Press release from Friends of the WNC Nature Center:
The Friends of the WNC Nature Center hosted their inaugural Heart of the Wild luncheon in March, honoring the Nature Center’s history and a group of visionary women who played a pivotal role in transforming the Nature Center into the wildlife park that it is today.
More than one hundred attendees came together to celebrate the past, present, and future of the WNC Nature Center. Kate Frost, Executive Director of the Friends, shared the rich history of both organizations and an inspiring vision for the future. “Fifty years ago, the Junior League of Asheville, the Founding Mothers, and countless others chose to give, and the Nature Center exists today because of their actions and generosity,” she shared. “Your continued support helps us protect wildlife, educate future generations, and ensure the WNC Nature Center continues to thrive for the next hundred years.”
In January 1973, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended closing Recreation Park Zoo due to poor conditions. Around the same time, the Junior League of Asheville completed a year-long study with the City, ultimately recommending the creation of a children’s zoo and nature park.
With a generous donation from the Junior League of Asheville, along with in-kind labor, materials, and community support, the zoo was reimagined. A dedicated committee of women from the Junior League played a critical role in designing, fundraising, and rallying the community behind the children’s zoo project. As a result, Jeanne Cummings, Audie Bayer, Millie Elmore, Martha Gentry, Dershie McDevitt, and Sally Rhoades became known as the Founding Mothers of the WNC Nature Center.
In addition to championing the children’s zoo, the Junior League of Asheville helped form a zoological society to ensure the zoo’s continued growth. Incorporated in March 1975, the nonprofit – originally called The Nature Society and now known as the Friends of the WNC Nature Center – was created to support the transformation of the zoo. The WNC Nature Center was re-visioned with a renewed focus as an education facility committed to native wildlife of the Southern Appalachians. Its grand opening occurred two years later in May 1977. “The Founding Mothers were visionaries, fundraisers, negotiators, designers, even animal handlers – whatever was needed to bring this dream to life,” said Frost during the event. “It is through their tenacity, their wild and unwavering spirit, that the WNC Nature Center exists today. Because of them, we are.” Audie Bayer, Millie Elmore, Dershie McDevitt, and a family representative of Martha Gentry, Sally Rhoades, and Jeanne Cummings received Heart of the Wild awards, framed artwork of the Nature Center’s Red Wolves created by local artist Zoe Shumaker.
Jennifer Hoffmann, the president of the Junior League of Asheville, was present with several other League members to acknowledge this moment in the Nature Center’s history and the League’s role in supporting the transformation of the wildlife park. “This event honors the visionary women of the Junior League of Asheville who helped bring the WNC Nature Center to life and it hopes to inspire the next generation of explorers and conservationists. We are proud to carry the legacy of the Founding Mothers forward and to ensure that even more children can explore the natural world and discover their place within it.”
To celebrate their enduring partnership with the WNC Nature Center, the Junior League of Asheville also announced the establishment of their Spirit of the Wild Legacy Scholarship, a new initiative to deepen their commitment to environmental education for youth in Western North Carolina. This scholarship will provide increased access to the Nature Center’s youth education programs, including beloved experiences like summer camps, the Young Naturalist program, and community outreach events.The Friends of the WNC Nature Center intend to make the Heart of the Wild luncheon an annual event that will recognize key supporters who have made a significant impact. To find out more about the history of the WNC Nature Center and the Founding Mothers’ contribution, visit wildwnc.org/celebrate.
About the Friends
Established in 1975, the Friends of the WNC Nature Center are a vital partner with the WNC Nature Center. With their donors and members, the Friends enrich the Nature Center’s mission to connect people with the plants and animals of the Southern Appalachians. As a conservation organization, the Friends inspire a passion to know more, care more, and do more for the wildlife of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. They advance the critical work of the WNC Nature Center by supporting its growth and development through fundraising, membership, outreach education, marketing, and volunteer services.About the WNC Nature Center
Established as Recreation Park Zoo in 1925 and later re-visioned in 1977, the Western North Carolina Nature Center connects people of all ages with the plants and animals of the Southern Appalachians. Asheville’s Wildlife Park is located on forty-two acres and is home to more than sixty species of animals, including red panda, river otter, black bear, red wolves, and cougar. The Nature Center is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums – the gold standard for animal care and welfare. For more information, please visit www.wildwnc.org.
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