2025 Shield Ranch Foundation Impact Report

IMPACT REPORT 2025

WE ARE A TEAM DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING AND GROWING YOUR BUSINESS.

SHIELD RANCH FOUNDATION

SHIELD RANCH FOUNDATION AT A GLANCE The Shield Ranch Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2008 with a mission to steward and share Shield Ranch in ways that educate, inspire, and transform.

Located just 22 miles from downtown Austin, Shield Ranch Barton Creek spans 6,600 acres of protected wildlands.

The Foundation stewards 131 of these acres and operates the Campsite at Shield Ranch, an award-winning, sustainably designed facility that embodies our commitment to conservation.

It’s home to Camp El Ranchito, a scholarship-based overnight camp. The Campsite also offers public programs and welcomes community groups of all ages for day and overnight retreats and outdoor experiences that inspire creativity, promote wellness, teach conservation, and deepen connections to the natural world.

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear friends, Nature is a teacher, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from it in community at Shield Ranch. As we reflect on Shield Ranch Foundation’s continued growth in 2025, we are reminded of the interconnections that sustain a dynamic ecosystem.

We strengthened partnerships in 2025, deepening our community engagement and expanding our capacity.

Volunteer service far exceeded our goals, supporting habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and nature education programming. Our ongoing partnership with Capital Area Master Naturalists grew, and thanks to an H-E-B and Texas Master Naturalist grant, we doubled pollinator plantings around the Campsite at Shield Ranch. This vital habitat provides up-close, hands-on environmental learning opportunities. H-E-B also provided Camp El Ranchito program support, abundant BBQ for each summer camp session, and sent every camper home with bags of healthy camp snacks. An expansive network of nonprofit and school partners helped recruit campers and provide programming, and we value their involvement in making nature-immersion experiences more accessible for youth who otherwise may not have attended camp.

After three years of operating the Campsite, the community continues to grow organically. About half of community groups using the Campsite year-round and Camp El Ranchito campers returned from a previous year. Their participation affirms the distinct learning experiences at a protected wildland so close to the urban core and the sense of belonging Shield Ranch fosters. Events like Creative Nature Retreat and Evergreen Winter Warm-Up brought together new and returning participants of all ages, and witnessing their curiosity and inspiration is one of the many joys in delivering our mission.

The Shield Ranch Foundation and Camp El Ranchito staff’s commitment to helping campers and guests connect to the natural world and community modeled collaboration and hospitality. The guidance of our board, advocacy of conservation-minded neighbors, and enthusiasm from our Wild for Good Committee all contributed in critical ways to the success of 2025. A big thanks to the Wild for Good Circle, a growing group of committed supporters who value nature and want to protect and share it with the community. Their donations help subsidize Shield Ranch Foundation's outdoor programming for El Ranchito campers and Campsite community groups. I am grateful to this interconnected Shield Ranch community for the accomplishments detailed in this report, and I am optimistic about what we can achieve together in the future.

Warmly,

Andrea Mellard

YOUR IMPACT IN 2025

The Campsite at Shield Ranch: Connecting People to Nature and Each Other The Campsite at Shield Ranch served as a welcoming gathering place where people came together to connect with nature. With your support, we expanded access to meaningful outdoor experiences while building community.

2,013

Adults and Youth Served

280

The Campsite provided a place for learning, reflection, and exploration as participants of all ages engaged in day and overnight nature experiences.

Program Participants

524

Guests joined us for thoughtfully designed nature programs like our Creative Nature Retreat, Dark Skies at Shield Ranch Star Party, guided nature walks, nature photography, and forest bathing.

Volunteer Hours Contributed

36

Community Groups Hosted

From nonprofits and schools to businesses and community organizations, the Campsite hosted a diverse range of groups — fostering collaboration and a shared purpose grounded in nature. Wild for Good pricing makes nature more accessible, allowing small nonprofits and Title 1 school groups to use the Campsite at a reduced rate.

It was a record year for volunteers who played a vital role in our mission, contributing their time and energy to support conservation efforts and nature programs.

"Attending the Creative Nature Retreat was transformative. I arrived feeling weighed down by urgency, stress, and a sense of being lost, and I left feeling grounded, open, and reconnected."

- JEN, FIRST-TIME CREATIVE NATURE PARTICIPANT GUEST

YOUR IMPACT IN 2025

Camp El Ranchito: Investing in Camp Safety

At Camp El Ranchito, we often say, “You have to be safe to have fun.” It’s a guiding principle for everything we do. Families trust us to provide joyful, inspiring experiences for their children — rooted in care, connection, and nature.

