spring/summer 2014 newsletter

Upcoming Events

See our website for details

Maple Syrup Day March 29, 2014

Food & Farms Weekend April 4-6, 2014

Women’s Wellness & Adventure Weekend, May 2-4, 2014

Mother’s Day Brunch May 11, 2014

MN Phenology Network Conference, May 16-18. 2-14

MDHA Forkhorn II Camp June 9-13, 2014

Road Scholar® ‘Migration Mysteries’, June 8-13 & June 15-20

MAEE Annual Conference June 20-22

Exploring Lake Superior’s South Shore, June 22-28, 2014

Road Scholar® Family ‘Woods, Water , Wisdom’, July 20-25, 2014

WSF Summer Institute August 4-6, 2014

Spring/Summer 2014

Volume 40, Issue 1

Audubon Center of the North Woods

News from theNews from theNews from theNews from theNews from theNews from theNews from theNews from theNews from theNorth WoodsNorth WoodsNorth WoodsNorth WoodsNorth WoodsNorth Woods

A proud leader in environmental education and renewable energy

“Don’t touch that dial!” used to be an advertising phrase to keep us from changing TV stations because the promo was that something exciting was coming up. Then the phrase became “put down that remote” – again because something appealing supposedly was coming on the television screen. Now the latter phrase might be useful to encourage us to go outdoors.

Instead of going outdoors, many youngsters choose to spend up to nine and half hours of a precious day sitting at a computer on social media. There have been many articles already written about how, for all the worldwide technology, people are actually less deeply connected as the connection is increasingly indirect. We went from the face-to-face visits and letters of colonial times, to the telephone in which there is at least a vocal connection, to the computer in which there is no direct element with the other person(s). It amazes me to see young sweethearts walking hand-in-hand and texting someone else. Boy, doesn’t that make someone feel special.

Such a distancing also permeates education. We have webinars, on-line classes, and distance-delivered programming. A proposal introduced to several nature centers years ago was for encouraging urban youth to go birding. The speaker was mega into technology and thought technology should be provided so a student could be on a hike, take a photo of a bird, and then look at an app to identify the bird. Hmmm, I missed the part where they were learning how

Keeping the Direct Connectionby Melonie Shipman, Co-Director

— continued on page 3 —

In This IssueKeeping the Direct Connection 1

Budding Future 1

Porcupine Points 2

From Our Kitchen 3

Wish Lists 4

The Importance of Scholarships 5

Upcoming Events 6-7

Spotlight on Schools 8

Volunteer Spotlight 8

FY2013 Summary 9

Thank You 10-11

Membership 12

Most people don’t get to do what they love for a living. I fortunately am not one of them. Being a part of the Audubon Center of the North Woods creates an excitement for me every day I head into work. I see the impact we make with learners of all ages through our educational programs. I feel the positive energy in the groups that attend here. I know the dedication our staff brings to their jobs every single day. It is not common to find these qualities at just any organization, but as you know, the Center is not just any place. We have impacted hundreds of thousands of lives over our lifespan and are recognized as a leader in the Midwest for environmental education. Every year we

strive to reach wider audiences through new programs and initiatives.

One area that we have made a conscious effort to improve environmentally is through our Food Service. With a

new focus on scratch-cooking (making meals from whole ingredients, not processed); we are making healthier and better tasting meals for

our participants. Cooking with whole foods also reduces

packaging and costs. By buying locally from farmers when seasonally allowable we

support the community and reduce our environmental impact. By purchasing beef and pork products from a certified

organic farm in western Wisconsin, we are ensuring the meats that are served at

our meals are free of hormones, antibiotics and chemicals and that the animals were raised humanely, grazing on the foods they evolved to eat. There are a number of reasons to move towards these kinds of foods, but


Budding Futureby Bryan Wood, Co-Director

encourage us to go outdoors.

Instead of going outdoors, many youngsters choose to spend up to nine and half hours of a precious day sitting at a computer on social media. There have been many articles already written about how, for all the worldwide technology, people are actually less deeply connected as the connection is increasingly indirect. We went from the face-to-face visits and letters of colonial times, to the telephone in which there is at least a vocal connection, to the computer in which there is no direct element with the other person(s). It amazes me to see young sweethearts walking hand-in-hand and texting someone else. Boy, doesn’t that make someone feel special.

Such a distancing also permeates education. We have webinars, on-line classes, and distance-delivered programming. A proposal introduced to several nature centers years ago was for encouraging urban youth to go birding. The speaker was mega into technology and thought technology should be provided so a student could be on a hike, take a photo of a bird, and then look at an app to identify the bird. Hmmm, I missed the part where they were learning how


but as you know, the Center is not just any place. We have impacted hundreds of thousands of lives over our lifespan and are recognized as a leader in the Midwest for environmental education. Every year we

strive to reach wider audiences through new programs and initiatives.

