Looking Back to Move Forward

What a year it’s been. 

As I sit here at the end of December, reflecting on the incredible year we’re wrapping up, it feels as though August was just three days ago. A running joke in our office is that no matter the day or month, it might as well be six months in the future. Our team is always focused on what’s next—planning the upcoming season of programming for all ages, outlining research initiatives, mapping land management activities, developing newsletters, and more. I can’t help but feel a bit guilty taking a moment to pause and reflect while everyone is deep in planning for next year. But then again, it is no secret how important it is to look back in order to move forward with confidence and strength. 

This past year has truly been one for the books. Thanks to our exceptional staff, we were able to launch new accessible programs, research projects, early childhood education initiatives, land management activities, and more. Our team remains innovative, collaborative, and brilliant, consistently supporting me in my first full year as Executive Director. I can’t imagine a better group to work alongside in advancing our mission to promote positive environmental behaviors through impactful educational experiences, land management, protection, and ecological research. I could not do what I do without each and every one on our team.  

Is this starting to sound like a love letter to our staff? I hope so 😉 Jokes aside, our accomplishments are a direct reflection of the hard work of our team. While not a comprehensive list, here are just a few things we’re proud of accomplishing in 2024:  

Free Fridays – Thanks to a generous grant from 100+ Women Who Care Door County, we launched Free Fridays, an experience designed to provide free access to the Sanctuary and take part in themed activities hosted by our new Naturalist, Amy Shook.   

Boreal and Temperate Forest Climate Survivability Project – In collaboration with our friends at the Climate Change Coalition of Door County and Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, we have established a new research project, looking at the survivability of trees in five research plots between The Ridges Sanctuary and Logan Creek Preserves. This project will be vital to community wide reforestation and tree planting efforts. The data collected from this study will inform future efforts as our forests continue to change at the hand of climate change.  

Dragonfly Nature Preschool – In partnership with the Gibraltar Public School District, we launched an entirely nature-based public preschool for students in Door County. This program was especially important to us in our efforts to provide more accessible and affordable programming for our community.  

12 Acre Land Acquisition – Earlier this year, we added 12 acres to the Sanctuary with a primary goal to safeguard groundwater quality and habitats for the Hines emerald dragonfly and migratory birds. This acquisition puts our total area protected to over 1,700 acres.  

RidgesSanctuary.org – Our website got a much-needed facelift. We worked closely with Digital Pollen Collective to design a site that was easy to navigate, visually stunning, and presented our mission front and center. This new site has already done wonders for our digital engagement and online presence.  

Research Partnerships – In 2024 we issued 11 research permits in collaboration with seven organizations worldwide. New efforts like a peatland bee study and four-toed salamander survey, and continued efforts like ant studies, orchid and fungi research and more have advanced our understanding of the boreal forest, as well as furthering the scientific community’s knowledgebase.  

Staff and Board Growth – An important focus this year was growth and development of our staff and board. We added new positions to support Dragonfly Nature Preschool, and a Naturalist position to support our public engagement at the Nature Center. We also added three new members to our board of directors, that met the areas of need identified by our governance committee. This brings our robust and diverse board to 15 directors.  

Master Plan Implementation – It has been a busy year of implementing our 20-year vision. Our Master Plan, approved in 2023 provided an important framework for growth and development in our core mission areas of Preservation, Education and Research. To further deliver on our vision, we have engaged with SmithGroup and The Boldt Company to develop predesign and preconstruction resources for facilities to be included in future capital fundraising initiatives such as a Research Station and Education Station. In addition, we are deep into the development of Phase 0 projects that will have the biggest impact in the shortest time. Phase 0 projects include upgrades to the Kaye and Marshall Cabins to offer year-round programming, reuse of the bathroom facility to offer year-round use while also connecting to municipal sewer and building a new workshop to meet our growing needs for land/property management and programs.  

While this is only a snapshot of our year, this demonstrates the robust work of our organization. Our dedicated staff and board strive to ensure that each of our core mission areas thrive collectively and independently. I am deeply grateful for everything we have achieved and all that lies ahead. Together with our community, we will continue to fulfill our vision of inspiring the conservation of Nature, ensuring that future generations can experience and appreciate the Sanctuary as we do today.  

I look forward to continuing my service with The Ridges and contributing to our future growth. Your role as a champion and ambassador for The Ridges has been invaluable, and we deeply appreciate your support through all our transitions and progress. On behalf of all of us, thank you.

Onward together in conservation,