In keeping with this commitment, we have begun the process of pursuing national accreditation from the American Camp Association (ACA) — the gold standard for camp safety and program quality. ACA accreditation encompasses more than 260 standards covering risk management, operations, facilities, programming, health, and safety.

145 92% Campers Served

Camp El Ranchito welcomed Nature Discovery Camp (grades 4-8), Conservation Corps (grades 9-12), and Spring Break Outdoor Girl (grades 5-9) for an overnight nature camp experience.

of Campers Benefited from Full or Partial Scholarships

Thanks to donor support, scholarships and a new tieredpricing structure ensured that more families could say “yes” to nature camp without financial barriers.

4,977 13 Meals Served

Chef Addie and her team prepared nourishing meals using fresh, seasonal ingredients, bringing campers and staff together and building community around the table.

Gallons of Water Per Person Per Day

Our campers and staff continued to model sustainable practices, using significantly less water than the average Texan’s 90 gallons per person per day.

Time in Nature

On average, Nature Discovery campers spent 124 hours, Conservation Corps spent 292 hours, and Outdoor Girl Spring Break campers spent 52 hours in nature during camp.

"When looking back at my time as an El Ranchito camper, I instantly got brought back to Rocky Creek and all the fun my friends and I would have learning about micro and macro invertebrates during our creek walks. El Ranchito has definitely made me a more curious person, always wanting to know more about the outdoors and wanting to share what I learned with others as well.

Camp El Ranchito is very important to youth because they are given an opportunity to explore and be creative outdoors. A lot of first-time campers haven't been outside as much, so when given the opportunity to be with nature, they flourish. They may even find a new piece of themselves that they may not have found if not for Camp El Ranchito."

- CHRISTINA, NATURE DISCOVERY CAMP ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND FORMER CAMPER

2025 HIGHLIGHTS Wild for Good supporters enjoyed lunch at Horizon Hall to celebrate Wild for Good Day on March 30.

Outdoor Girl Spring Break campers honed their archery skills with equipment provided by our partners at the Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center and resources by a Texas Parks & Wildlife CO-OP grant on March 17.

Photographer David Cook led a photo naturalist walk at Shield Ranch on May 3.

Camp El Ranchito campers and staff stayed cool after their creek swim with a surprise visit from a snow cone truck on July 15.

2025 HIGHLIGHTS Dark Skies at Shield Ranch Star Party guests stargazed and learned about the importance of preserving dark skies during the Nov. 15 sold-out event.

Creative Nature Retreat participants gathered around the campfire on Oct. 25.

Evergreen Winter Warm-up guests played Arborama! A Tree Game, a bilingual game showcasing Central Texas native and climate-resilient trees, on Dec. 13.

Through an H-E-B partnership, Capital Area Master Naturalist volunteers expanded the Campsite’s pollinator garden by 9,400 square feet in December, increasing critical habitat for pollinators.

AWARD RECOGNITIONS The Campsite at Shield Ranch — home to Texas’ first TCEQ-approved public water system that collects, treats, and conveys onsite rainwater — was honored with a Blue Legacy Award from the Texas Water Development Board. This innovative system protects vital water resources in the Barton Creek watershed and serves as a model for sustainable design.

Andersson / Wise received the American Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT We are grateful for community support in the growth of our operations at the sustainable Campsite at Shield Ranch.

Revenue Individual donors 40% Foundation grants 49.6% State grants 3% Earned revenue 6% Other 1.4%

Expenses Program 75%* Administrative 12% Fundraising 13% *Breakdown by program is Camp El Ranchito 60%, Hosted Groups 29%, Directed Public Program 11%

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED • Sign up for our newsletter

• Partner/Sponsor a public program

• Attend a public program

• Volunteer

• Host a group at the Campsite

• Donate

• Join our Wild for Good Circle

WE’RE HERE TO HELP If you have questions, call 512.476.4816 or email info@shieldranch.com.

