COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

TANGLEWOOD NATURE CENTER & MUSEUM INC
ELMIRA, NY · EIN 161012352 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C600 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · tanglewoodnaturecenter.com
revenue
$1.1M
expenses
$552K
net assets
$3.1M
employees
15
volunteers
40
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF NATURE AND WILDLIFE AND TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND ENJOY NATURE.

profile · synthesized from sources

Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum promotes public awareness of nature and wildlife through educational programs and facilities for the local community. The organization operates in Elmira, NY and serves as a permanent home for non-releasable wildlife, providing nature-based summer camps for children from Pre-K through 7th grade. It also supports regional wildlife rehabilitation efforts by connecting the public with licensed rehabilitators.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Summer Camps
Nature and science-themed summer camps for children from Pre-K through 7th grade, including Curious Campers, Super Senses & Defenses, Pond & Beyond, Biome Buddies, Nature Know-How, Treetop Adventures, Animals That Work, and Last Look Explorers.
Wildlife Ambassador Program
Provides permanent care for over 40 non-releasable animals, including red-tailed hawks and great horned owls, used in educational programming to teach about wildlife and environmental stewardship.
Wildlife Rehabilitator Referral
Connects the public with licensed wildlife rehabilitators across multiple counties in New York State for injured or orphaned animals.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release 2 activities
    • Conduct conservation outreach and public guidance on wildlife intervention
      Provides public education on responsible interaction with wildlife, including guidance on when to report injured or orphaned animals based on visible signs such as blood or broken limbs, promoting ethical stewardship of local ecosystems.
    • Provide permanent care for non-releasable wildlife
      Offers lifelong sanctuary and professional care for injured or human-imprinted birds of prey and other animals that cannot survive in the wild, using them as educational ambassadors in public programs to promote conservation awareness.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
    • Deliver nature and wildlife education programs for children and adults
      Offers a wide range of educational programs focused on local and global wildlife, ecosystems, and science topics, including animal adaptations, defense mechanisms, egg-laying species, pond and wetland ecosystems, water quality testing, and outdoor survival skills. Programs are delivered onsite through guided hikes, workshops, and interactions with live animal ambassadors, serving over 35,000 visitors annually.
    • Provide seasonal recreational and family programming
      Offers drop-in and seasonal programs such as guided hikes, owl walks, raptor demonstrations, homeschool science, preschool literacy, and snowshoe rentals for children and adults during winter months. Also hosts children's birthday parties featuring educational animal encounters and dedicated event space.
  • Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
    • Maintain public access to nature trails and outdoor spaces year-round
      Manages over ten miles of hiking trails across two trail systems on more than 300 acres of protected land, providing free public access every day from dawn to dusk. Trails include specialized features such as the Children’s Sensory Trail, preserved grassland habitats for ground-nesting birds, and seasonal storybook walks with imaginative play elements.
  • Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
    • Operate a nature museum with live and taxidermized animal exhibits
      Runs an indoor museum in Elmira, NY featuring exhibit homes for over 40 species of live animals, including birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, and mammals, alongside taxidermized native wildlife. Also includes permanent installations such as an observation beehive and interactive exhibits designed for public education and engagement.
  • Facility Accessibility Improvements 1 activity
    • Plan and develop accessible nature infrastructure
      Developing an ADA-accessible elevated walkway with observation decks and a multi-level treetop platform to provide panoramic views of forests, mountains, and meadows, enhancing accessibility for all visitors.
  • Youth Counselor-in-Training Programs 1 activity
    • Run youth leadership and volunteer development programs
      Engages youth aged 15+ as Counselors-in-Training to assist with summer camp activities, environmental education, and camp operations. Offers structured volunteer opportunities in education, animal care, trail maintenance, fundraising, and committee work, with safety screenings and minimum service commitments required for certain roles.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.12M
Contributions & grants$982K88%
Program service revenue$72K6%
Investment income$31K3%
Other revenue$32K
expenses
Total expenses$552K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$313K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.15M
Cash$45K
Investments$1.24M
Liabilities$11K
Net assets$3.14M
Liquid reserves27.9 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +21.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ELAINE SMITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $85K
board members · 17
  • ANGELA TUFARILLO — DIRECTOR
  • CATHY BACHMAN — TREASURER
  • CHRISTINA MACRONALD — DIRECTOR
  • CLAIRE WARREN-GINNAN — DIRECTOR
  • DR WILLIAM BISHOP — VICE PRESIDENT
  • GREG CLARK — DIRECTOR
  • IRENE BROOKINS — DIRECTOR
  • JOSHUA LATTERELL — DIRECTOR
  • KELLY FIELD — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 10/24)
  • KEVIN GALLAGHER — DIRECTOR (BEG. 9/24)
  • LAURIE GARNER — SECRETARY
  • NICOLE BARTON — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 10/24)
  • PAUL DIPIETRO — DIRECTOR
  • PEIGI COOK — DIRECTOR
  • RICH GRIDLEY — DIRECTOR
  • SCOTT MOORE — PRESIDENT
  • VICTORIA EHLEN — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 12/24)
relationships · 37

