History and Mission

Past Executive Director Moran Henn with Willow Bend founder Jim David, celebrating the Center’s ongoing legacy

It all began with a pond…and a visionary teacher.

In 1975, Jim David, an enthusiastic biology teacher at Flagstaff Middle School, saw the potential in a neglected, trash-filled wash next to the school. Determined to turn it into an outdoor classroom, he began restoring this small section of the Rio de Flag. The project, known as the Pond Project, quickly gained support from the Coconino National Forest, the County Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service), and the Coconino Natural Resource Conservation District (CNRCD). Jim Alam, a district conservationist with the SLS, became a key partner in the effort, recognizing the value of outdoor education.

Inspired by the success of the Pond Project, David and Alam, both active with the CNRCD, proposed the idea of a dedicated environmental education center to the CNRCD board. Their vision led to the establishment of Arizona’s first NRCD-sponsored environmental education program.

Over three years, the Pond Project evolved into a fully functional outdoor classroom, culminating in the creation of the Resource Center for Environmental Education (CRCEE). In 1980, it became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and later adopted the name Willow Bend Environmental Education Center.

By 1986, the historic Veit Cabin, a pioneer log home, was moved to the pond site, providing a physical space for classes and storage. Through the late 1980s and 1990s, the center relocated multiple times before finding a permanent home in Sawmill Park, thanks to a collaborative partnership with Coconino County. In 2000, CNRCD secured a 20-year lease for the land, and by 2001, construction began on Willow Bend’s current straw bale building, a sustainable structure reflecting the center’s values. In March 2002, Willow Bend celebrated the grand opening of its permanent home and officially became Willow Bend Environmental Education Center.

In March 2002, Willow Bend celebrated the grand opening of its permanent home and officially became Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. Since then, we have continued to grow, providing hands-on environmental education and promoting stewardship throughout Coconino County.