The mission of the Fontenelle Nature Association is to enhance human stewardship of the natural world by providing the citizens of the greater Omaha area with: *quality environmental and natural science education; *ecologically sound management of the Association's natural resources; *preservation and interpretation of the Association's historical and ecological resources; and * increased opportunities for personal reflection and enjoyment of the outdoors. We teach environmental education to school groups and the general public and maintain our sites in an ecologically sound manner. We currently have two sites open to the public - Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue which has just over 13 miles of walking trails and Neale Woods in North Omaha which has about 9 miles of walking trails. Fontenelle Forest is mostly a wooded floodplain and upland woods and savannah. Neale Woods is mainly prairies with upland woods and an extensive accretion filled floodplain.

History:
The Fontenelle Nature Association was started in 1913 by a local group who thought the area was unique and needed to be preserved. The Association has since grown to include two sites, one in Bellevue Nebraska, the other near Ponca Hills in North Omaha. Both sites have a main Nature Center and surrounding public access property and several delicate areas not open to the public. We currently use a hands-on property management style at all sites and working with several property owners to assist them in converting their property back to its original state - oak savannah, prairie or other (what the area was historically). We also teach teachers, students and the general public about environmental education.

Contact people:

Mary Beth Steele, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Gary Garabrandt, Dir. of Science & Stewardship, (phone), (email)

Address:

1111 N Bellevue Blvd Bellevue, NE 68005 (See a map)

Directions:

This will be provided to interested people. We have several sites and the interests will determine site they will go to.