Who they work with

  • Amy Mayer Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Hornell, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Steuben County
  • Anna Llewellyn Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Owego, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals and reptiles/birds in Tioga County
  • April Taylor Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Candor, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals and reptiles/birds in Tioga County
  • Aurora Bartley Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Horseheads, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals and reptiles/birds in Chemung County
  • Barbara Cole Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Owego, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals and reptiles/birds in Tioga County
  • Better Impact Partner — Platform used for internship applications.
  • Board of Directors Coalition — Group of individuals responsible for governance, strategic direction, and advocacy for Tanglewood Nature Center
  • Brody Pragle Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Prattsburgh, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Steuben County
  • Cheyenne Cornett Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Bath, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Steuben County
  • Christina Crossgrove Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Trumansburg, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Schuyler County
  • Daniel Soboleski Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Trumansburg, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Schuyler County
  • Deanna O’Brian Partner — Staff member handling billing inquiries for completed programs
  • Denise Liske Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Willseyville, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Tioga County
  • Elaine Partner — Executive Director serving as primary contact for program bookings and event coordination
  • Elmira, NY Government — Location of the nature center's trail systems and museum
  • Genita Hill Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Greenwood, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Steuben County
  • Girl Scout troop Partner — Collaborates with Girl Scout troops for volunteer activities.
  • Girl Scout troop Partner — Collaborates with Girl Scout troops for volunteer opportunities and educational programming.
  • Jamie Welch Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Berkshire, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Tioga County
  • Kailey Holt Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Tioga, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Tioga County
  • Kaitlin Joensen Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Lowman, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals and reptiles/birds in Chemung County
  • Katherine Nicholas Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Waverly, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Chemung County
  • Kathi Strange Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Elmira, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Chemung County
  • Laura Seeley Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Dansvile, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Steuben County
  • Lori Wheeler Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Wellsburg, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Chemung County
  • Maggie Groce Partner — Camp Director responsible for counselor and CIT applications and health planning.
  • Margaret Hogan Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Owego, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals and reptiles/birds in Tioga County
  • MyImpact Partner — Platform used to manage volunteer applications and opportunities.
  • Nat Smith Partner — Wildlife rehabilitator in Prattsburgh, NY, listed as a contact for large/small mammals in Steuben County
  • Personius Woods Partner — Dog-friendly trail system located two minutes from the main Tanglewood trails, used to accommodate hikers with dogs while protecting sensitive habitats at the main site.
+ 7 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Animal Ambassadors as Conservation Educators
    methodology: animal_ambassador_model
    By using live animals as educational tools in on-site and mobile programs, we teach about biodiversity and conservation, because personal encounters with animals create relatable, memorable learning moments that foster empathy and global environmental awareness.
  • Experiential Environmental Education
    methodology: experiential_environmental_education
    By providing immersive, hands-on experiences in nature—such as treetop walkways, live animal encounters, and unstructured play—we cultivate lifelong environmental stewardship, because emotional and sensory engagement deepens public connection to and understanding of the natural world.
  • Non-Intervention as a Teaching Tool for Wildlife Ethics
    methodology: wildlife_ethics_education
    By educating the public against emotionally driven intervention with healthy young wildlife, we promote responsible coexistence, because understanding natural animal behavior reduces human-induced harm and reinforces ecological literacy.
  • Progressive Engagement for Deepened Stewardship
    methodology: progressive_engagement
    By offering increasingly advanced outdoor and animal care experiences, we build deeper engagement and leadership skills in older youth, because sustained, tiered programming fosters personal investment in environmental stewardship over time.
  • Stewardship Through Immersive Access and Visitor Management
    methodology: immersive_access_with_protection
    By designing accessible yet ecologically responsible visitor experiences—including elevated canopy walkways and segmented trail systems—we promote conservation, because managed immersion in nature fosters public connection while minimizing human impact on sensitive habitats and species.