THANK YOU 2025 SUPPORTERS Alison Acton Alamo Heights - Terrell Hills Garden Club Natalie Amoroso  Scott & Laura Anderson  Arthur & Rebecca Andersson 

Alethea Bugg  In memory of Bruce Bugg BUTLER  Byways Hospitality Kathy Cabarcas

Andersson / Wise Architects 

Capital Area Master Naturalists 

Anonymous In memory of K.C. Carruthers

Annette Carlozzi & Dan Bullock  Marcia Chaney 

Applied Materials Foundation 

Yoobin Choi & Keaton Lain 

Arcadia Charitable Trust 

Florence Clarke 

Anne Ashmun 

Ann & Terry Clearkin 

Kathleen Ayres 

George & Mary Elizabeth Cofer 

Patricia Shield Ayres 

Mary Godigna Collet

Robert & Margaret Ayres 

Fran & Larry Collmann 

Fayruz Benyoussef & Malek Ben-Musa

Robert & Carolyn Conway  In memory of Kathryn "K.C." Carruthers

Susan Benz  Bernardine Bering Karen Blizzard  Mittie & Michael Bolton  Madison & Marshall Bowen  Vera Ayres Bowen  Tim & Patricia Bowers-Young  Jack G. Brannon  Broadway Bank  Michelle Bryant 

Karen Cotter  Joel & Trudy Cunningham  In memory of VC Robert Ayres & in honor of Mrs. Patricia Shield Ayres Kevin Deiters Kira Dell  Justin & Juliet Dill  Lisa Dirks  Chema Domenech & Elizabeth Ayres Domenech 

THANK YOU 2025 SUPPORTERS Michelle Drerup

Diana Keller

Heather Drury

Jen Maufrais Kelly 

Bill & Ann Edwards 

Justine & David Kies 

James & Ashlee Elledge 

Randy & Julie Kies 

Bill & Lucy Farland 

Jim & Leighton Krips  In honor of Bob & Margy Ayres

FBC | Generosity Experts  Gwen Flory Susan Folwell  GlobalFoundries Pete & Betty Golde  Karen & Mark Greiner  Dale & Nancy Grimes  Aaron Gupta  The Haggerty Family Foundation  Kathie & Dick Hanson  The Harry E. and Eda L. Montandon Charitable Trust  H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust 

Logan Architecture  Lola Wright Foundation  Kathleen Loughlin  Eugene & Linda Lowenthal  David & Ana Martin  Andrea & Jason Mellard  Jason Mendiola & Mary Carlton  Camille & Bill Miller  Palmer Moe  Shannon Murphy & Leslie Sachanowicz  John Nyfeler & Sally Ann Fly  In honor of Susan Benz Dermot & Kim-Marie O'Driscoll 

Clarke & Catherine Heidrick  Connie Henry Jane Hervey & Manik Raj Nakra 

Legend

Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors 

 Camp El Ranchito

Janna Jacobson

 Wild for Good Circle

Karen Bruett & Michael Roberts Charitable Fund 

 Foundation Grant

THANK YOU 2025 SUPPORTERS Edgar Osorio 

Still Water Foundation 

Nell Penridge 

Lisa Storer 

Philip Theodore Bee Charitable Trust 

Neal Sutton 

The Powell Foundation 

Shelley Szucs

Tobin Quereau 

Tom & Judy Taylor 

Cindy Raab 

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 

Gail Reid 

David & Wendy Todd 

Meredith Reid 

Tres Grace Family Foundation 

Reinsurance Group of America

Terri & Tim Van Ackeren 

Tom & Dottie Roark 

Jennifer Vickers & E. Lee Walker 

Sharon Rodriguez 

Debra & Robert Vickery 

Sumaya Saati 

Victor Emanuel Young Naturalist Camp Scholarship Fund 

Shanti Sattler  Dan & Caroline Schaefer  Michael Scheinberg  Frances & Pete Schenkkan 

Cliff & Bebe Waller  Bob & Jean Warneke  Cheyenne Weaver 

Jill Schroeder 

Webber Family Foundation 

Lisa Sears-Croft  In honor of Terri Siegenthaler

Melba & Ted Whatley  Lydia Whiteley

Chuck & Mary Kay Sexton 

Winkler Family Foundation 

Shield-Ayres Foundation 

Greg Wooldridge & Lynne Dobson 

Terri Siegenthaler 

Roberta & Lawrence Wright  In memory of Sue Ellen Harrigan

Anne Smalling Stephen M. Seay Foundation  Molly Stevens & Sam Householder 

Tracy Wuster  Barbara Yoder 

"It’s heartening to see Shield Ranch making an impact and knowing that my support helps. The preservation of wildlands is essential not only to the livability of our planet but to our mental well-being.

I have taken advantage of several of the activities at the Ranch, including a star party, a nature walk, a mycology walk, and a bird conservation seminar. " - MICHAEL SCHEINBERG, NEIGHBOR

SHIELDRANCH.COM

Cover photo: Sandy Carson Contributing photography: CAMN, Sandy Carson, Brian Fitzsimmons, Sanetra Longno, and TBG Partners