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LIME HOLLOW NATURE CENTER INC
CORTLAND, NY · EIN 237339667 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE C600 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · limehollow.org
revenue
$1.1M
expenses
$1.1M
net assets
$2.5M
employees
60
volunteers
100
program ratio
74%
mission · from form 990

THE CENTER WAS FOUNDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING MEANS OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IN THE STUDY OF NATURE AND PARTICULARLY THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF ALL LIVING THINGS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Lime Hollow Nature Center is an environmental education nonprofit based in Cortland, NY, offering nature-based programs for children and adults. It operates a state-licensed forest preschool, school break camps, field trips, and youth and adult naturalist series, all centered on outdoor learning and connection to nature. The organization manages 594 acres of trails and natural areas open to the public for free, with a focus on accessibility and inclusive outdoor experiences.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Field Trips
Educational outdoor programs for school groups (PreK-12) on topics such as water ecosystems, survival skills inspired by Hatchet, and team-building in nature.
Forest Babies
Facilitated nature-immersion program for caregivers and their infants and toddlers, featuring nature walks, songs, stories, and art.
Forest Preschool
State-licensed, outdoor, nature-based childcare for 3-5 year olds offering full and partial week programs year-round with a play-based curriculum aligned to NY State early childhood standards.
School Break Camps
Week-long day camps for children in grades K-8 during school holidays, focusing on outdoor exploration, survival skills, and nature connection.
Trails for All
Accessibility initiative expanding and improving trails for people with mobility challenges, including an all-terrain Action TrackChair available for use.
Youth Naturalist Series
Monthly outdoor skill-building program for children, including carving, shelter-building, and wildlife tracking, with projects like coal-burned spoons and journey sticks.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
    • Accessible Recreation and Trail Access
      Provides inclusive access to over 13 miles of public trails across nearly 594 acres through infrastructure and equipment including a 1/4-mile accessible trail with crushed stone surface, two battery-powered all-terrain TrackChairs, a free manual trail-ready wheelchair, and seasonal maintenance of trails such as the Lehigh Valley Railroad trail and Eric Kroot Art Trail. Ensures accessibility via ramped visitor center and composting toilets.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Art and Cultural Trail Programming
      Operates the Eric Kroot Art Trail featuring interactive sculptures across 1,600 feet, maintained within an accessible art meadow. The trail is open year-round with most sections accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, integrating art and nature for public engagement.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Environmental Education Programs
      Offers year-round environmental education programs for youth and adults focused on nature study, interdependence of living things, and wilderness skills such as fire-building, shelter construction, carving, and wildlife tracking. Programs include field trips for PreK–12 students on topics like stream ecology, survival skills based on literature, and sensory exploration in nature.
  • Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
    • Habitat and Land Conservation
      Manages and preserves nearly 594 acres of diverse habitats including forests, wetlands, glacial landforms, and rare marl ponds. Maintains conservation areas such as the Osbeck Conservation Area and collaborates on land protection efforts, including stewardship of parcels owned by Cortland County and The Nature Conservancy.
  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
    • Tree Planting and Habitat Restoration
      Engages the public in tree planting initiatives to support ecological restoration and habitat enhancement at Lime Hollow, integrating these activities into educational programming such as spring camp themes.
  • Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
    • Winter Sports Opportunities
      Offers recreational cross country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities on its campus, particularly during winter months, supporting outdoor activity and connection with nature in cold weather.
  • Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
    • Youth Outdoor Camps and Early Childhood Programs
      Provides immersive outdoor programming for children including School Break Camps, week-long day camps (K–8), and seasonal camps like "Nordic Challenge" and "Spring Awakening." Operates the first OCFS-licensed forest preschool in New York State, offering daily nature immersion for 3–5 year olds, with feeder programs like Forest Babies and weekend naturalist series for younger children and caregivers.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Capacity Building for Outdoor Education
      Serves as a model for regulatory agencies like the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) in developing standards and guidance for outdoor early childhood education, supporting broader adoption of nature-based learning in other institutions.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.10M
Contributions & grants$301K27%
Program service revenue$701K64%
Investment income$19K2%
Other revenue$77K
expenses
Total expenses$1.11M
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead25%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$833K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.49M
Cash$81K
Investments$348K
Liabilities$38K
Net assets$2.45M
Liquid reserves4.7 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +30.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ILYA SHMULENSON Executive Dir. 40 $70K
board members · 14
  • BEN HAMMOND — BOARD MEMBER
  • BOB MARTIN — Vice President
  • CHELSEA GUY — BOARD MEMBER
  • DANA DICKINSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • DAVID BARCLAY — BOARD MEMBER
  • DAVID BOSWORTH — Secretary
  • DIANNE HIGGINS — BOARD MEMBER
  • FORREST EARL — President
  • HELEN NEWELL — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEFF PENOYER — BOARD MEMBER
  • JIM MCKENNA — BOARD MEMBER
  • LAURIE KLOTZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • LUKE KELLER — BOARD MEMBER
  • QWYNNE LACKEY — Treasurer
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • Bestway Lumber Partner — Donated a 5-acre parcel on Gracie Pond for use in environmental education.
  • Cornell University Partner — Collaborated on community engagement, trail assessment, and planning for accessible trail development.
  • Cortland County Government — Owns a 16-acre parcel and three-mile trail maintained by Lime Hollow.
  • Ezra Cornell Partner — Historically associated with the construction of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which was repurposed into a nature trail at Lime Hollow.
  • Lehigh Valley Trail Partner — Collaborates on trail access and connectivity, with shared use policies for hikers, snowmobilers, and dogs.
  • NYS DEC Government — Listed Lime Hollow as a Watchable Wildlife site and included it in the 2016 Open Space Plan.
  • OCM BOCES Partner — Collaborated on the development of the net-zero energy Environmental Education Center.
  • Office of Child and Family Services Government — Partner in developing guidance for schools to incorporate outdoor time for children; certifying agency for day-care licensure.
  • SUNY Cortland Partner — Partnered on outdoor recreation programming and trail planning initiatives.
  • The Nature Conservancy Partner — Deeded 15 acres of woodlands to Lime Hollow adjacent to Chicago Bog.
  • Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Science Government — Provided initial land and buildings through a renewable use agreement.
  • US Geological Survey Government — Department overseeing the Tunison Laboratory which partnered with Lime Hollow on land use.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Child-Led Nature-Based Learning
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By using play-based, emergent, and experiential curricula that follow children’s interests in natural settings, the organization promotes enthusiastic learning and developmental growth, because direct, sensory-rich engagement with nature fosters wonder, independence, and deeper cognitive and emotional connections to the environment.
  • Community and Academic Collaboration for Sustainable Development
    methodology: community-driven_conservation
    By engaging the community and academic partners in co-planning trail development and repurposing historic infrastructure with sustainable design, the center ensures programming aligns with local needs and environmental values, because collaborative stewardship strengthens ownership, relevance, and long-term conservation outcomes.
  • Environmental Education Through Immersive Engagement
    methodology: experiential_education
    By integrating public education with immersive methods such as interactive art installations, seasonal immersion programs, and hands-on tool use, the center deepens understanding of ecological interdependence, because visceral, active participation makes abstract environmental concepts tangible and memorable.
  • Inclusive Access Through Universal Design
    methodology: universal_design
    By designing trails and outdoor experiences using universal design principles and all-terrain mobility devices, LIME HOLLOW NATURE CENTER INC increases access to nature for people of all ages and abilities, because equitable physical access enables shared environmental experiences and fosters inclusion in nature-based learning and recreation.