Individuals, foundations and businesses are invited to become involved in supporting ACES’ efforts.

Become a New Member or Renew Your Membership
Generous annual contributions enable the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies to continue its important education and conservation work which reaches nearly 60,000 people each year and benefits the natural resources of the Roaring Fork Valley. Become a Member or renew your membership and be part of more than 1,000 individuals, families, and businesses that are ACES' members. Click here to become a member.

Children’s Education Fund Drive
ACES has a 40-year history of providing programs for local school children, beginning with founding trustee Stuart Mace in 1968. The environmental programs we offer ensure that children have a firm grasp of important science concepts, and an eagerness to pursue science in their educations. The Malott Family Endowment for Environmental Education provides for a portion of the program costs, and participating schools are also very supportive. However, every spring ACES must raise the balance of funds needed to cover the remaining costs of the environmental education programs we provide at Hallam Lake and Rock Bottom Ranch for 45 regional schools. These programs make more than 30,000 student contacts annually and have received national recognition for excellence. Click here to support the Children's Education Fund.

Internship Sponsorship
The Summer Naturalist Internship Program brings 14 talented young naturalists with science and education degrees to ACES for 13 weeks of intensive training and hands-on experience. ACES is very encouraged by the success of this program, its recognition by the Princeton Review as one of the top internships in the country, and the nearly 200 interns who have effectively used ACES as a stepping-stone into meaningful careers in the environmental field. Each year ACES must raise approximately $42,000 to cover the costs of the Internship Program, or $3,000 per intern. Click here to support the Summer Naturalist Internship Program.

Planned Gifts - The Elizabeth Paepcke Society
Donors may play a significant role in securing the future of ACES by including ACES in their wills. Individuals who have made a planned gift to ACES are welcomed to the Elizabeth Paepcke Society that recognizes these foresighted donors whose gifts will extend beyond their lifetimes. Donors interested in making a planned gift may contact ACES Director Tom Cardamone at 970-925-5756 or tcardamone@aspennature.org.  

Hallam Lake
Hallam Lake Nature Preserve is the heart and hub of ACES programing in the Aspen community. Memberships help support environmental education for schools, extensive Naturalist Field School Courses for adults and children, wildlife rehabilitation and care for resident birds of prey, evening lectures including the Potbelly Perspective Series, community gatherings, and management of the 25-acres of lake, streams and wetlands. Hallam Lake provides an inspirational setting from which visitors can observe, learn, celebrate and contemplate the balance and interaction of natural communities and humankind's role within them. Click here to support Hallam Lake.

Rock Bottom Ranch
Rock Bottom Ranch Wildlife Preserve, a 113-acre property and Field Study Center, provides programs in environmental education for regional schools and a variety of courses for the public through the Naturalist Field School. Visitors also enjoy birding and wildlife watching, a nature trail, the farmyard and garden, and seasonal community gatherings. Click here to support Rock Bottom Ranch.

Catto Center at Toklat
ACES seeks annual contributions to support community events and new program development at the Catto Center at Toklat. The focus at Toklat is to encourage a commitment to the natural world, recognition of the value of diversity and balance of all life including human cultures, and the elevation of environmentalism to a broadly held worldview. Click here to support the Catto Center at Toklat.

Special Projects
ACES remains actively involved in land stewardship, habitat enhancement, and conservation, and from time to time seeks funding to support these special endeavors. For more information about ACES' special projects, please contact Director Tom Cardamone at 970-925-5756 or tcardamone@aspennature.org.

Endowment
To celebrate ACES founder Elizabeth Paepcke's 80th birthday, her family established an endowment to support ACES. In the almost three decades since, ACES has remained focused on strengthening the endowment and securing ACES future. Today, ACES is very fortunate to enjoy the annual support of its $6.3 million endowment. The following funds have been established within the endowment: Elizabeth Paepcke Endowment, Malott Family Endowment for Environmental Education, Hallam Lake Endowment, Rock Bottom Ranch Endowment, Toklat Endowment and the Wild Lands Trust. Donors interested in contributing to the endowment may contact ACES Director Tom Cardamone at 970-925-5756 or tcardamone@aspennature.org.

A Capital Effort
ACES' Board of Trustees has approved a campaign to apply highly-innovative, new approaches to energy efficiency throughout all of ACES’ existing and planned facilities, with the goals of achieving a net zero carbon footprint within ten years and maintaining ACES’ leadership role in environmental education and stewardship through improved programs and facilities.
Key components of the campaign will include:
• Installing renewable energy systems including geo-thermal, micro-hydro, solar and wind power at Hallam Lake, Rock Bottom Ranch, Toklat and Spring Creek.
• Improving public space and freeing existing building space for staff housing — an essential asset for securing and retaining staff in the Roaring Fork Valley.
• Enhancing habitat at the Hallam Lake and Rock Bottom Ranch nature preserves and Spring Creek.
• Establishing innovative new programming surrounding the three initiatives of clean energy, sustainable local agriculture and freshwater conservation, which emphasize the importance of all life and the need for preserving biodiversity.
• Securing the future of ACES by establishing a continuity fund, which combined with ACES $5 million endowment, will provide valuable income and cashflow management.

ACES has begun the initial quiet phase of soliciting major gifts.
Donors interested in becoming involved in this important effort may contact ACES Director Tom Cardamone at 970-925-5756 or tcardamone@aspennature.org.