Leadership
NC is led by a committed founding Executive Director and a growing working Board. They have been intentional in their growth of Board members, finding people with particular skills and connections, while the Board as a whole takes on a greater focus in fundraising, marketing and outreach.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
10/1/2008 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/21/2006 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/18/2003 $6,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

Similar Organizations

Give broadly to the Environment
If you care about restoring the environmental health of Puget Sound, ensuring sustainability in our region, and broadening the environmental movement, then make a difference by giving to the Grantmaking Program.
Questions or comments about this organization?
Contact us to learn more.