About
Rusk Ranch Nature Center Youth Programs include activities such as the Butterfly Pavilion, Hummingbird Garden, Nature Discovery Play, Volunteer Days, Workshops, Youth Programs, Internships, the Mini-Golf Discovery Trail, a Natural Playground, and the POLLYWOG PLAYGROUP. The POLLYWOG PLAYGROUP meets for toddlers under 5 and one adult and is part of the youth offerings at the nature center.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
• Schedule: POLLYWOG PLAYGROUP runs 10–12 noon on Tuesday and Thursday most of the year for toddlers under 5 and one adult.
• Price: When open in late May, Tuesday through Sunday admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids over 4, and this includes the Mini-Golf Discovery Trail.
The mission of the Rusk Ranch Nature Center is to benefit the community with enrichment, jobs, housing, and opportunities for the public, particularly young people, to appreciate the natural world, to instill a sense of stewardship toward the earth and its inhabitants, and to preserve and conserve nature and wildlife. In 2007 the organization received a donation of 50 acres of rural property in the Illinois Valley of Southern Oregon. The organization lists a leadership team that includes Kaci Elder (President), Chad Free (Secretary, Children’s Programs Advisor), Susan Taylor (Treasurer), Patricia Downing (Board Member, Executive Director), Divonna Ratliff (Board Member, Exhibits Advisor), Erica Clark (Board Member, Operations Coordinator), Carol Nye (Board Member, Nature Service Volunteer), and Diana Hailey (Board Member, Exhibits Volunteer). Rusk Ranch Nature Center is a SILVER Guidestar Exchange Participant.
Rusk Ranch Nature Center is a nonprofit organization with a mission to promote the wellbeing of residents of the community and to conserve nature. It acknowledges support from sponsors, foundations, and event sponsors including The Carpenter Foundation, The Fourway Community Foundation, The Collins Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust Foundation, The Gray Family Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, Illinois Valley Watershed Council, Illinois Valley Family Coalition, Evergreen Federal Bank, Shirley and Wayne Rusk, Kimberlie Lehman, Beth Stark, Jan Walker, Carla Gillard, Edith Martin, Divonna Ratliff, Kaci Elder, and Diane Chirrick. The center notes a focus on youth partnership programs, restoration of wetlands, a Butterfly Pavilion featuring native butterflies of Josephine County, a Wildlife Preserve and Meadow available during events, and the Butterfly Flyway Project, which provides native milkweed starts for gardens at non-sprayed locations. Plans include an Oregon Nature & Environmental Discovery Center (O.N.E. Discovery), an interactive Nature Discovery Center with hands-on nature-based exhibits, and a community and event center.
Last updated June 11, 2026.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
• Schedule: POLLYWOG PLAYGROUP runs 10–12 noon on Tuesday and Thursday most of the year for toddlers under 5 and one adult.
• Price: When open in late May, Tuesday through Sunday admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids over 4, and this includes the Mini-Golf Discovery Trail.
The mission of the Rusk Ranch Nature Center is to benefit the community with enrichment, jobs, housing, and opportunities for the public, particularly young people, to appreciate the natural world, to instill a sense of stewardship toward the earth and its inhabitants, and to preserve and conserve nature and wildlife. In 2007 the organization received a donation of 50 acres of rural property in the Illinois Valley of Southern Oregon. The organization lists a leadership team that includes Kaci Elder (President), Chad Free (Secretary, Children’s Programs Advisor), Susan Taylor (Treasurer), Patricia Downing (Board Member, Executive Director), Divonna Ratliff (Board Member, Exhibits Advisor), Erica Clark (Board Member, Operations Coordinator), Carol Nye (Board Member, Nature Service Volunteer), and Diana Hailey (Board Member, Exhibits Volunteer). Rusk Ranch Nature Center is a SILVER Guidestar Exchange Participant.
Rusk Ranch Nature Center is a nonprofit organization with a mission to promote the wellbeing of residents of the community and to conserve nature. It acknowledges support from sponsors, foundations, and event sponsors including The Carpenter Foundation, The Fourway Community Foundation, The Collins Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust Foundation, The Gray Family Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, Illinois Valley Watershed Council, Illinois Valley Family Coalition, Evergreen Federal Bank, Shirley and Wayne Rusk, Kimberlie Lehman, Beth Stark, Jan Walker, Carla Gillard, Edith Martin, Divonna Ratliff, Kaci Elder, and Diane Chirrick. The center notes a focus on youth partnership programs, restoration of wetlands, a Butterfly Pavilion featuring native butterflies of Josephine County, a Wildlife Preserve and Meadow available during events, and the Butterfly Flyway Project, which provides native milkweed starts for gardens at non-sprayed locations. Plans include an Oregon Nature & Environmental Discovery Center (O.N.E. Discovery), an interactive Nature Discovery Center with hands-on nature-based exhibits, and a community and event center.
Last updated June 11, 2026.
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