MG2010 RazooNIT: Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter

Nature's Neighbors is a summer environmental education program that began 18 years ago in the LeSueur/Henderson area. It has been a tremendous success over the years due to the support of several local civic groups and volunteer teachers, parents and teens. With the economy getting more difficult, there has been no money to pay the costs to take the children to places like the nearby Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge which recently completed a new visitors center. These children will be learning how to conduct bird surveys, how to build bluebird houses and how to build chimney swift towers as well, but appreciation for nature is best learned by exploring areas that have been preserved as natural habitat . By getting children out into these areas it is hoped that the impressions they get will last a lifetime and lead them on to a greater appreciation as they grow older. We hope to be sure that these children can take advantage of all of these opportunities this summer by offering to cover their transportation costs. No Child Left Inside is not just a slogan it is an important truism. All those who have learned to appreciate nature will be rewarded with a much richer life. (NOTE: The Great-Horned Owl photo was provided by David W. Williams.)

We have posted a video from last summer's Nature's Neighbors Program on our main page. You can click on our name in the upper right hand corner to navigate to that page. After watching the video, please return to this page to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you for your support.