Fall/Winter 2017 Newsletter by Audubon Center of the North Woods

Audubon Center of the North Woods

Fall/Winter 2017

News from the North Woods

Volume 43, Issue 2

Experience Your Environment

ACNW Receives Century Farm by Bryan Wood, Executive Director

Once in a while, an act of generosity leaves you humbled by its magnitude. You can’t help but take a step back, astounded by the goodness of people and their desire to want to leave the world a better place. You marvel at the kindness individuals can show through an organization transformational gift and during these times saying thank you simply isn’t adequate. They deserve much more as you try and sufficiently express your profound gratitude. Ruby and Roger Trapp are those people. With the substantial help of ACNW Board Member Susan VanGorden, Mr. and Mrs. Trapp this summer completed a land transfer of their 101-acre Century Farm to ACNW. This land, which marks the north boundary of our property, has been in Roger’s family since his grandfather Alfred McKay purchased it in 1900. Roger was born there and grew up on the farm that produced ﬂowers, produce, pick-your-own berries, chickens, turkeys and cattle. The land is still in operation today, producing corn and soybeans. Of the 101-acre tract the Trapps gifted to ACNW, 48 acres is tilled farmland, with the remaining 53 acres a mix of beautiful hardwoods and conifers. This land gift would be met with great enthusiasm at any time, but is especially exciting now as it fits into ACNW’s larger plan to have a working educational farm in the future. Food in many aspects is where we each have the largest impact on our planet. Indeed, 70% of all human land use is for

food production and the current food system is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, production and distribution. The average item on an American’s plate has traveled 2,000 miles. With our population expected to reach over 9 billion by 2050 and climate change threatening to reduce crop yields by 25%, our ability to feed the world while caring for our planet is of paramount importance. A United Nations study concluded that the only way to sustainably do that is through local, polyculture farms that are more resistant to disease and less energy intensive.

Ruby and Roger Trapp

Over the coming years, ACNW plans to turn the 48 acres of farmland into an organic, polyculture farm where produce, permaculture, pollinators, free-range poultry and grass-fed beef intermingle to provide food for our meals served at the Dining Hall. With the farm contiguous to our existing property, it easily allows for myriad educational opportunities with our K-12 schools,

summer camps, post-secondary courses and adult programs. This all will require funds to build up the farm and its infrastructure, and efforts will now begin towards securing those funds. In a way, ACNW is coming full circle. Our existence is due to the generosity of the Schwyzer family donating their farm to become a nature sanctuary and in our first 48 years, environmental education has been taught primarily through nature study. Today, there is increasing interest in society on where our food comes from, the impact it has on our land and water, and how we can make more environmentally conscious choices. As we approach our 50th anniversary, we are poised to expand our environmental programs to include agriculture through a working, educational farm that will provide learning opportunities for individuals, and empower them to produce more of their own food and make informed choices. And we have Ruby and Roger Trapp to thank for that. Their farm and legacy will live on as it inspires for generations to come. “We believe in getting kids outside, and want others to enjoy the farm as I have.” Roger said. We invite you to join us in expressing gratitude to Roger and Ruby, and to join us on this exciting educational journey ahead. In This Issue ACNW Century Farm ................ 1

New Faces at ACNW ................. 5

Dining Hall Shingles ................ 2

Upcoming Events .................... 6

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

CS Authorizer Update .............. 7

Providing Habitat .................... 4

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

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News from the North Woods

Fall/Winter 2017

Help Us Re-Shingle the Dining Hall by Walt Seibert, Development Coordinator

If you have been to the Audubon Center of the North Woods, then you have seen the Dining Hall, the hub of all ACNW activity. The building (officially called Blandin Hall) houses offices for our staff and is the jumping off point for most of our environmental experiential learning activities: school children onsite for their multi-day visits, Masters’ level college field courses, youth and family camps, Road Scholar programs, ACNW staff and board meetings, along with a myriad of other functions hosted in the Dining Hall. Of course, it is also the site of our regionally-famous Dinners at the Lake, providing scratch-made meals followed by speakers presenting views on diverse environmental issues. The Dining Hall is essential to ACNW internal and external operational efficiencies. Being 20 years old, the

building’s original shingles have weathered (no pun intended) countless rain, hail, sleet and snow storms, not to mention high winds, Minnesota humidity, and day after day of the sun beating down on them. This has all greatly reduced their protective function. They need replacement before any leaks commence! ACNW Board member Bill Bixby has secured the shingles, part in-kind donation and part cash gift. We are now in the process of requesting $25,000 in funds for the labor to complete the job. The Board of Directors mandated the following: Respectfully request financial helps from ACNW supporters to help fund the shingle replacement

investment. Here is an interesting thought for your consideration: 200 people contributing $150 in addition to their annual gift will completely fund this project. (We need to continue to fund normal operations AND replace the roof.) Bryan Wood, Executive Director, and I will be in touch with some of you in the next few months. We could not do this without you! Thank You!

