About UsHistory
In 2012 one of our co-founders, Ben Kusserow, began work on a website that matched Lower Skagit Valley community needs with the underutilized abilities of many of our area residents. Using a structure of “time banking” and bartering similar to Craigslist, the Urban Naturalist Society was born online. Through the community connections that the website fostered, UNC quickly began organizing naturalist field trips throughout the ecoregion. In three years of operation our website has become a valued community service, connecting 448 members with each other and over 50 local businesses. |
In 2014 Holli Watne and Joe Loviska joined Kusserow in planning for a physical space in which our organization could flourish. In November 2014 the 677 Peterson Road Site was taken back by the city after its owner passed away and deeded to be used for the public good. The City of Burlington was enthusiastic to see our project move forward, and supported us by granting a 5 year lease for $1000/month. Recognizing the need for full community buy-in and investment we changed our name to the Urban Naturalist Cooperative and included organizational decision-making in the membership benefits. The Peterson Road site is poised to become an integral community center with wide scope, where we will enact numerous programs and provide space for experimenting with other program ideas. In honor of the strong familial ties we feel within our community, we have named the site the Urban Naturalist Co-op Learning Extension, or UNCLE (our core program) and now seek funds for capital projects to develop it.
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Joe
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Holli• Education Director
• Past experience at Skagit Gardens • Studied at Western Washington University |
Ben•Executive Director
• Past experience at City Year NH and Lutherlyn •Studied at Allegheny College |
Our Board Members
Mike Watne, CPA at Legg and Watne CPA
Kristi Carpenter, Skagit Conservation Education Coordinator
Brenda Cunningham, Washington Native Plant Society Native Plant Garden Coordinator
Larry Monahan, Executive Director of the HUB Community Bike Shop
Gregg A. Davidson, CEO, Skagit Regional health
Kristi Carpenter, Skagit Conservation Education Coordinator
Brenda Cunningham, Washington Native Plant Society Native Plant Garden Coordinator
Larry Monahan, Executive Director of the HUB Community Bike Shop
Gregg A. Davidson, CEO, Skagit Regional health