Fall/Winter 2015 Newsletter

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Audubon Center of the North Woods

Fall/Winter 2015

News from the North Woods

Volume 41, Issue 2

Experience Your Environment

Positioning for the Future

by Bryan Wood, Executive Director

This summer went down in the books as one of the most pleasant in Minnesota history. We were fortunate with wonderful weather to get out and enjoy Minnesota’s natural wonders. Amidst the beautiful summer days, there has been a flurry of activity at the Audubon Center of the North Woods (ACNW). With funding from a generous supporter, we replaced the carpet in the Dining Hall building and Crosby Lodge, tiled the food line area and science classroom, as well as stained and sealed the entry hallway’s floor. With a generous contribution from a supporting couple, we also purchased a new outreach vehicle that has crisscrossed the state and the Midwest several times already. With funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as recommended by the Legislative Citizens’ Commission for Minnesota’s Resources, we installed a 6.15 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array south of the Barn. A recent grant from the Blandin Foundation will allow us

to consolidate all of our renewable energy production onto one, easy to read page on our website. Much needed foundational repair was completed at historic Schwyzer Lodge with funding from the Minnesota Historical Society.

Newly installed 6.15 solar PV array at Barn

Considerable energy has been poured into our K-12 program, reviewing years of evaluations and meeting with and polling lead teachers and administrators to get a sense of what their experiences are and how we can better serve their needs. With that analysis and input, we have revamped our class structure accordingly so students will get more, better focused classes during their stay, and expanded evening and early morning activities. To better serve your needs, we have reorganized and created new staffing positions to better meet organizational demands. This summer, a thorough staff

analysis of all programs was conducted and changes are being implemented. This resulted in creating new programs and ending others. An exciting 3-year strategic plan began which focuses our efforts on four key pillars that will position us for success moving forward (to view a copy, visit our website at www.audubon-center.org). With your patronage and generosity, growth was realized this past fiscal year in K-12 schools and adult programs, retreats and conferences, and annual contributions. ACNW will commence its first ever independent campaign in the near future to upgrade its key facilities. Stay tuned for more details. Thank you for your support of the Audubon Center of the North Woods – we could not do it without you! In This Issue Positioning for Future.............1

Meet Our New Staff/Interns...5

Become a Sustainer................2

2016 Events.............................6

Thank You...............................3

Spotlight on Schools...............7

Owls of the Boreal Forest.......4

Wish Lists................................7


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Fall/Winter 2015 Newsletter by Audubon Center of the North Woods - Issuu