The beautiful opossum on the front of our Holiday card is Orchid. After months of treatment and 
care for injuries from a dog attack Orchid was finally ready to be released. Hours after I put her 
outside, Orchid still refused to walk out the door of her open carrier. Finally at midnight, I closed 
the door and carried her back inside. Orchid is now our ambassador and the queen of the 
opossum room. After years of not taking in opossums, I cannot imagine the Nook without their 
sweet character and charm.
After the recent passing of Jane Goodall, I realized that there was more that we could do at the 
Nook to help the world. My vision for the new Nook program is Together We Can Heal. The 
purpose of this program is to provide healing opportunities through experiences spent in nature 
with wildlife and horses. With the help of others we have developed two programs that will 
begin in April of 2026. Our Roots and Shoots program for children was created by Jane Goodall, 
with groups of children and teens all over the world. Our second program is The Stewards of 
Nature program which will be geared toward teens and adults. With these two programs, we are 
excited to bring people together with nature and wildlife while making a difference in the world 
around us.
This year, after 10 long months of construction our Phase 1 renovation is finally complete. The 
new laundry room, triage area and kitchen are spacious, clean and well organized to allow our 
staff to work and care for all the hundreds of injured and orphaned wildlife that come to us. 
Without the generous contributions of Capitol Area Community Foundation and several loyal 
and generous donors this project would have remained a dream. In the beginning of November 
our phase 2 renovation began on the living room and fawn area. This renovation will provide a 
healthier area to care for our tiny fawns when they first arrive in the spring. Completion of this 
project is expected by the end of December and we are still looking for donors to support this 
project.
Although the past year has been difficult for many of us, the work we were able to accomplish 
here at the Nook has helped the wildlife around us. I would like to thank all of our kind and 
generous donors. Your support over the past year has confirmed my belief that this is my path. 
Thank you also to the incredible group of volunteers and interns who passionately cared for, and 
helped us release hundreds of song birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, groundhogs, opossums, 
foxes, and fawns. As Jane Goodall said “Each and everyone has a role to play, and you are here 
for a reason. Every single day you make a difference in the world and only you have a choice in 
the difference you make. We are a part of nature, and you have it in your power to make this 
world a better place.” With the help of all of you, I know that we can make that happen.
Blessings and Hope,
Cheryl and the Nook Family