One area that we have made a conscious effort to improve environmentally is through our Food Service. With a

new focus on scratch-cooking (making meals from whole ingredients, not processed); we are making healthier and better tasting meals for

our participants. Cooking with whole foods also reduces

packaging and costs. By buying locally from farmers when seasonally allowable we

support the community and reduce our environmental impact. By purchasing beef and pork products from a certified

organic farm in western Wisconsin, we are ensuring the meats that are served at

our meals are free of hormones, antibiotics and chemicals and that the animals were raised humanely, grazing on the foods they evolved to eat. There are a number of reasons to move towards these kinds of foods, but

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Help Ty with our spring maple syrup operation

Dinner at the Lake kitchen and cleanup assistance

News from the North Woods Spring/Summer 2014

www.audubon-center.org 888-404-7743

We open every Porcupine Quillwork Embroidery class by meeting our live non-releasable North American Porcupine Spike. Before Spike comes out we emphasize to the students that porcupines cannot shoot their quills. He comes out of his crate stands on his hind legs and vigorously shakes out his fur and quills. All of the students turn their heads and cover their eyes, and a moment later they look around surprised that no quills came out! Many people hold strong opinions and beliefs about porcupines but few have ever had an up close experience to confirm or refute those viewpoints.

Porcupines are famous for their quills; in fact they are covered in 30,000+ barbed quills. These quills are primarily a defensive tool for the porcupine. When threatened, the porcupine will raise its hairs exposing the quills in every

direction. The porcupines will turn their tail towards the predator. Most of the time this threat is enough to drive away a predator, but there a few predators that are not deterred and can successfully prey on porcupines. The most efficient predator of the porcupine is the Fisher, a large member of the weasel family. The Fisher attacks by lunging at the porcupine with repeated bites to the face with a goal of turning the porcupine on its backside. Another formidable predator of the porcupine is the mountain lion, unlike the fisher they do not have a strategy for killing porcupines but they just tolerate the consequences. Other animals that occasionally attempt to eat porcupines include the lynx, bobcat, coyote, wolf, wolverine and great-horned owl. All of these animals may come out worse than the porcupine in the attack.

Porcupines are herbivores, their diet changes as the seasons change. In the spring and early summer they often feed on buds and leaves, seeking out fruit when available. As spring progresses to fall the diet also include the inner bark of trees, in addition needles of some species of coniferous trees in the winter are included. Porcupines also seek out salt in their diet. In the wild they may find this salt by chewing on shed deer antlers and bones from other animals. Lily pads are also high in salt content and porcupines will swim out to nibble on them with the assistance of their spongy air filled quills. Unfortunately, when humans live near porcupines we provide sources of salt that are detriments to their well being.

We introduce salt into the environment by spreading it on our roads in the winter. This can attract porcupines often resulting in road kill victims. Porcupines are often labeled as nuisance species when they chew on cabins or houses in the woods. Porcupines seek out these structures as they are made of lumber that has been treated with a compound that contains salt. They are also known for chewing on wooden handles of garden tools, boat paddles or oars that are left outside. When we work hard we sweat, and our sweat contains salt which soaks into the wood making it desirable to porcupines.

When we understand the reasons for the “pest” behavior of porcupines, whether they are defending themselves from a threatening domestic dog, or seeking out the salt required for their diet we become aware of the motivations behind the behaviors. If we are aware of why animals behave the way that they do, we can make accommodations so humans and animals alike can share the environment.

If you’d like to meet Spike in an education program (at our place or yours), contact [email protected]

Porcupine Pointsby Jeff Tyson, Wildlife Coordinator

Friend a Wild CritterHelp support the care of any of our resident education birds and animals through our “Friend a Wild Critter” program. Your donation goes towards housing, medical care, food and enrichment items, to help encourage natural behavior in our non-releasable birds and mammals.

As part of the adoption process, you will receive a 4x6 magnet photo of the animal, an “Adoption Certificate”, a personal and natural history of “your” animal, recognition in our newsletter, and a tour of the ACNW wildlife facility. For more information, please contact Jeff Tyson, our Wildlife Coordinator or visit our website.

Spike-Crafted Walking Sticks

Our resident non-releasable porcupine, Spike, has been busy putting his personal touch on walking sticks, which are now for sale on Etsy.

Each custom-made walking stick has been artfully gnawed by Spike the porcupine, and then further crafted into the perfect walking stick. Made out of maple wood. All walking sticks have a leather strap attached to the top for ease of use. These are certainly one of a kind! All walking sticks are between 45-58”.

Shop for these and all our wildlife related crafts in our Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/ACNW

Electron microscopy of the end of a porcupine quill. The backward-facing bendable barbs make the quills extremely hard to remove from tissue.

Spike, our resident non-releasable North American Porcupine.

Spring/Summer 2014 News from the North Woods


what it really boils down to is simple; foods that are good for people are also good for the Earth. Because when we consume real, whole foods grown and raised without genetic modification or chemicals, we support those farmers and farms that are treating the land well.

