Community Organizations

The Baker Wetlands – The Baker Wetlands consists of 573 acres located on the south side of Lawrence in Douglas County in northeastern Kansas. It is located approximately 45 miles west of Kansas City. The area is open to the public during daylight hours. More than six miles of trails are available for walking one of the most diverse habitats in Douglas County, home to many birds, flowers, plants and insects.

Cans for the Community – Cans for the Community was formed in May of 2005 in Lawrence, Kansas with the belief that the simple act of recycling aluminum cans could benefit our community in more than one way. Aluminum can recycling saves valuable resources, energy, time and money AND it generates funds for our community.

Cans for the Community volunteers collect aluminum cans for recycling from businesses, apartment complexes, community recycling drop-off bins, and at local events such as KU football games. All proceeds from recycling are donated to local non-profit organizations.

Citizens' Climate Lobby – Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change. Citizens' Climate Lobby trains and supports volunteers to reclaim their democracy and engage elected officials and the media to generate the political will for solutions that will stabilize the Earth’s climate.

Ecumenical Campus Ministries – Ecumenical Campus Ministries involves a diversity of people on the University of Kansas campus and in Lawrence, and represents a stream of the Christian faith tradition that tries to be intellectually honest, liberating, and sensitive to how we know mystery in our lives. ECM offers a variety of programs geared toward KU students and the Lawrence community on issues of faith and religion, global and Earth ethics, intimacy and sexuality, and vocational opportunities, including alternative Spring Breaks.

Friends of the Kaw – The mission of the Friends of the Kaw is to preserve and protect the Kansas River for present and future generations, advocate the rehabilitation of the Kansas River's environs, including its water quality and wildlife habitat, and promote compatible public recreational uses of the Kansas River and encourage the development of adequate public access. The organization also has programs geared toward children (Kids 4 the Kaw) and teenagers (Teens 4 the Kaw).

Jayhawk Audubon Society – The mission of the Jayhawk Audubon Society is to encourage enjoyment of, to promote understanding of, and to advocate conservation of the natural world.

Just Food – Just Food provides a consistent supply of donated food to a central location for distribution to Lawrence food pantries. Their goal is to increase awareness of hunger needs globally, and to educate students and others on what is needed to end hunger.

The Kansas Land Trust – KLT is a non-profit organization that protects and preserves lands of ecological, scenic, historic, agricultural, or recreational significance in Kansas. KLT is dedicated to conserving: natural ecosystems, farm and ranch lands, scenic open spaces, and to preserving outdoor recreational opportunities and the historic uses of land which are vital to maintain the quality of life and economic and environmental well-being of Kansans.

The Kansas Permaculture Collaborative – The Kansas Permaculture Collaborative endeavors to bring together knowledgeable Permaculture practitioners and land stewards with local farmers and urban gardeners who want to learn about and implement permaculture design and practice on their land and urban communities.

The Kansas Rural Center, Inc. – The Kansas Rural Center, Inc. (KRC) is a non-profit organization that promotes the long-term health of the land and its people through research, education, and advocacy. The KRC cultivates grassroots support for public policies that encourage family farming and stewardship of soil and water. The KRC is committed to economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially sustainable rural culture.

Lawrence Sustainability Network – The Lawrence Sustainability Network (LSN) promotes ecological sustainability, including local food production, resource conservation, and renewable energy. Our efforts towards sustainability encompass community self-reliance, localized economy, biological diversity, social justice, and grass-roots democracy. We invite the community to network as we learn and share ideas, knowledge, skills and resources.

Hidden Valley Camp – Hidden Valley Camp, is one of the few privately owned wilderness areas in Lawrence, purchased in 1956 for Girl Scout use. The camp is semi-primitive and has shelters, a cabin, trails, campsites, latrines and UACT (Universally Accessible Composting Toilet). Year-round camping is possible, with both flora and fauna wildlife to find.

Wetlands Preservation Organization – Wetlands Preservation Organization is a group actively fighting the construction of the South Lawrence Traffic-way through the wetlands south of Haskell Indian Nations University.

If you are part of a local environmental organization and want us to post your information on our website, please send an email to envstudies@ku.edu.