$2,000K

$1,000K

$1,713,145

$1,500K

$1,750,725

(July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017)

ACNW’s Fiscal Year 2017 at a glance

Total FY17 Revenues & Expenses

Revenue

Expenses

$500K

FY17 Revenues by category Program Revenues Grants Donations Misc. Revenue

For more information on other ways you can help ACNW, visit the support page on our website at audubon-center.org/aboutus/support or call 888-404-7743. www.audubon-center.org

888-404-7743

Fall/Winter 2017

Thank You! Legacy Society yy Don & Meg Arnosti yy Kathy Aust yy Mike & Deb Curran yy Harriet Crosby yy Richard & Connie Glattly yy Richard & Patty Hapke yy Paulette Huddle yy Don Janes & Marilyn Thompson yy Joan & Richard Newmark yy Lois Norrgard yy Jim & Wilda Obey yy Sam & Diana Rankin yy Don & Barbara Shelby yy Ruby & Roger Trapp yy Mary Ellen Vetter

Sustainers yy Krista Currie yy Elaine Duvall yy Paulette Huddle yy Ron Iverson & Pam Brumfield yy Brian Larson yy Becky Lourey yy Steve & Susan McNeill yy Lois Norrgard yy Elizabeth Pomper yy Gene & Nancy Pugh yy Kevin & Christine Schneider yy Walt Seibert yy Timothy Whitfeld yy Sylvia Winkleman yy Bryan Wood

$1000+ yy William & Sherry Bixby yy Walter McCarthy & Clara Ueland/ Greystone Foundation yy Connie Glattly yy Don Janes yy Richard & Joan Newmark yy John & Patricia Telfer yy Marilyn Thompson

$500-$749 yy Julie & Brian Holly yy Richard & Carol Flint yy Charles & Diana Moore

$250-$499 yy Gordon Andersson yy Maureen Borell yy Carroll Brooks yy Mike & Mary Clark yy Charles & Loretta Sprado yy Mary Ellen Vetter

$100-$249 yy Michael & Nancy Bennett yy Bill & Beth Blank yy Barbara Blechinger yy Donald, Patricia & Stephen Blough yy Les & Sharon Boeckman yy Stephanie Brotzler yy Linda & Joe Cade

News from the North Woods

Page 3

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 impactful environmental education opportunities for people of all ages. yy David & Carole Cartwright yy Tammy Fleming yy Scott & Lori Forstie yy Rodney & Sue Foss yy Lois Gernbacher yy Muriel Gorham yy Vance Grannis Jr yy Patricia & Richard Hapke yy Happy Land Tree Farm yy Sara Hasslen yy Larry & Cookie Heikes yy Ruth Husom yy Tad Johnson yy Dee Kotaska yy Elsie Lundorff yy Matt’s Sanitation yy Deborah & Ronald McCabe yy Ryan & Sandy Mosley yy Laureen Overway yy Carole J Pederson yy Roberta Reilly yy Don & Barbara Shelby yy Robert & Elaine Smith yy Charles Speiker /ShipsWheel Consulting yy Robert & Barbara Stevens yy Wesley & Marcia Sundquist

$50-$99 yy Cynthia & Denny Appleman yy Kathleen Aust yy Mary Beck yy Sue Breska yy John & Beverly Dalsveen yy Larry & Nancy Dolphin yy Bruce & Marlene Ehresman yy Freiberg Cleaning Services yy Mary Arneson & Dale Hammerschmidt yy Miranda & Dakota Harris yy Craig & Yvette Hewitt yy Lisa Holcomb yy Rachel Husom yy Larry & Pam Hylton yy Tom & Suzanne Inman yy Al & Lyn Johnson yy JS Print Group yy Emily Lagace yy Jon & Laurel Larson yy Frances Levings yy Virgina May yy Kendra Pyle-Kanaboshi yy Stacie Spaeth yy Patricia J Thompson yy Gary & Bonnie Van Erp yy Pete & Pat Webster

