IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO KEEP A REFUGE...
Our goal is to raise $20,000 in donations to sustain and enhance our activities. We are thrilled to announce that we are already halfway there, and your contribution, be it $50, $100, or more, will play a pivotal role in meeting the burgeoning demand for our programming, catering to kids of all ages. Every dollar you contribute holds immense value and is deeply appreciated.
Read our full Annual Appeal Letter, here.
WHY SUPPORT HIRUNDO?
KIDS IN NATURE
We believe all can benefit from spending time in nature, but in particular we focus heavily on getting children outside, so that instead of logging an average of five to seven hours of sedentary screen time per day, they develop lifelong a passion for the great outdoors.
When youngsters come to Hirundo for a visit, either on a school field trip or as day campers, we see them build a love for nature and an understanding of the need to protect it.
1,000+ Kids in Nature
7 Field Trips
5 Day Camp Weeks
Girl Scout Enrichment Programs
Homeschool Learning Opportunities
Summer Credit Recovery Program for Central High School
“Our girls absolutely love the Hirundo
camps! They are such an amazing mix of outdoor adventure, learning, and exploring. They look forward to the Hirundo camps every time they are available! Thank You”
- Parent
“We learned so much about the birds around us and enjoyed being out in nature. Students loved the touch tank and looking through the magnifying glasses at the different aquatic creatures. The HUGE bullfrog was incredible to see, too. Our students loved walking on the trails and finding salamanders. For a lot of our students, they have never experienced nature this way before. Hirundo's staff was incredibly patient and understanding with the various needs of our students. It was a wonderful experience for all.”
- Elementary School Teacher
LIVING LABORATORY + PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
We continue to work closely with University of Maine faculty, researchers, and students serving as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom for a wide variety of disciplines. We thank the Construction Engineering Technology Senior Class for helping us build a new outhouse at Gate 2! We are grateful for the excellent input on a Wildlife and Forestry Management Plan from professional foresters as well as budding foresters from Amber Roth’s forestry students at University of Maine, Orono.
Kids in Nature Promotional Video
This short video was created by UMaine Honors College Students Luke Valleli, Olivia Britton, Kathryn Gatewood, and Nicholas Seams.
CONSERVATION
We continue to maintain our dedication to wildlife by improving their habitats at the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. This year, grant funding from the Davis Foundation supported the removal of invasive plant species and the planting of native species that support the pollinators and other resident wildlife. This spring, when walking the Thornplum Trail, you will come discover new interpretive signage
We thank the dozens of volunteers who spent many hours supporting our efforts.
HIRUNDO'S WISH LIST
Cleaning out your attic, garage? We're currently accepting donations of the following gently used items:
- Snowshoes
- Canoes & Kayaks
- Paddles
- PFDs
- Binoculars
- Kids Nature Books
- 4ft & 6ft folding tables
- Metal folding chairs
- Chainsaw
- Maine ID guides & relevant nature books
- Mosquito net hats
- Butterfly nets, magnifying glasses, and other misc. nature discovery tools for kids
- Trail cameras
- Plastic storage tubs with sealable lids (no cracks)
Got some other item to donate you think we should have? Send us an email!
Alternatively, check out our Amazon Wishlist...
THANK YOU!