Indeed one of the biggest ways each of us can impact the planet is by our diet. Every food we consume has a story; of how and where it was grown. A story of how the land, water, animals and workers were treated. Supporting farms and farmers that have a good environmental story to tell also results in better food. With that sentiment in mind, this spring we offer our first annual Food & Farms Weekend, April 4-6. During this inclusive weekend, we have pulled together leaders in gardening, composting, beekeeping, produce farms, livestock raising, food preservation techniques and cooking to offer an unparalleled weekend food experience. This exciting program brings all of these resources together in one place to provide learners the opportunity to engage in workshops, seminars, classes and field trips. Each individual can select their sessions so that they can have the tools to write more chapters of their food stories.

Our society deals with a number of chronic health-related concerns that are directly related to the foods we consume; heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes,

obesity, inflammation and fatigue are some of the most common. An integral part of our role when school groups visit here is to get them ready to head out and explore and learn about nature. It is our responsibility to serve foods that keep their bodies fueled and running on all cylinders and for their 3-5 day stay here, show them that eating healthy food can actually taste good and give you more energy. We are very lucky to have such a great food service team that puts out these healthy and delicious meals for our participants. If you haven’t yet tasted what I mean, please join us for one of our community programs and enjoy for yourself.

With this frigid winter and the mountains of snow we’ve shoveled and snow-plowed away, it was hard to believe that spring would ever arrive. But miraculously it has and with it the growing season commences. The explosion of buds, sprouts, stems and stalks is a period of burgeoning anticipation for what lays ahead with summer and fall harvests. This spring is also a time for change at the Center as Co-Director Melonie Shipman retires this May. Melonie’s four years of leadership here were marked by a remarkable growth in not only the size of our charter school authorization program, but in its professionalism as well. Thanks to Melonie and the charter school team’s focused work that she oversees, we are now viewed statewide as the leader in charter school authorization. Melonie’s dedication

to the Center in all her responsibilities, her keen eye for detail, and her delicious baked goods at staff meetings will be missed. Speaking on behalf of everyone at the Audubon Center of the North Woods, I thank Melonie for her time with us and wish her the very best as she begins a new season of growth.

Melonie’s retirement marks a new leadership era for the Center as well. I am honored that I will move into the position of Executive Director upon her retirement and I look forward to the opportunities that lay ahead for us during these changing times. I believe in our mission, our programs and our supporters, but most of all I believe in our staff and their ability to do great things. I am truly fortunate to work with such a dedicated, positive group of individuals that inspire me daily and I look forward to the privilege of working with all of them to grow an even stronger Audubon Center of the North Woods.

Happy growing season to you and thank you for your support of the Audubon Center of the North Woods.

From Our Kitchen - Our chef, Nick Damico, shares one of the new favorites here at the Center.

Farro Salad with Cranberries

— continued from page 1 —

1 ½ cups farro3 ¾ cups chicken or vegetable stock¼ cup rice vinegar1/3 cup orange juice1 tsp shoyu (or soy sauce)2 T agave syrup (or honey)½ cup raisins½ cup dried cranberries (or 1 cup any dried fruit)

½ medium red onion, finely chopped3 large stalks celery, finely chopped¼ cup olive oil1 T orange zest1 cup roasted almonds, chopped (or other nut)

Handful of chopped, fresh cilantro (or other fresh herbs)

1 tsp kosher saltFresh ground black pepper to taste

Put the farro in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then turn the heat down to low and cook for 20-35 minutes, or until the farro is soft yet still chewy.

While the farro is cooking, whisk the rice vinegar, orange juice, shoyu, orange zest and agave syrup together in a small bowl. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Toss the chopped celery, onions, raisins, cranberries, almonds, and cilantro together in a large bowl.

When the farro is tender enough to be chewed easily, transfer it in with the other ingredients in the large bowl. Top with the dressing and mix thoroughly.

Let the salad stand at room temperature for at least one hour before serving. This allows the flavors mix and soak into the grain. Serve warm or at room temperature.

“As we expand our focus to include more whole grains

and reduce refined sugars, we have been incorporating more menu selections like this salad”

says Kitchen Manager and Chef Nick Damico. “Farro is

an ancient strain of cultivated wheat, best described as the heirloom version of spelt. It has a slightly nutty flavor

and chewy texture and cooks up relatively quickly. This

recipe can be adapted to use whatever suitable vegetables,

nuts, dried fruits and herbs you may have on hand.”



ACNW Wish ListWe are in need of the items below. Remember, your ‘in-kind’ donations are tax-deductible. Additional ‘wished for’ items can be found by visiting our Amazon Wish List – simply log into amazon.com with your email address and select “Find a wish list or registry” from the dropdown menu (upper right). Type in ‘Audubon Center of the North Woods’ in the wish list search box and click ‘Go’

n utility trailer n reliable, fuel-efficient car for internsn 3/4 ton pick-up truck for snowplowingn canoe trailer n chainsawn industrial-size washer & dryern pressure sprayern twin mattresses in excellent conditionn handheld GPS unitsn firewoodn cross country skis & snowshoes for very small kidsn backpacking expedition packsn sleeping bags in excellent condition n ice machinen large mixing bowlsn vacuum cleaner in good working ordern table lampsn large stock potsn cultural site items (glass bead necklaces, flints,

non-working flint-lock rifle, replica leather clothing, leather and hides)

n bobcat/skidster n electric golf cartn ATVn riding mower/tractorn lawn sweepern Montreal Voyageur Canoe

