Earlier this month, Nate Shake, Director of Mountain Operations and Brad Wilson, General Manager traveled to Carlsbad, California to represent Bogus Basin at the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) conference. The annual conference unites ski industry leaders to exchange operational insights, discuss growth opportunities, and honor ski areas for their innovative contributions to the outdoor industry. Awards presented include:
- Safety
- Sustainability
- Marketing
- Growth (beginner conversion)
This year, Nate Collins, Stewardship & Sustainability Coordinator at Bogus Basin was recognized as a finalist for the Hero of Sustainability Golden Eagle Award. Read on to learn more about Nate’s impactful work at our local mountain!
Nate Collins, Golden Eagle Award Finalist
Nate Collins helped launch Bogus Basin’s Sustainability and Stewardship program in 2023 with the objective to transform a handful of grassroots ideas into a comprehensive set of initiatives that would move both the mountain and the community towards meaningful, scaleable environmental stewardship.
Since then, Nate and his team have built a sustainability program that collaborates with nearly all departments on the mountain. Nate oversees waste diversion, renewable energy, habitat restoration, and community stewardship on the mountain.
Nate’s impact goes beyond Bogus Basin. Nate has built many strong partnerships with conservation organizations, research groups, and community partners to support restoration projects, wildlife monitoring, and volunteer stewardship events that benefit both the mountain and the surrounding landscape.
Waste Diversion
When he began in his position, one of Nate’s biggest priorities was to improve how the mountain manages waste. At that time, recycling efforts were informal and cardboard was often taken down the mountain in the back of employees’ Subarus to be recycled. Today, Bogus Basin is home to a formal waste diversion program, equipped with recycling and composting. Since the program’s launch in 2023, Bogus Basin has diverted 228,511 lbs of waste from the landfill. During the 2025/26 winter season alone, the area increased the amount of organic waste diversion to 7,180 lbs!
Nate also helped mountain food & beverage outlets make the move towards compostable alternatives. Today, 99% percent of Bogus Basin’s food service products are compostable, and accepted by a local partner for processing!
Environmental Stewardship
Nate has expanded habitat restoration and stewardship efforts in year-round programs. He launched a native seed collection series, soliciting the help of community volunteers to sprout up to 9,000 native wildflower and grass plants annually.
Fun Fact: Nate has increased overall volunteer participation on the mountain dramatically, from 22 volunteers in 2022 to over 200 today!
Nate also worked to improve how the mountain manages invasive, noxious weeds by adding solarization, mechanical and chemical treatments, interpretive signage, and a bike wash station.
Last Fall, Bogus Basin installed a 70-panel rooftop solar array on the Rental Shop building, thanks to Nate’s coordination with our partners at Clenera. The system produces approximately 32 MWh annually, enough energy to power about three households.
Connecting Community to the Mountain
Valuing community, and a connection to nature, Nate has put together opportunities for visitors — hundreds of thousands each year — to engage with the mountain team’s environmental efforts. From volunteer projects to educational programming to a up-cycled shot-ski tent at the Pond Skim, Nate has done an exceptional job of connecting community to the mountain’s sustainability initiatives.
Hummingbird Banding
Nate built a lasting partnership with the Intermountain Bird Observatory, bringing interactive Hummingbird Banding opportunities to the mountain. Visitors can intimately observe hummingbird research with the opportunity to participate by releasing the birds back into the wild. Stay tuned for upcoming Hummingbird banding events, returning to the mountain this summer!
National Public Lands Day
Nate hosted the first National Public Lands Day celebration on the mountain in 2024, a now annual event that brings the community and more than 20 conservation organizations together for a day of mountain stewardship and environmental engagement. These events create memorable experiences, and life-long advocates for wildlife and natural habitats.
All of these initiatives exemplify Nate’s dedication to building a culture of sustainability that makes a lasting, measurable environmental impact while continuing to inspire the community to care for the mountain they love. The team is grateful for the work of Nate and his team that help to keep the mountain sustainable for generations to come.
Hero of Sustainability Finalists
- Yann Benjamin | Big Sky Resort, MT
- Fritz Bratschie | Vail Resorts, CO
- Nate Collins | Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, ID
- Kayla King | Massanutten Resort, VA
Congratulations to Kayla King from Massanutten Resort in Virginia for winning the Hero of Sustainability Award this year!
About Bogus Basin Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is a 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to engaging the community to provide accessible, affordable, and fun year-round mountain recreation and education. Opened in 1942, Bogus Basin offers 2,600 acres of daytime skiable terrain and 200 acres for night skiing, seven chairlifts and three conveyor lifts, and an 800-foot tubing hill. The Nordic Center offers 37 kilometers of groomed trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Environmental education and community outreach programs, primarily youth, serve over 20,000 individuals annually. Summer activities include The Glade Runner Mountain Coaster, The Mine Shaft Challenge Course, mountain biking, events, hiking and chairlift service for hike and bike transport. Bogus Basin is located 16.5 miles north of Boise, Idaho, and operates under a special use permit with the Boise National Forest. www.bogusbasin.org
