Celebrating 25 Years of Friends, Nature, and Community

As part of our 25th Anniversary Celebration, we will also hold a dedication in memory of Mary McKnight, a founding member of FOBHNP and a driving force behind the organization’s growth and success.

We look forward to sharing more details about this meaningful event soon.

With Gratitude: Celebrating 25 Years of Community Support

For the past 25 years, the Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs has been honored to serve alongside an extraordinary community of members, donors, volunteers, and supporters. None of what we have accomplished would have been possible without your continued belief in the power of nature education and community connection.

In our early years especially, support did not always come in the form of large monetary contributions — and that mattered very little. During the first 15 years of the organization, it was the dedication, encouragement, advocacy, and countless volunteer hours from our community that sustained and shaped FOBHNP. Supporters generously gave their time, shared their skills, showed up for programs and events, and championed the value of nature education. That foundation of commitment and belief laid the groundwork for everything that followed.

Through renewed memberships, plant sale purchases, and continued volunteerism, your support has taken many forms over the years — each one making a meaningful difference. Because of you, we have been able to grow, adapt, and accomplish so much together.

Your generosity has helped us provide lasting resources for the public, including the purchase of a telescope for the observation deck and the ongoing sponsorship of teacher naturalists who inspire curiosity and stewardship year after year. You have supported volunteers and staff at beloved community events such as Mudfest, Monarch Fiesta, the Waterfowl Festival, Garden Day, and our annual plant sale.

Thanks to our members and supporters, we proudly host an annual maintenance appreciation lunch to recognize the dedicated staff whose behind-the-scenes work makes nature programs and events possible. With the help of Marv Kahn’s family, we have been able to provide camp scholarships, opening the door for many children to experience nature who otherwise might not have had the opportunity.

Your support also made it possible to establish a $10,000 certificate of deposit to help furnish the SEED Classroom, host engaging speakers and a storyteller to educate and entertain the community, and support numerous Girl Scout and Boy Scout projects as young people worked toward their Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Eagle awards.

Over the years, we have supplied countless materials to enhance nature programs and events, printed more than 3,000 Junior Naturalist books for budding young naturalists, and provided over $3,000 in bus vouchers to help offset transportation costs — often the deciding factor in whether students are able to experience a meaningful field trip.

Words cannot fully express how honored we are to be part of this remarkable organization and community. Your support over the past 25 years — whether through time, encouragement, service, or financial contributions — has left a lasting impact on Black Hill and on generations of learners, explorers, and stewards of the natural world.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for 25 years of partnership, generosity, and belief in what we can accomplish together.