Mission Statement –
Humans are increasingly disconnected from community and from the natural world, reducing opportunities for a transformative relationship with our environment. Imagine a nature center revitalizing curiosity as a fully sustainable, living bed-and-breakfast where guests can stay alongside chirping tropical frogs, buzzing bee colonies, and swim in glowing bioluminescent algae pools. In response to this growing separation, the Rainforest Rick experience blends ecology, education, technology, and hospitality to create a 24-hour, multisensory urban third space that fosters genuine human connection and environmental stewardship through hands-on conservation with emphasis on cross-disciplinary education.
Stay tuned for more details, thanks for your interest…from the passionate folks at Rainforest Rick Education 🐸.
A number of years ago Rick was inspired by the giant walk -through vivarium environment that was on display at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This featured free-roaming species such as Orange Terribilis dart frogs, Santa Isabel dart frogs, as well as a plethora of live tropical plants. This moment has stayed with Rick and results in his vision to bring a similar yet more personal experience to the Midwest, while showcasing his passions for exotic frogs, botany, and hospitality.
This will involve expansion into a larger space to allow more guests and school field trips to visit. We plan to feature a walk-through experience within a lush tropical rainforest room, exotic beverage, cafe, and true learning third space; It will be a blend of a BNB/VRBO and a nature center for all of the Greater Milwaukee area to learn and enjoy.
Similar to museums that house walk-through butterfly exhibits, we plan to grow rainforest plants similar to the Tropical Dome at the Mitchell Park Conservatory (MKE domes) while providing the utmost in hospitality, you will be able to stay can as a part of this fully sustainable living home.
With the help of Dr. Chelsea Cook, as well as a Jace Ocker, a graduate student at Marquette University, we will keep working towards this vision and making it a reality, STAY TUNED !!!
We plan to work with organizations such as: Mitchell Park Conservatory, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Milwaukee River Keepers, MMSD, as well as the Urban Ecology Center to be able to offer similar educational programming to our local Milwaukee zip codes, so both rural and urban can be involved in the journey.
The Rainforest Rick Education Center will be located on land that contains WI native prairie plants, walking paths, water gardens, milkweed plants and bluebird houses, all with their related educational panels and QR codes revealing more information. Cherry trees, paw paw trees, seedless grapes, native squashes, and other plants will grow on the grounds as well!
Bioluminescent Algae Display: Educational displays will feature the wonders of microalgae, the unsung heroes, estimated to generate 50-70% of the oxygen we breathe! A walk-through darkened hallway that leads to the amphitheater will contain wall panels of tropical bioluminescent algae, with random bubbles moving upward that trigger random twinkles and flashes of light generated from the algae. Demo tables with petri dishes of algae will be glowing with standing waves due to vibrations. Algae will glow in response to music sound waves from underwater speakers. The hallway will also feature a wall of moon jellyfish, gently pulsing alongside educational panels.
Overnight accommodations: Guests will stay in rooms complete with bioluminescent flowering petunias glowing as an assortment of night-lights inside. Gentle soothing water showers will trickle over the lean-to greenhouse panels above the sleeping/relaxing/reading area. Take a walk outside and experience the soothing beauty of glowing bioluminescent petunias lining the paths, this home will be a fully self sustaining home where you can learn how that is possible, and do the steps to insure that it keeps flourishing for many years to come.
Thank you, Rick Boyd.