Wildlife Barn Wish ListWe have compiled a list of the following items that would assist us in the care of our educational animals or enhance the visit of those who come to learn about Minnesota’s wildlife. If you have or would like to purchase one of the following items it would be greatly appreciated. Rope comes on 100’ or 600’ spools, donations should be in whole spools. Raptor food is special ordered; the cash donation will go towards food purchases. Many more items can be found on our Amazon.com wish list – search “Audubon Center of the North Woods” under wish lists.

n ¾” Manila Rope (Available from Amazon.com wish list)

n ½” Manila Rope (Available from Amazon.com wish list)

n ¼” Manila Rope (Available from Amazon.com wish list)

n Raptor food for a month $150n Parrot/dog toys (new or gently used)n Potted evergreen trees (less than 3’ tall)

n Bird/wildlife art workn Gift cards to Petco or Petsmart

to be respectful wildlife observers and build patience and identification skills. At the National RELC conference in Ohio, leaders talked about their frustration that instead of leading interpretive talks, their staffs are occupied answering emails from someone out on the trail who has taken a photo and wants an identification of what they saw, rather than building their own skills.

At the Audubon Center of the North Woods, our mission includes this critical element, “...through experiential learning” as in directly experiencing nature. One of the frequently praised elements of our programming is that in a three-hour program, students are usually engaged outside within 15 minutes of the orientation – and even that is done outside if at all possible. Engaged does mean that they get hot and cold and wet and bug bitten and dirty. It also means that instead of something giving them the answer, they are developing critical thinking skills.

With indirect experiences we lose the opportunity for enhanced skills in our tool box. We lose the moments of wonder that hook us to the natural world and impassion us to be a good steward. It is the “green light dying in the eyes of the old wolf” that changed Aldo Leopold’s life. It is seeing a group of teenage boys feel the rush of hundreds of shorebird wings wisping their faces, tears on their cheeks, walking away with infinite care so as not to disturb the shoreline feeders that still renews this naturalist. It is TSA attendant picking up a coat out of a bin and smelling it close, breathing deep, because the smell of the lingering campfire reminded him of a boyhood long gone.

Think about your most magic moments with nature – were they while watching a TV special? Viewing a YouTube clip? Using a Smart Phone app? Or were they while directly connected to nature? At the Center we will continue to work with technology as a sideline to providing more learning: an osprey webcam, an app for your smart phone, smart boards for our classrooms and Outreach programs, but the core of our work here will continue to be making the direct connection happen for people of all communities. Just as that computer screen is brighter when plugged directly into an outlet so too we shine brighter when directly plugged into the nature we love.

On May 14, 2014, I am choosing to unplug from the Center to more directly connect with other life passions; helping eliminate canine cancers, writing, engaging with friends throughout the world. As I do so I will always be thankful to have worked with such an amazing group of dedicated, genuine people from the Board members to the seasonal teaching staff. May the Audubon Center of the North Woods be making that direct connection to natural wonder for decades to come. All the best, Melonie

— continued from page 1 —



Requests from our K-12 schools for financial assistance to fund residential environmental education trips to the Center are on the increase. Through donations to our scholarship fund, we have been able to provide this financial assistance to some of our schools. In some cases, it has made the difference between being able to attend the program, or not. A recent example is Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary, located in St. Paul, MN. Last year, we contacted the Science Coordinator for the St. Paul Public Schools, Marty Davis, to brainstorm how to get the word about the Audubon Center of the North Woods’ program out to all schools in the district. Marty identified Obama Elementary as a school with both the need and the mission match. Last November, 45 fourth grade scholars from this school were able to come to the Center because of a grant to our scholarship fund from the EcoLab Foundation and St. Paul Audubon Chapter, both of St. Paul. This is the first time that any scholars from this school have ever had the opportunity to do this type of trip. We worked with the Assistant Principal and fourth grade teachers to create an experience for these students. Their visit was a totally new experience for the kids. Many had never been away overnight, spent time outdoors participating in fun and engaging activities, experienced real life science or had generous and nutritious meals three times a day.

Based on the evaluations, feedback, and statements in notes those students gave us, we think it was a very successful and memorable learning experience for them. Our staff also had a great time working with Obama Elementary’s very diverse student population.

The following are some quotes from the thank you letters we received from the Obama Elementary scholars:

“Thank you Audubon Crew, I enjoyed my stay. Thank you for letting us stay and have a good time. I learned so much and the food there was better than my mom’s - don’t tell her that I said that. I love you guys, you rock. I wish I could stay there. The Audubon Center is a wonderful place to learn and love. “

“Dear Audubon Center, Thank you for letting us come. It was fun and the classes were fun too and thank you for the beds and the room and thank you the staff too and for the nice food. It was great having fun with you guys. I wish I can come again.”

