Who We Are
Discovery awaits at the Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center (NWDC)! NWDC is a 501 c (3) nonprofit environmental education and raptor rehabilitation center located in the City and County of Pueblo. NWDC stewards two public campuses where you can explore the local flora and fauna: the River Campus in Pueblo, and the Mountain Campus in Beulah.
NWDC was founded in 2018 through the merger of two longstanding organizations, and operates under permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Parks & Wildlife. NWDC boasts a collective 50 years of experience delivering high-quality nature programming to the City and County of Pueblo, engaging over 20,000 participants annually.
Our mission is to promote environmental stewardship and community health through nature education, wildlife rehabilitation, and outdoor recreation. Our campuses are open to the public at no cost, and we provide scholarships to ensure our summer camps are accessible to all.
In February 2025, NWDC completed our 2024 Annual Report. We are thrilled to share our accomplishments and key mission moments with our community.
“The past year was one of growth, adaptation, and deepened impact at the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center (NWDC). We set a clear path forward, guided by our community’s insights and a commitment to education, conservation, and increased access to nature — launching our first strategic plan in years, deepening partnerships, and making critical investments to strengthen our future.
Through it all, our mission remained at the heart of everything we did: connecting people to nature through education, conservation, and outdoor experiences. Whether it was expanding access to environmental programs, investing in our raptor rehabilitation team, or enhancing our trails, we focused on creating lasting impact for both our community and the land we steward.”
– Taylor Driver, Executive Director
The River Campus
The River Campus is located on the banks of the Arkansas River. It is an oasis within the city of Pueblo where you can hike, cast your line, bike the smoothly paved American Bicycle Trail System, or meet our resident birds of prey at the Raptor Center. We also have rentable facilities available for weddings, reunions, parties, baby showers, community events, and educational programs.
Our Raptor Center is located within the NWDC River Campus. Here, we rehabilitate injured, ill, and orphaned birds of prey so they can be released back into the wild. We have sixteen resident raptors and rehabilitate over 300 birds every year. Twice a month on the weekend, we offer public, guided raptor tours. We also offer educational programs for all ages, both on-site and off-site.
The Mountain Campus
The Mountain Campus is located west of Pueblo in Beulah Valley. Here, you can hike historic trails through 611 acres of beautiful ponderosa pines and wildflowers. The Mountain Campus includes the Pueblo Mountain Park, the Horseshoe Lodge & Retreat Center, a WPA-era pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater, and a low-ropes challenge course. This campus is ideal for group retreats, weddings, family reunions, weekend getaways, and overnight camping for school groups, or scout troops.
FIRE BANS AND RESTRICTIONS:
Please help us prevent forest fires by adhering to any and all regulations put in place by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Beulah Fire Protections and Ambulance District, and the Pueblo Fire Department.
Commitment to Inclusivity
The Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center welcomes ALL individuals as visitors, participants, and employees. We do not discriminate with regard to race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, belief, creed, nationality, ethnicity, ability, or age.
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