[501(c)3]

HOLLIS – In order to provide scholarships for underserved children to attend summer camp and underfunded schools to afford class trips to Beaver Brook’s “outdoor classroom,” a generous donor has challenged the Hollis-based nonprofit nature education organization to match his $50,000 grant offer.

Wisconsin businessman David Woods has promised the grant if Beaver Brook Association can match it. Woods, who grew up in Pepperell, Mass., with his friend and long-time Beaver Brook naturalist Pete Smith, has issued the challenge in honor of his friend, who helped pioneer the concept of scholarships to Beaver Brook. Inspired by their own experience when many years ago the two were able to attend camp thanks to need-based scholarships they have decided to pay it forward. Woods and Smith were Cub Scouts together in Pepperell about 65 years ago when they were the beneficiaries of a week of summer camp provided by Woods’ church and the Boy Scouts.

Beaver Brook Association is seeking donations to match the $50,000 grant to establish the Pete Smith Scholarship Fund, which will enable children in need to attend summer camp and schools from low income neighborhoods to provide transportation and programming for educational class trips to Beaver Brook. A donation of $250 will provide a week-long summer camp experience to a child or a two-hour educational class trip for 25 students. Woods’ pledge will double the number of children who benefit if the organization can meet the challenge. To date, Beaver Brook Association has raised almost $35,000 toward the goal and hopes to raise the rest by the end of September when the challenge is due. Tax deductible checks supporting this endowment fund should be made out to: Beaver Brook Association with “Pete Smith Scholarship fund” on the memo line and mailed to Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road, Hollis, N.H. 03049. Online donations can be made at www.beaverbrook.org by clicking the donate now button and entering “Pete Smith Scholarship fund” on the individual’s name line in the In Honor of section.

Beaver Brook Association is a 53-year-old nonprofit land conservation and nature education organization with trail-laden acreage in Hollis, Brookline and Milford.