“Thank you Audubon Center for making this field trip. You are the best. I hope we get to go one more time. Send me some food like a browny. I hope you send us a card. I’ll send you the next card OK!! Write your response_________________.” (We responded with little notes from the

staff. Hopefully the student was not too disappointed that we didn’t send a brownie:)

We are eager to build a continuing relationship and strengthen curricular connections with Obama Elementary and other schools. Contributions to our scholarship fund will aid us in our ability to accomplish this goal. If you would like to make a gift to our scholarship fund, visit the ‘Support Us’ page at www.audubon-center.org.

OBAMA PICS?

The Importance of Scholarshipsby Clarissa Ellis, School Program Coordinator

Students from Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary School during their visit to the Audubon Center of the North Woods



Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AudubonCenter

UP

CO

MIN

G E

VE

NT

S Mar. 29 ........... Maple Syrup Day & Pancake BrunchApr. 4-6 .......... Food & Farms WeekendApr. 4 .............. Dinner at the Lake with Monique HookerApr. 5 .............. Dinner at the Lake with Lucia WatsonApr. 19 ............ Dinner at the Lake with Darby Nelson May 2-4 .......... Women’s Wellness & Adventure WeekendMay 11 ............ Mother’s Day Brunch with George Maurer & Rachel HolderMay 16-18 ....... MN Phenology Networking ConferenceMay 17 ............ Dinner at the Lake with Jim GilbertJune 6-8.......... Birding Bonanza WeekendJune 6 ............. Dinner at the Lake with Sue LeafJune 7 ............. Dinner at the Lake with Sharon ‘Birdchick’ StitelerJune 8-13 ........ Road Scholar® ‘Migration Mysteries’June 9-13 ........ MDHA Forkhorn ll campJune 15-20 ...... Road Scholar® ‘‘Migration Mysteries’ Jume 20-22 ...... MAEE Annual ConferenceJune 22-28 ....... Exploring Lake Superior’s South ShoreJuly 20-25 ....... Family Camp Road Scholar® ‘‘ ‘Woods, Water , Wisdom’

Aug. 4-6.............Will Steger Foundation Summer InstituteAug. 4 ................Dinner at the Lake with Dr. John AbrahamAug. 24-29 ........Road Scholar® ‘Migration Mysteries’Aug. 31-Sep.5 ....Road Scholar® ‘Migration Mysteries’Sep. 27 ...............Autumn at the Audubon’ Open HouseSep. 27 ...............Renewable Trail Run/WalkOct. 3-5 ..............Women’s Wellness & Adventure WeekendOct. 18 ...............Dinner at the Lake Dec. 27-30 .........Winter Family EscapeDec. 31 ..............New Year’s Eve at the Lake

Year-Round• K-12 Residential Environmental Learning Center• Conference & Retreat Center• Adventure, team-building & naturalist programming• Outreach Programs• Day Programs and Tours

Interested in holding your own event at ACNW?We rent out our facilities for retreats, conferences, banquets and special events. Call Wendy at 888-404-7743 or email [email protected] for details.

2014 CALENDAR OF EVENTSVisit the CALENDAR OF EVENTS on our website or email [email protected] for more information

Have you visited us on the web lately? We recently completed an overhaul and, although still a bit of a work in progress, you’ll find more thorough and better organized information, a calendar of events, online event registration, easier to find school forms and contact info, a gallery of all our critters, and more. Stop on by and take a look - www.audubon-center.org

Just around the corner - don’t miss this great family event!



For complete information on any of our events and programs, including rates and registration details, visit the CALENDAR OF EVENTS at our website - www.audubon-center.org,

email us at [email protected] or call us at 888-404-7743



Spotlight on schoolsThe Audubon Center presented programs for 78 K-12 public and charter schools in the 2012-2013 school year. Helping students and teachers to see

the natural world with new eyes spurs them to further environmentally-focused actions in their schools. We celebrate this seed sprouting into a world in which we all live in balance with nature. If you know of a school that attends programs at the Audubon Center, and is to be celebrated for its science

and/or environmental actions, please let us know so we can turn the spotlight on them in future columns.

Of Minnesota’s 853 Title I schools, in 2013 the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) designated 131 as Reward Schools and 48 as Celebration schools. We are proud that 3 of the charter schools we currently authorize received these special designations.

The MDE calculates the annual Multiple Measurement Rating (MMR) for each school using the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment exams taken in the spring, academic growth, the achievement gap, and high school graduation rates if applicable for the school. Schools that receive Title I funding, which is based on its concentration of students receiving free and reduced lunch, are identified on a ranking system from Reward Schools at the top to Priority Schools at the bottom.

These designations are part of Minnesota’s federal accountability system that replaces No Child Left Behind. Under Minnesota’s program, schools are assigned a MMR based on students’ proficiency and growth, as well as a school’s progress towards reducing achievement gaps and increasing graduation rates. The state’s Title I schools—those serving racially and ethnically diverse student populations with high levels of poverty—qualify for designations if they are top performers.

Reward Schools: The highest-performing 15% of Title I schools in the state. The state named 131 schools in this category.

