Cascades Raptor Center

Nature for All

Date: 2024-2025

Services Provided

Videography
Photography

The Cascades Raptor Center is a nature center and wildlife hospital in Eugene, Oregon, specializing in raptor rehabilitation. Its wildlife hospital rescues raptors injured by cars, fences, and other hardships, nursing them back to health and releasing them into the wild. Birds that can’t return to the wild become ambassadors for nature education, living in outdoor aviaries connected by walking paths where visitors of all ages can meet them and learn their stories.

Built into the side of Spencer Butte, the center has had its challenges with accessibility and steep inclines. In 2026, Cascades Raptor Center launched the Nature for All campaign—a capital campaign with the goal of raising funds to re-grade the steep trail system and install handrails, resting points and benches, ada signage and more.

The campaign initially set out to raise $250,000. However, armed with Case for Support video, their development team raised over $300,000—allowing them to add a stretch goal to make repairs to their educational pavilion as well. The response from the public was overwhelmingly positive.

—

A multi-phase approach

We built a three-part video series that follows the campaign as it happens, with each phase timed to a real milestone.

Our goal throughout this campaign: harness honest, dignified storytelling that showcases the connection between the community, nature, and the drive to make sure everyone has access to nature education.

Phase one: Case for Support

During our strategy session, our team partnered with Cascades Raptor Center to identify the key factors driving this initiative. Our goal was not only to raise awareness for the cause, but also to demonstrate its meaningful impact on the community. At the heart of our approach was the need to center the voices and experiences of community members who face barriers to access.

Interviews with the Wednesday Wheelers highlighted the enthusiasm of community members eager to visit the center once construction is complete. Paired with footage capturing the sense of wonder and connection people experience when engaging with nature, these stories helped illustrate the center’s value as a community resource and underscore the need for additional support to make these experiences accessible to all.

Short form video

In addition to the primary case for support video above, Story Squire also provided multiple short form videos for the campaign. These included a spotlight on the Wednesday Wheelers, a shortened version of the case for support video, and a fun ‘raptor walk’ micro-reel.

Phase two: Collaboration and Construction

This phase focused on donor stewardship—showing supporters how the funds were being utilized as the work progressed. We took the public behind the scenes to see how construction and collaboration were turning a shared dream into reality.

Story Squire interviewed the trail builder, Josh Smith of Northwest Woodland Services , University of Oregon landscape architecture students (OASIS), and the staff relocating the birds.

These stories kept donors close to the work that their support made possible.

PHASE THREE: Reopening and Celebration (2027).

In the spring of 2027, the Story Squire team will capture the final collaborative touches from OASIS (University of Oregon students) and film the grand reopening, including follow-up interviews with the Wednesday Wheelers on their first official visit.