Friends yy Sylvia Albers yy Cheryl Austin yy Kon & Joan Bergum yy Kelsey Depew / Cut The Fluff yy Drilling Plumbing & Heating yy William & Helen Friend

yy Hens of the Woods yy Dick & Sharon Holst yy Tracey Kloeckl yy Christine McCluskey yy Craig & Laurie Meyer yy Moose Lake Area Historical Society yy Courtney Nagle & Scott Burnett yy Erik Rigelhof yy Lydia Steensen yy Terry Wilton

Memorial In Memory of Sue Keenan’s Dad yy Bob & Kathy Wedl In Memory of Dan Kriesel yy Michael & Karen Longerbone in Memory of Lorraine Larson yy Sylvia Marcotte In Memory of Lucas Lund yy Sheryl Steele In Memory of Cleatus Maddox yy Brenda Melvin In Memory of Donald & Doris Mertesdorf yy Stan & Mary Kay Hohenstein In Memory of Pavel Petrov yy Elsie Lundorff yy Vladislav & Vera Petrov In Memory of Sue Sadler yy Linda Marcotte in Memory of Fred Schaefer yy Linda Marcotte yy Sylvia Marcotte In Memory of Bette Sedgwick yy Pamela & Steve Neidenfeuhr In Memory of Gene Steele yy Sheryl Steele In Memory of Roy & Lillian Wahlberg yy Robyn & Robert Campanaro In Memory of Carl Wilberg yy George & Margaret Brandel In Memory of Donald Wildman yy Sheryl Steele In Memory of Mary Wilton yy Terry Wilton

Honorary In Honor of George Jamison yy Shaun Jamison in Honor of Connie & Richard Glattly yy Shirley & Robert McKnight In Honor of Chuck Sedgwick yy Pamela & Steve Neidenfeuhr

Scholarship yy Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis yy Finlayson Giese Lions Club yy Headwaters Foundation for Justice yy MN River Valley Audubon Chapter yy Richard & Joan Newmark yy Onan Family Foundation yy St. Paul Audubon Society

Grants yy Rick & Helga Bauerly Family Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation yy MN Community Foundation yy Allen Family Fund yy East Central Energy Operation Round-Up yy Ecolab Foundation yy Johnston Education Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation yy MN Ornithologists Union yy Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures yy United Way of Carlton County

Employer/Volunteer Matching yy IBM Matching Grants/William Bruins

Wildlife Support/Sponsor a Wild Critter yy Holy Trinity: Elizabeth Booman’s 2nd Grade Class yy Lisa & Paul Jeanetta yy Don & Roxanne Maiers yy Mike Molohon yy Brandon Mosley yy Daley Valentine

Thrivent “Choice Dollar” Grant Funds yy Anne Hanley yy David Holcomb yy Antoinette Leibelt yy Dennis Leibelt yy Nancy Leibelt yy George Skinner

In-Kind yy Arrow S Farm yy William Bixby yy Community Memorial Hospitol yy Deb Curran yy Pam Danielson / Hens of the Woods yy Mike & Jackie DeZellar yy Richard Glattly yy Don Janes yy Lena’s Greenhouse yy Dennis Liebelt yy Matrix Associates, Inc. yy Steve McNeill yy Jill Mithun yy Richard Newmark yy Owen Corning yy Maureen & Gordon Smith yy Susan Van Gorden yy Don Verbick yy Doug & Kathy Wood

Correction

Our sincerest apologies to Mike Link, ACNW Founding Director. In our last issue, we incorrectly spelled his last name in our $100-249 donation category.

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

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News from the North Woods

Fall/Winter 2017

Providing Habitat to Help Recovery by Jeff Tyson, Wildlife Coordinator

North America’s bird population has declined by over a billion birds in the last 45 years. Of the approximately 450 species that breed in North America, 86 are listed as vulnerable. With the threats of habitat destruction, climate change, outdoor cats, windows, etc., it is easy to become discouraged and think there is nothing we can do to help birds. However, over the past six years the Audubon Center has been taking measures to help species in decline or already on the road to recovery. In the summer of 2011, we took on the project of building and installing an Osprey nesting tower at the Audubon Center. Ospreys were heavily affected by the eggshell thinning brought on by ingesting DDT, a widespread pesticide that was later banned in 1972. Osprey numbers have been recovering since the banning of that pesticide. With the Osprey being the mascot of the Audubon Center, we wanted to encourage them to nest here, and be part of their continued recovery. Our nesting tower attracted attention of Ospreys starting in 2012, and each year after that, but they never actually nested as we had a lot of Bald Eagles passing through. Groups of students have witnessed eagles chasing the Osprey off the nest and stealing