Celebration Schools: The 25% of schools directly below those designated as Reward schools able to apply for Celebration status by documenting what efforts they are using to increase student achievement. MDE selects schools based on their ability to effectively document best practices that have led to student success to receive the Celebration school recognition.

Among the schools chosen as 2013 Reward and Celebration schools are three ACNW-authorized charter schools:

Crosslake Community Schools - Crosslake, MN (2013 Reward School)

Glacial Hills Elementary School - Starbuck, MN (2013 Reward School)

Aurora Charter School - Minneapolis, MN (2013 Celebration School)

Congratulations to these and all the Minnesota schools who received these designations in 2013! (For a full list of all Reward and Celebration Schools, visit the MDE website at www.education.state.mn.us.)

Minnesota Department of Education 2013-2014 Reward and Celebration Schools

Volunteer SpotlightAs a non-profit organization, we depend on volunteers for help with everything from routine maintenance to special projects. Our board members are also volunteers who selflessly dedicate their time and talents to helping us succeed – a very special group of people who we deeply appreciate. The following is from Pauline Wahlquist, one of our longtime volunteers that helps out the Center whenever and wherever is needed. THANK YOU Pauline!

I moved to Brook Park in 1998 and first heard about the Audubon Center in 1999. I used to come to the Dinners at the Lake alone. Eventually, I started to bring along two or three friends. We loved the food and the programs. Then in 2008, I retired earlier than I planned to take care of my parents. Later that year, they passed away within a few months of each other – they had been married 66 years. Also in 2008, I got a pleasant surprise when I became a Grandmother. So since I have retired I try to keep busy. I deliver Meals on Wheels once a week. I babysit my Grandson Max, now five – we have a lot of fun together. I have also become an activist for causes like March Against Monsanto, MN350 and Mining Truth.

I enjoy the variety of volunteer opportunities at the Audubon Center. I have painted fences and a conference room, pulled mustard weed, and helped with open house and Maple Syrup day. Probably my number one duty has been to transport injured animals, usually raptors. So far, none have died on me. There was one that I thought for sure wasn’t going to survive the trip. It was a Cooper’s Hawk. It wouldn’t even look at us. So I kept the car quiet for most of the trip but it was a really rainy miserable trip. Eventually I put Bill and Kate Isle on the CD player. When I got to the Raptor Center, the hawk was alert and frisky. Quite a surprise when I moved the towel and there it was looking me in the eye. From time to time, I think about moving closer to the cities. One of my considerations is the Audubon Center of the North Woods. So far I am staying put.

If you are interested in volunteering some of your time and skills, please contact us. We are interested to hear about your areas of expertise and we have a growing list of specific jobs we could use your help. We do not have a minimum hour requirement – any amount of time would be a great asset and much appreciated.



The Audubon Center of the North Woods is committed to strong fiscal health. Below we’d like to share with you a financial summary of Fiscal Year 2013 (7/1/12 through 6/30/13). Our full 990 is available upon request or at www.guidestar.org

Statement of Revenue and Expenses: Fiscal Year 2013

July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013

Sources of Support Amount

Education Programs ......................... $537,868 Charter School Authorization .............. $447,574 Retreats & Conferences ..................... $202,427 Grants ............................................$58,614 Contributions ...................................$39,607 In-Kind Contributions ........................ $38,290 Merchandise Sales ..............................$33,422 Endowment ..................................... $31,132 Miscellaneous ...................................$22,839 Timber Harvest .................................$19,045 Total .............................................. $1,430,819

Expenses* Amount

Education Programs ......................... $586,340 Charter School Authorization .............. $350,308 Admin. & Development ......................$184,941 Retreats & Conferences ......................$135,183 Loan Payments ..................................$88,252 Land Management .............................. $6,772 Total .............................................. $1,351,796

Excess/(Deficit)..................................$79,023

NOTE: We ended our fiscal year with an excess of $79,023. Of that amount, $40,312 is temporarily restricted for our charter school authorization program. An additional $39,607 represents in-kind donations, very important donations to our Center indeed, but not actual money in the bank.

* Depreciation of $184,514 for FY 2013 is not reflected in Expenses .

Current Assets:Cash & Restricted Cash: ........................ $244,768Other Assets: ...................................... $136,233 Total Current Assets: ................ $381,001

Fixed Assets: Land/Buildings/Machinery/Furniture: ... $5,422,815Less: Accumulated Depreciation: ......... ($2,700,315) Total Fixed Assets: .................$2,722,464

Other Assets: ........................................$52,043 TOTAL ASSETS: $3,155,508

Liabilities:Current Liabilities: .............................. $187,467Long-term Liabilities: ...........................$663,694 Total Liabilities: .......................$851,161

Net Assets:Unrestricted Net Assets: .................... $2,066,349Restricted Net Assets: .......................... $237,998 Total Net Assets: .................. $2,304,347

TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS: $3,155,508NOTE: Fixed Assets include our 535 acres of lakeshore property, all campus buildings and structures, renewable energy technologies, furnishings, machinery and equipment

ACNW Balance Summary as of June 30, 2014

38%

31%

31%

4%3%

3%2% 2% 2%

<1%

43%

26%

14%

10%

7%

<1%

Fiscal Year 2013 By The NumbersDonor Participants .......................................311 K-12 Schools Attended .................................65K-12 Program Participants: ...................... 3,358Colleges Attended ..........................................17College Program Participants .................. 420Family Program Participants .........................85Retreat & Conf. Participants .................. 2,485Adult Program Participants ........................213Community Program Participants ............904Outreach Program Participants ............ 3,310

REVENUES

EXPENSES

Fiscal Year 2013 Summary



Thank You!

