To further connect people and nature, Wesselman Woods is creating an opportunity for children, families, and organizations to attend educational programs and enter the Nature Preserve for free.

People need nature. With this idea in mind, Wesselman Woods has established a new program called the Eco-Access Initiative (EAI). The purpose of this initiative is to harness the power of Tri-State communities to establish and assure equal access to the largest urban old-growth forest in the United States: Wesselman Woods (WW).

WW Executive Director, Zach Garcia, says: “In honor of WW’s 50^th anniversary and beyond, we want to be radically accessible for those going through economic hardships. There’s a new wind at Wesselman Woods. We feel that it is our duty as an establishment dedicated to promoting conservation, education, and connecting people and nature to become more accessible for our own community members and neighboring communities. We want equitable access to this ancient forest – this living artifact.”

There are many ways to contribute to EAI, either as a business or as a community member such as sponsoring a family membership, a summer camper’s tuition, a classroom visit, or a free admission day at Wesselman Woods. Donors looking to contribute in our mission to provide equal access to Wesselman Woods can visit wesselmanwoods.org/ecoaccess. All donated sponsorships are tax-deductible.

Deonte Meriwether, WW Director of Operations, adds: “We created EAI everbearing in mind that each of us can experience economic ebbs and flows from time to time. These sponsorships are used to assist in covering the costs incurred in the pursuit of environmental education and connecting people and nature. Our donors make a real difference by sponsoring a child or family to create lasting memories and inspire greater environmental stewardship.”

In the spirit of EAI, WW has already created partnerships with Alexandrian Public Library, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, Newburgh Chandler Public Library, Poseyville Carnegie Library, Owensville Carnegie Library, and many others. For each of these organizations, families can check out passes to explore the trails and Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape for free.