IMPACT REPORT 2025
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
The Campsite provided a place for learning, reflection, and exploration as participants of all ages engaged in day and overnight nature experiences.
280
Program Participants
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.
524
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
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.
4,977
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.
92%
Time in Nature 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.
13 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.
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
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.
Camp El Ranchito campers and staff stayed cool after their creek swim with a surprise visit from a snow cone truck on July 15.
Wild for Good supporters enjoyed lunch at Horizon Hall to celebrate Wild for Good Day on March 30.
Photographer David Cook led a photo naturalist walk at Shield Ranch on May 3.
2025 HIGHLIGHTS
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.
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.
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.
We are grateful for community support in the growth of our operations at the sustainable Campsite at Shield Ranch.
THANK YOU 2025 SUPPORTERS
Alison Acton
Alamo Heights - Terrell Hills Garden Club
Natalie Amoroso
Scott & Laura Anderson
Arthur & Rebecca Andersson
Andersson / Wise Architects
Anonymous
In memory of K.C. Carruthers
Applied Materials Foundation
Arcadia Charitable Trust
Anne Ashmun
Kathleen Ayres
Patricia Shield Ayres
Robert & Margaret Ayres
Fayruz Benyoussef & Malek Ben-Musa
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
Alethea Bugg
In memory of Bruce Bugg
BUTLER
Byways Hospitality
Kathy Cabarcas
Capital Area Master Naturalists
Annette Carlozzi & Dan Bullock
Marcia Chaney
Yoobin Choi & Keaton Lain
Florence Clarke
Ann & Terry Clearkin
George & Mary Elizabeth Cofer
Mary Godigna Collet
Fran & Larry Collmann
Robert & Carolyn Conway
In memory of Kathryn "K.C." Carruthers
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
Heather Drury
Bill & Ann Edwards
James & Ashlee Elledge
Bill & Lucy Farland
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
Clarke & Catherine Heidrick
Connie Henry
Jane Hervey & Manik Raj Nakra
Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors
Janna Jacobson
Karen Bruett & Michael Roberts
Charitable Fund
Diana Keller
Jen Maufrais Kelly
Justine & David Kies
Randy & Julie Kies
Jim & Leighton Krips
In honor of Bob & Margy Ayres
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 Legend
Camp El Ranchito
Wild for Good Circle
Foundation Grant
THANK YOU 2025 SUPPORTERS
Edgar Osorio
Nell Penridge
Philip Theodore Bee Charitable Trust
The Powell Foundation
Tobin Quereau
Cindy Raab
Gail Reid
Meredith Reid
Reinsurance Group of America
Tom & Dottie Roark
Sharon Rodriguez
Sumaya Saati
Shanti Sattler
Dan & Caroline Schaefer
Michael Scheinberg
Frances & Pete Schenkkan
Jill Schroeder
Lisa Sears-Croft
In honor of Terri Siegenthaler
Chuck & Mary Kay Sexton
Shield-Ayres Foundation
Terri Siegenthaler
Anne Smalling
Stephen M. Seay Foundation
Molly Stevens & Sam Householder
Still Water Foundation
Lisa Storer
Neal Sutton
Shelley Szucs
Tom & Judy Taylor
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
David & Wendy Todd
Tres Grace Family Foundation
Terri & Tim Van Ackeren
Jennifer Vickers & E. Lee Walker
Debra & Robert Vickery
Victor Emanuel Young Naturalist Camp Scholarship Fund
Cliff & Bebe Waller
Bob & Jean Warneke
Cheyenne Weaver
Webber Family Foundation
Melba & Ted Whatley
Lydia Whiteley
Winkler Family Foundation
Greg Wooldridge & Lynne Dobson
Roberta & Lawrence Wright In memory of Sue Ellen Harrigan
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