Donations, Memberships & Memorials

Osprey y Tammy Fleming y Richard Glattly y Jim Obey y Samuel Rankin y Terhuly Foundation y Don Verbick y Mary Ellen Vetter y Sharon Wolters MD & Family

Eagles y Don Arnosti y Tim & Gayle Devries y Abe Sauer (Good Night Loon)

Moose y B Wayne Johnson y Tom & Phyllis Mahan y James & Donna Peter y Marilyn Ueland

Loons y Mary & John Bachhuber y Rodney & Sue Foss y Louis & Karen Geislinger y Julie Holly y Mark Lex y Pamela L Nelson y Roger Parsons y Stan & Bev Peterson y Swan River PTO y James & Audrey Waggoner y Bryan & Katharine Wood

Otters y Kathy & Mel Aanerud y Jerry Ammerman y Anonymous y Nancy Arnosti y Jim & Nancy Azarski y Jerry & Donna Bahls y Bill & Fran Belford y Michael & Nancy Bennett y William & Sherry Bixby y Barbara Blechinger y M K Borell y Susan Bradford y George & Margaret Brandel y Becky Bundschuh y Sheryl Chris Camper y Martin & Peggy Carlson y Krista Currie

y Tony D’Amato y Kathleen Dedeyn y Dan & Laura Delinsky y Carolyn Dindorf y East Central Energy y Paul Egeland y Cynthia Fay y Anna Goyette y David Greenberg y Richard & Patricia Hapke y Ruth Harpole y Wesley Haut y Larry & Cookie Heikes y Thomas & Suzanne Inman y Judy & Jim Johannsen y Virginia Kelly y Scott & Mary Lagaard y Lake State Federal Credit Union y Barry & Patti Larson y Charles & Hope Lea y Don & Marlyee Lee y Linda Marcotte y William Marx y James McBride y Stan & Susan Meyer y Chester & Miriam Meyers y Elise Mill y Carol Mizuno y David & Janet Newberg y Gloria Noren y Lois Norrgard y Northview Bank y Gretchen Olson y Laureen Overway y Cora Packard y Yvonne Paffel y Gina Pockrandt y William & Naomi Pomper y Roberta Reilly y Joel & Gail Roberts y Eric & Jacqulyn Saunders y Sebald Motor Sales, Inc y Walt Seibert y Jim & Mary Kay Sloan y Mick & Nancy Sommer y Charles Speiker y Wesley Marcia Sundquist y Thomas Torborg y AEM Trust/Ruby & Roger Trapp y Tri-State Drilling y Sue & Don VanGorden

y Charles & Catherine Von Ruden y Franklin & Michelene Wells y Larry Whitaker y Louise White y Timothy Whitfeld y John & Ellen Yazbeck y John Zakelj

Cranes y Sylvia Albers y Lillian Antonelli y Cynthia Appleman y Al Asmus y Kathleen Aust y James Beaudry y Marietta Booth y Susan Breska y Jim & Mary Butcher y Kathleen Cruz y Kay & John Delinsky y Mary Deming y Larry & Nancy Dolphin y Drilling Plumbing & Heating y Lee & Dorothy Dybvig y Bruce & Marlene Ehresman y Ronald Falk y Kevin Fink y Rick Fletcher y Bill Foss y Janet & John Green y Alice Gruber y Ruth Hiland y Peter & Gladys Howell y Charles Huber y Sherry Jester/Harry Cloft y Al & Lyn Johnson y Dale & Judy Johnson y Helen Johnson y Patricia & Robert Johnson y JS Print Group y Donald Phyllis Kahn y Jane & Brian Kise y Jon Gary/Laurie Larson y Rex Lindberg y Robert Lininger /Susan Blom y Nina Manzi y Sylvia Marcotte y Howard & Lynne Markus y Matt’s Sanitation y Krista Menzel y Jackson Colla, Grace & Eva Mestemacher

We would like to acknowledge and thank all those individuals and companies who have contributed to the Audubon Center of the North Woods (since our last newsletter) as well as the schools who visited us this academic year. Through your support and patronage, we are able to provide the best environmental education opportunities for people of all ages.

See the next page for member benefits ØØ



GOOD NIGHT LOON BLURB?