their fish. This year started off no different with a pair of Osprey taking up residence, and our local Bald Eagles coming over to steal food. However, to our surprise, these Ospreys successfully defended their territory and started nesting. In early July we were very excited to see two small Osprey heads poking their heads up above the sticks in the nest. In the summer of 2012, a Purple Martin nest box colony with hanging gourds was installed at the Audubon Center. Purple Martin populations have declined nationwide by nearly 1% a year since 1966, with even steeper declines in the Great Lakes area. As with the Osprey, patience was needed before our Purple Martin colony was successful. This spring, the Martins finally moved into their nesting colony, easily observable next to our primary dormitory. Our colony will hopefully grow, and help contribute to our local population. We’ll be rewarded by watching them and having a reduction in insects on our main campus.

Our first nesting ospreys on our osprey tower

www.audubon-center.org

In the fall of 2015, we were surprised to have a Bald Eagle pair start building a nest alongside Grindstone Lake. While it is difficult to encourage Bald Eagles to nest in a particular spot, the Audubon Center’s normal management of its forests and shoreline made a fitting habitat. They chose a large White Pine where they have

a wide view and close access to the lake. In 2016, they raised one eaglet successfully and, this year two more eaglets left the nest successfully. With Bald Eagles being long lived birds, and using the same nest every year, we look forward to having nesting Eagles for years to come. Helping your local birds doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. There are many actions you can take. To reduce bird mortality you can put bird tape over your windows to reduce window strikes, keep cats inside, and discontinue use of poison in rodent control. To encourage birds to nest you can build nest boxes (or other nesting structures), and restore/ protect habitat. The last thing you’ll need is patience; it can take a while for the birds to utilize the improvements you have made. We are still waiting for Chimney Swifts to use the nesting structures that have been provided for them, but hope they will find their way to the Audubon Center soon. If you are interested in booking one of our on or offsite live animal programs, visit our website or email wildlife@audubon-center.org

Sponsor a Wild Critter Help support the care of any of our resident education birds and animals through our “Sponsor 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. There are a number of different levels of sponsorship you may choose - $15, $30, $50, $100 or $200 - each with different fulfillment items, ranging from a photo and personal and natural history of the animal you sponsor ($15 level) all the way up to a watercolor print, jess bracelet, personal barn tour, 8x10 photo, and meet & greet with the animal you sponsor ($200 level), For more information, please visit our website at audubon-center.org/wildlife, call us at 888-404-7743 or email wildlife@audubon-center.org 888-404-7743

Fall/Winter 2017

News from the North Woods

Page 5

New Faces at ACNW Education Manager Emily Porter, Education Manager, will be overseeing our K-12 Residential Education Program. She will also train, supervise, and mentor the Naturalist Interns. In addition, she will work to enhance the Center’s curriculum and expand course offerings for educational groups. She is passionate about training other educators and provides workshops to the ACNW’s affiliated charter schools. Emily is coming to us from a decade in the public school system. She is a licensed teacher and has her Master’s of Education from the University of MN. Although she trained as an English teacher, she specialized in interdisciplinary education and is excited to get back to creating authentic learning experiences in environmental science. Emily has a particular interest in plants, and is also pretty adventurous in the outdoors as a rock climber, camper, hiker, and (occasional) kayaker. She lives in Minneapolis with her partner and their energetic and controlling Blue Heeler, Pepper.

