Wild Ones is dedicated to supporting our 11,000+ members and 125 chapters across 36 states who bring the importance of native plants and natural landscaping to your local communities. Our vision, “Native plants and natural landscapes thriving in every community,” has increased our national resolve to positively impact the American landscape. To align with our mission, “Wild Ones promotes native landscapes through education, advocacy and collaborative action,” we have made strategic decisions to align resources to support these efforts.
Today, we share significant news about the property, which has served as Wild Ones’ headquarters in Neenah, Wisconsin, over the past 18 years. Known as the Wild Center, the property consists of two parts a 5,400 sq. ft. two-story residential building which sits on a 1.5-acre lot and an additional 14.5-acre parcel of land (protected by a conservation easement).
As we continue to grow our staff and transition into an effective remote operational model, the Wild Ones building no longer serves its initial purpose. A place that once functioned as a physical work location for all national staff has shifted to become a corporate address, a place to receive mail with a single staff member working there to process orders.
The 14.5-acre parcel was placed into conservancy under a conservation easement by Wild Ones when it was acquired in 2008. During that time, Wild Ones, with tremendous support from the Fox Valley Area Chapter, has worked to restore the property to include prairie, riparian woodland, and marshland habitat. We are grateful for the opportunity to care for this land, to have ensured its protection for the benefit of the people, plants and wildlife of the Fox Valley.
As the organization continues to expand its membership and reach across the country, the effort required to maintain conservation property and a physical headquarters has become less aligned with our broader mission. Our organization’s top priority and resources must focus on equipping our members and chapters with the tools they need to educate and advocate for natural landscapes.
After over a year of review, exploration of various options, and consultations, the National Board of Directors has resolved to survey and split the single parcel 16-acre property into 2 separate parcels. This will allow us to explore various options for the future of the building and conservancy land, including the possibility of transfer by gift, sale, or bequest. All options are contingent on keeping the original conservation easement in place and protecting the 14.5-acres of prairie, riparian woodland, and marshland habitat. This decision allows Wild Ones to better align our resources with our vision of native plants and natural landscapes thriving in every community, a shift toward a national focus. Stewarding a single property, while symbolically important, does not support the scope of action needed to drive the mission forward.
We carry with us a deep appreciation for the role this land has played in Wild Ones’ journey. We are committed to ensuring that any future plans for this property honor its legacy and the conservation principles that have guided our stewardship.
This message is to inform you of these decisions and will keep you informed as plans progress. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Wild Ones.