Wolf Haven Secures $220,000 State Investment for New Treehouse Learning Center

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Wolf Haven International Press Release

April 1, 2026

TENINO, WA – Wolf Haven International, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has worked for wolf conservation since 1982 under the mission “to conserve and protect wolves and their habitat,” has officially secured a $220,000 investment from Washington State through the Local Community Projects program. This funding will support the construction of a year-round outdoor science education facility in South Thurston County, specifically designed to expand educational reach and provide local students with immersive, hands-on learning experiences in a natural setting.

Wolf Haven's Treehouse Learning Center will include a 250-foot ADA accessible ramp rising gradually through the trees — *Wolf Haven's Treehouse Learning Center will include a* *250-foot ADA accessible ramp rising gradually through the trees*

The investment, sponsored by Senator Drew MacEwen and Representative Travis Couture from Washington’s 35th Legislative District, will fund the development of an ADA-accessible elevated classroom designed to serve thousands of students annually – increasing access to environmental education for rural, tribal, and Title I schools across the region.

"Research consistently shows that outdoor learning improves academic outcomes and student engagement. Wolf Haven’s Treehouse Learning Center will bring that experience to students who might otherwise never have access to it, and inspire wonder while connecting them to STEM concepts in the natural world,” says Geoff Willard, Wolf Haven’s Executive Director. “We're deeply grateful to our 35th District legislators for supporting this transformational investment in outdoor education for our rural Tenino community."

Wolf Haven is a globally recognized, award-winning wolf sanctuary located in Tenino, Washington that is dedicated to wildlife conservation and science-based education. As schools increasingly focus on helping students achieve nationwide educational standards in math and English, subjects deemed less essential such as science and art are often removed from curriculum, taught at a later age, or not addressed at all. Wolf Haven bridges this gap by providing educational programs, as well as guided sanctuary and prairie walks, to groups of all ages and backgrounds.

The organization’s Treehouse Learning Center project is currently in the permitting phase, with construction to follow. It’s being developed in partnership with Nelson Treehouse, a Washington-based company known for their work on Treehouse Masters. Once complete, the Treehouse Learning Center will be the only structure of its kind in the South Puget Sound region, sitting 17-feet above the ground and overlooking 36 acres of restored Mima mound prairie. The structure will also allow Wolf Haven to provide education programs when its sanctuary is otherwise closed to visitors, allowing for consistent year-round scheduling and expanded opportunities.

Wolf Haven is actively pursuing additional partnerships to bring the full project to completion and welcomes community support. For more information, visit wolfhaven.org/treehouse or contact development@wolfhaven.org.