Donations, Memberships & Memorials continued See the next page for member benefits ØØ

y Gary & Patty Mondale y Sheila Moran y Lonnie & Jackie Ness y Mary Nicklay y Carol J Pederson y Carol Perry y Mark & Erica Peterson y Elizabeth Pomper y Kendra S Pyle y Wayne & Patti Roberts y Glen Scott y Carolyn Serrano y Jennette Turner/Jon Rodine y Pete & Pat Webster y Bob Wedl y Katheryn a Wood

Owls y Tim J Agen y Claudia Russ Anderson/William Anderson y Donna Anderson y Ross Anderson y Anonymous y Sidonia Balke y Boy Scout Troop 293 y Mark Brigham y Bill & Ann Bruins y Thomas J Dolan y Elaine Duvall y Paula Goetzke y Freiberg Cleaning Services y William & Helen Friend y Friends of Spring Valley Nature Center y Sue Hankerson y Tamra Hansen y Nancy Haugen y Clarence Johnson y Eleanor & David Johnson y Joanne Kendall y Dee & Greg Koivisto y Steven & Marilyn Kozak y Jean La Flash y Paul & Karen Larson y Frances Levings y Monica Martin y Margaret Merkow y Madeline Miller y Robert & Marveen Minish y Jenna Moon y Sara Neumann y Steven & Valarie Palmer y Camelle Parker y Nicholas Plante y Kathleen Rosenow y Charles & Carol Rowley y Joe & Geri Sausen y Linda Schave

y Jim Simkins y Sheryl Steele y Lydia Steensen y Tim & Joyce Tabor y John & Patricia Telfer y Elaine Thrune y Billie Tucker y Randy & Jane Tyson y Terry Wilton y Lora & Klint Wylie

Friends y Anonymous y Joan Betts y Kathleen Crowley y Carol Hill y Meagan Keefe y Bryan Koczur y Craig & Laurie Meyer y Laurie A Nelson y Organizing & Inspired Solutions, LLc y Don & Marilyn Owens y Martha G Phillips y Kathryn Pimlott y Cindy Radatz y Sandstone Library y Edward & Mary Sunde

In Memory of: In Memory of Maggy Lightbody Anderson

y Rosemary Rocco

In Memory of Rae Arakaki y Wanda Arakaki Leopold

In Memory of Steve Badalich y Sheryl Steele

In Memory of Elizabeth L. Crosby y Franklin & Gisela Crosby

In Memory of Henriette Nieboer Fey y Steve & Judy Seidmeyer

In Memory of Robbie Hickman y Patty Hickman

In Memory of Richard “Dick” Johnson y Gary L Raasch

In Memory of Ray Marcotte y James & Jennifer Davenport y Linda Marcotte y Sylvia Marcotte

In Memory of David O’Dell y Cindy Dingee

In Memory of Dorothy Swetz y Robert Swetz

In Memory of Joe White y Ed & Betsy Souther

Frank Buckingham Wilderness Scholarship Fund

y JoAnn & George Perdrizet

Grants y Carolyn Foundation y Marvin P. Verhulst Foundation y Onan Family Foundation y Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Stevens

Friend a Wild Critter y Elizabeth Booman y Erin Cornell for Mrs. Cornell y Mounds Park Academy 5th & 6th Grade Student Council

Employee Matching y 3M Foundation/Don Janes y General Mills Foundation/Linda Marcotte in Memory of Ray Marcotte

y General Mills Foundation/Linda Marcotte

In-Kind y David Chasson y Joyce Kafton y Dee Kotaska y Cindy LaFond y Sylvia Marcotte y Howard Markus y Linda Neubaur y Carol Nulsen y Allen Schmalzer y Gary & Tammy Schmidt y Mary Ellen Vetter y John Wolforth y Doug & Kathy Wood

A proud leader in environmental education and renewable energy

P.O. Box 530, Sandstone, MN 55072Phone: 888-404-7743 or 320-245-2648Fax: 320-245-5272

Email: [email protected]

Visit our website!www.audubon-center.org

News from the North WoodsVolume 40, Issue 1—Spring/Summer 2014

Melonie Shipman and Bryan Wood, Co-DirectorsLaurie Fenner, editing/layout

Published periodically by Audubon Center of the North Woods

Mail, call or email us your inquiries and ideas.

Printed with soy-based inks on carbon-neutral paper containing 100% post-consumer waste

Audubon Center of the North Woods

ACNW MISSION To instill a connection and commitment to the environment in

people of all communities through experiential learning.

All Members receive:

l 10% discount off merchandise in our storel 10% off youth and family campsl 10% off Schwyzer Lodgel A gift membership to give to a friendl Our periodic printed newsletterl Our e-newsletter (optional)l Invitations to special events

Friendship Categories OWLS $25-49 MOOSE $500-$749

CRANES $50-99 EAGLES $750-$999

OTTERS $100-249 OSPREY $1000+

LOONS $250-$499 PLANNED $2,500+ GIVING

Join Us...Become a Friend to the Audubon Center

By becoming a member of the Audubon Center of the North Woods, you provide the essential support we need to continue to provide quality environmental educations to thousands of people every year.

Membership Benefits ØØ

If you would like to save resources and would prefer to receive this periodic newsletter electronically (PDF) via email

instead of US mail, please send an email to [email protected]

spring/summer 2014 newsletter

Documents