Nonprofit marks 15 years of celebrating the outdoors.

Byline: Andrea Damewood The Register-Guard

When it's raining, nature has a way of getting too nearby - dripping down necks, into ears, over slickers and into Wellington boots.

So Nearby Nature brought the Earth's wonders indoors to Cozmic Pizza on Saturday, where hundreds of the nonprofit's supporters gathered to mark 15 years of offering educational programs, hikes and events.

"Yesterday was gorgeous, but today it's raining," Program Director Beth Stein explained. "We wanted to make sure we were not going to be having a rain fest here."

Small children barely noticed that there was a roof over their heads as they snatched up blue and green scarves, forming a river through the room. They swam like fish, spun webs like spiders and hopped like frogs on the dance floor.

They nestled like tiny chicks next to a volunteer in an owl costume and flew alongside a woman dressed as a bat.

Teaching families that nature can be found in parks and backyards excites interest in caring for the environment, Stein said.

"I think (Nearby Nature) plays an important role both to educate our children and inform them of the delights and fragility of the natural world," said Marlene Drescher, as her 8-year-old, Breanna, lounged on her lap, tired from dancing.

Nearby Nature has only a few paid positions, so about 4,000 volunteer hours are needed annually to keep things running, Stein said.

Among many roles, volunteers lead nature walks, go to schools, head field trips and dress as characters for the annual Haunted Halloween Hike and Spring Egg Walk.

Volunteer Vicky Mello started leading nature hikes in 1995, and said she now sees young adults come back to Nearby Nature to give their time.

Seeing children - and even their parents - pause to appreciate animals they normally breeze by makes her see things in a different way, Mello said.

"You learn a lot from the kids, like you might as well enjoy the moment," she said. "They can spend five minutes just watching an ant walk along; you learn a different perspective from their angle."

Stein said Eugene is blessed to have so many natural areas close by, and Nearby Nature likes to encourage going to those local green spots instead of taking a two-hour car ride.

"Helping people realize that nature is everywhere also shows them that it's really important to take care of it," Stein said.

Over the past 15 years, the program has grown by leaps and bounds, she said. Like any nonprofit agency, Stein said Nearby Nature has sometimes struggled to make ends meet. But its broad volunteer base, donations, grants and day camp fees have helped it expand to serve thousands of children each year.

"Right now, we're in a very good position," Stein said. "We started out in somebody's backyard in a yurt and now we have our own yurt in Alton Baker Park. It feels like we're going to be around for a long time."

NEARBY NATURE VOLUNTEER TRAINING

Learn to guide youngsters through Alton Baker Park

When: March 15, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Eugene Water & Electric Board, 500 E. Fourth Ave.

More Information:

687-9699 or www.nearby nature.org