There’s More to Discover and Do at Long Island Nature Centers
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My First Nature Center Experience
Mindy Block, Quality Parks Founder & President
I was out of college with a graduate degree in Computer Science. On my lunch hour, I would drive out of the industrial park to visit a near by nature center in Commack, NY. Several years later, with many hours of volunteering and a paid internship, I valued my days as a naturalist much more than any of my days as a programmer/analyst. Getting outdoors was the best part of my day, much more meaningful than the countless hours spent in front of computer screen under glaring fluorescent lights.
Besides my story, families, and school groups, there were the regulars: an assortment of misfit neighborhood kids, part-timers, volunteers, and even the dropped off youngster of a working mom. What did we do? We spent time cleaning up animal cages and pony stalls, assisted in environmental education programs like maple sugaring, and delved into personal projects of special interest. Special interests included: perfecting nature art illustration, practicing Native American technology like making arrow heads, and for me, working on natural landscaping from plant rescues to removing invasive plants.
In living with the changing seasons, I grew to better appreciate the natural world that surrounds all of us. As I continue to spend time outdoors I also continue to visit nature centers, where those we thought of misfits are today's environmental heroes.
Besides my story, families, and school groups, there were the regulars: an assortment of misfit neighborhood kids, part-timers, volunteers, and even the dropped off youngster of a working mom. What did we do? We spent time cleaning up animal cages and pony stalls, assisted in environmental education programs like maple sugaring, and delved into personal projects of special interest. Special interests included: perfecting nature art illustration, practicing Native American technology like making arrow heads, and for me, working on natural landscaping from plant rescues to removing invasive plants.
In living with the changing seasons, I grew to better appreciate the natural world that surrounds all of us. As I continue to spend time outdoors I also continue to visit nature centers, where those we thought of misfits are today's environmental heroes.
A Benefit To The Community
Nature Centers differ in their informal approach to environmental education. There's more time spent in the field, getting dirty, practicing hands on skills, and being mentored by someone with extensive knowledge. Mentoring can last a lifetime and isn't subject to year to year changes in classroom instructors. There's also a greater opportunity to take part in serious environmental stewardship activities.
Nature Centers and their staff may also participate in: ongoing monitoring of wildlife populations (providing baseline data to regulatory agencies), collaborative grant writing, advocating for open space preservation, providing opportunities for local naturalists to "sell their wares" as local specialists on a variety of topics that further extend environmental outreach, in managing surround public lands.
Unlike schools that receive money via school district taxes, nature centers primarily rely on grants, donations, friends groups, and/or municipal funding. Efforts are spent on fundraising to cover building upkeep, insurance, staff salaries and benefits, and marketing. Public support helps cover some costs. For-profit nature centers primarily rely on programs and other revenue streams.
Nature Centers and their staff may also participate in: ongoing monitoring of wildlife populations (providing baseline data to regulatory agencies), collaborative grant writing, advocating for open space preservation, providing opportunities for local naturalists to "sell their wares" as local specialists on a variety of topics that further extend environmental outreach, in managing surround public lands.
Unlike schools that receive money via school district taxes, nature centers primarily rely on grants, donations, friends groups, and/or municipal funding. Efforts are spent on fundraising to cover building upkeep, insurance, staff salaries and benefits, and marketing. Public support helps cover some costs. For-profit nature centers primarily rely on programs and other revenue streams.
