How You Can Help


This class saved $100 in loose change and the Columbus Foundation matched their donation.
Ohio Nature Education receives no tax dollars, no state funding, or no federal funding! We exist solely on program fees, donations, and grants. The amount of money that we generate directly correlates with how many animals that we can provide a permanent home for or rehabilitate and release.
There are many ways that you can help; many you can do right now, such as donating through PayPal -- a safe way to shop online!

Adopt an Animal Sponsorship

You can help support Ohio Nature Education's mission to educate about the wonders of our natural world by adopting one of our education animals through our Adopt-an-Animal program. Your adoption fees help us feed and care for these animals. See below for more details on our revamped benefits for this vital, and fun, program.
We created this program in an effort to provide people with a special opportunity to sponsor and "develop a relationship," with ONE's education animals. And, coincidentally, our Adopt-an-Animal program helps greatly with the costs of feeding our resident ambassadors. The expenses involved in maintaining healthy, well-adjusted education animals are not insignificant.
Choose an animal or animals that you would like to sponsor. There are various levels for you to choose from. This is also a great gift for that hard to shop for person in your life and a unique gift!
Adoption Plans
Reward yourself and help ONE by adopting one of our education ambassadors. You will gain a special wild friend while lending support for your adopted animal's care and feeding. Adoptions make an excellent gift and are good for one full year. What better way to say, "I care about Ohio Nature Education's important work!" We offer five different adoption levels for anyone to help support Ohio Nature Education and its animals.
  • Level 1 ($40) | Includes a background sheet about your adopted animal, a certificate of adoption, and an invitation to meet your adopted animal "in person" at ONE's annual, members-only open house
  • Level 2 ($50) | Includes all of the above plus a coffee mug featuring a photo of your adopted animal
  • Level 3 ($65) | Includes all of the above plus a framed 5x7 photo of your adopted animal
  • Level 4 ($150) | Includes all of the above plus a free 30 minute program featuring your adopted animal
  • Level 5 ($175) | Includes all level 1, 2, and 3 items plus a free one hour program featuring your adopted animal
How to Adopt
Click here to download our adoption form. Print and fill out the form and send it to us along with your adoption fees. If you have difficulties, you may also contact us at (740) 967-8320 or e-mail for adoption assistance.

The Columbus Foundation

You may also make donations through the Columbus Foundation's PowerPhilanthropy program. Visit the Columbus Foundation and login to PowerPhilanthropy to view our portrait and make your donations online! Registration is quick, free, and secure.

Volunteer Opportunities

Ohio Nature Education needs committed board members and volunteers to help us fulfill our mission and reach our goals. We want your time and your special talents as we have a lot of work ahead of us! We're providing the community with an ever-increasing number of programs, and we've added education animals to our "family." Currently, we need fundraisers, PR people, financial wizards, attorneys, cage builders, animal care, and education program volunteers. In short, we need all of you. If you have time, volunteer! If you have special talents, share them with us! If you can help us raise the funds and supplies to house and feed our animals, we welcome you with open wings and outstretched paws! Please download our volunteer interest form to become an Ohio Nature Education board member and/or volunteer. E-mail or call her at (740) 967-8320 for more information.
Please check out the calendar on the Program Information page to see dates for upcoming trainings and orientations. We can also help you fulfill your graduation requirements or offer internships. Please contact for additional information. You must be at least 16 years old and have your own transportation.

Existing Volunteers

Already a volunteer? Please track your time and in-kind donations using this form in PDF or Microsoft Word format. You can right-click and choose Save As to save this file to your computer.

Become a Supporting Member

Too busy to volunteer but still want to help? Become a member of Ohio Nature Education and support our work of providing a home for permanently injured wild animals and environmental education! Another great gift idea for Mother's Day, Father's Day, anniversaries, and birthdays! As with our Adopt-an-Animal program, your membership makes you a vital and supporting part of ONE. Your membership will help us house and care for our education animals, and we welcome your support with the following levels:
  • Student/Senior Membership ($20) You are invited to join us at our annual open house at a discounted rate
  • Regular Membership ($30) You are invited to join us at our annual open house
  • Supporting Member ($50) You receive all benefits above plus a coffee mug picturing the ONE education animal of your choice
  • Corporate Membership ($250) You receive all of the above benefits plus a free one-hour presentation with the ONE education animal of your choice and a certificate of membership.
  • Lifetime Membership ($500) You receive all benefits above plus a coffee mug picturing the ONE education animal of your choice

Make a Monetary Donation

It's tax deductible and an awesome way to support our wildlife ambassadors! We now offer online donations via PayPal, or you may also download our donation form and mail your donation to us as well. If you would like to make an online donation, look for the "Make a Donation" button in the top right-hand corner of every page!

Go Krogering

You can help Ohio Nature Education out and not have to spend any extra money! How? Ohio Nature Education has partnered with the Kroger company's Community Rewards Program. Register online at the Kroger Community Rewards website. Grab your Kroger Plus card (or get one at your local Kroger). Once you register and confirm your information, you can go to the My Account section of the website and add Ohio Nature Education. You should see our name on the right side of the information page if you've done it correctly. Contact if you have any questions or concerns.

Current Wish List

This list changes periodically, so check back often to see what our current needs are. For your convenience, you may also download and print this list.
  • High quality canned or dry cat food and dog food
  • Unsalted, shelled peanuts
  • Other shelled hard nuts (almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts, etc.) for the squirrels
  • Mealworms for the bats and flying squirrels -- we go through tens of thousands annually (These can be purchased at Wild Birds Unlimited or through GrubCo)
  • Paper towels
  • Garbage bags - both trash bags & tall kitchen bags
  • Disinfecting wipes
  • Bales of straw
  • Building materials
  • Sunflower seed - striped or black oilers (These can be purchased at Wild Birds Unlimited)
In addition, the following stores have a wish list of items that you can purchase from them on behalf of Ohio Nature Education throughout the holiday season:

Copyright ©2003-12 David J. Francis