Nature For All
For over 35 years, Cascades Raptor Center has welcomed visitors to our forested hillside on Spencer Butte to connect with Oregon's wildlife. The tall trees, morning fog, and winding trail system leave a lasting impression in guests' minds. However, our location comes with its share of obstacles. Our site and trail system includes steep grades, uneven paths, and aging infrastructure that create barriers for some visitors, particularly older adults and those with mobility challenges.
Our Nature For All Accessibility Initiative aims to address these barriers and create a more open and inclusive space for all members of our community. Funds raised through this campaign will improve our trail system by reducing the grade of key hills, leveling walking surfaces, and compacting loose gravel. The project will also install new safety railings, add more accessible seating, and introduce bilingual educational signage throughout the Nature Center, making it easier for more people to experience Oregon's birds of prey and connect with the natural world.
Campaign Progress
🎉 We Did It!
Thanks to the incredible support of our community, we've reached our $250,000 fundraising goal! We couldn't have done it without you. This will support trail changes to the most challenging of our hills, new interpretive signage, additional railings, and a new presentation space. We can't wait for you to visit us after construction and see the impact of your gifts!
Milestone: The Education Pavilion
We've reached our original goal, but the speed and passion to which our community backed this project has given us an opportunity to do even more! Over the next few months, we're aiming to raise an additional $50,000 to improve accessibility in our Education Pavilion as well, which hosts classroom field trips and community programs. This has been kickstarted by a generous $5,000 match from our friends at the DLX Family Foundation!
Next Milestone: Education Pavilion
Our Vision
The Nature For All Accessibility Initiative was shaped by feedback from visitors and guidance from accessibility partners, including Travel Lane County and Wheel the World. Together, we've identified practical improvements that will make the Nature Center easier to navigate and more welcoming for a wider range of visitors. From trail renovations and ADA-compliant railings to bilingual educational signage and accessible seating, each improvement is designed to help more people connect with Oregon's native raptor species.
What's Next
Site renovations are scheduled to begin shortly after Labor Day, and the Nature Center will temporarily close for approximately eight weeks while the accessibility improvements are completed. Our Wildlife Hospital will remain open and unaffected throughout the project, continuing to care for patients and operating our Wildlife Hotline.
Despite our site closure, there will still be plenty of ways to stay connected with the project. Follow along on social media for behind-the-scenes updates, subscribe to our e-newsletter for construction progress, and join us at special off-site events throughout the fall. (Did someone say Raptor Brew Fest? More information coming soon!)
Want to celebrate this project with us? Join us for project kickoff at Vuelos de fantasía, our annual gala, held on September 11th at Sweet Cheeks Winery. We hope you'll celebrate this exciting milestone with us!
Thank You to Our Supporters and Partners
This project is made possible through the generosity of foundations, partners, and community supporters committed to wildlife education and conservation.