New Naturalist Interns Elana Becker grew up in Deerfield, IL before she went to the University of Iowa to study Environmental Science. She would like to invest her energy in protecting animals and their habitats from further degradation and participate in establishing a more sustainable future. In her free time, Elana enjoys camping, nature walks, and reading. Corrina Carter grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area but moved to the Midwest to study creative writing with an environmental focus at Iowa State University. She is currently working on her first novel, an animal epic in the tradition of Watership Down. Her favorite outdoor activities include birding, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Sean Cullen, from Saint Paul, MN, graduated from the University of Notre Dame with an Environmental Sciences degree. He was drawn to nature from a young age and experienced plenty of it through his time as a Boy Scout. Sean’s primary career interest is to help increase scientific literacy. He is a lover of music and travel. Katy Dahl, from central MN, graduated with a BS in Biology from Bemidji State University. She has volunteered and worked as a Personal Care Attendant with foster children. Katy likes walks in the woods, playing board games, and snuggling with her cats. She plans to pursue a PhD in behavioral ornithology. Russell Friedman, from Highland Park, Il, received his BS in Environmental Science Education from the University of Iowa. He has years of field experience working in land restoration and wildlife education. Russell loves hiking, camping and fishing. He hopes to pursue a career of wildlife education on a much larger stage. Shannon Katsos was born and raised in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains of CO. She studied environmental science at the University of CO Boulder, then served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi, Africa, where she discovered how much she loved connecting students with nature. Shannon loves rock climbing and trail running.

Returning Naturalists Mary Dombrowski, Port Edwards, WI, joins us for a second year as a Naturalist with a Program Management focus. She has a BA in Conservation Biology from the University of WI-Madison, has studied marine biology in the Caribbean and is currently a member of the National Guard. She loves to hike, camp and kayak. Savannah Maiers, Hoffman Estates, IL, has started her second year as Wildlife Apprentice. She obtained her BS in Biology with a minor in Sustainability from the University of MN. She is looking forward to another great year at ACNW! In her free time she loves to hammock, throw Frisbee, fish, and hike. Kelly Peterson, Woodbury, MN, is beginning her second year as a Naturalist with an adventure focus. She got her degree in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management at the University of MN. She enjoys teaching at ACNW and the activities it has to offer: canoeing, skiing, fishing, and dance parties!

Other New Staff Jamie Delton, IT Coordinator, grew up in Hudson, WI, exploring ruins in woods surrounding Prospect Park, swimming in the St. Croix river and playing PeeWee baseball. As a computer specialist at various metro locations including IQ Marketing, he did networking, account analysis, database and website. Jim Milano, Groundskeeper, born in Mississippi, moved to MN as a child. He joined the US Navy and served 2 combats in the Gulf and Somalia before getting his Electrical Engineering degree. Now retired after a long IT career at IBM, Jim enjoys wood working, mushroom hunting, and learning something new every day.

Returning Staff Wendy Iverson, Reservations Coordinator 2013-2015, has returned as part-time kitchen and general assistance. Linda Volk, Housekeeper 1998-2016, has returned as part-time fill-in housekeeper.

From our kitchen - Yummy Farro Salad 1 lb farro, cooked per package instructions Add: 2 cups chopped walnuts 2 cups chopped broccoli 2 cups chopped cauliflower 1 cup craisens, dried cherries or other dried fruit 1 cup chopped bell peppers (green, red, &/or yellow) 1 small zucchini, chopped 2/3 cup chopped onion Package (6 oz) crumbled feta cheese Add 1/4 cup maple syrup to your favorite balsamic vinaigrette, then toss all together. ENJOY!

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

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News from the North Woods

Fall/Winter 2017

Winter Family Weekend

Black Hills Tour

Embrace winter over the long President’s Day Weekend. Treat your family to 3 nights/4 days of discovery, learning and fun. This exciting family program offers agespecific and all-family program options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for snow activities, skiing/ snowshoeing, nature learning or quality family time, we have something for the whole family.

Join Mike Link, founding Director of ACNW, and his wife, Kate Crowley, on an ‘off-the-beaten path’ adventure to the Badlands and Black Hills.

Activities you can enjoy during your stay include:

This tour will focus on the wildlife, geology, and other landforms of these two beautiful and unique locations.

February 16-19, 2018

y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

Indoor climbing wall High ropes course Ice climbing Sleigh rides Cross-country skiing Snowshoeing Archery Wildlife programs Cultural activities Kicksledding Arts & crafts Astronomy Campfires and much, much more!

June 3-10, 2018

Designed for the adventurous traveler who wants to walk the landscape, take time to observe and understand the dramatic wildlife and learn the amazing geologic story of this land of contrasts.

Some of the trip highlights: y Hike among the bison and prairie dogs in Badlands National Park y Tour of Wind Cave deep in the heart of the Black Hills y Explore Custer State Park’s Wildlife Loop y Visit Bear Butte, the site of vision quests, and where Crazy Horse got his name y Visit the Mammoth Site Museum, home to Ice Age fossils y View Mt.Rushmore and the Needles, a dramatic geologic formation y Visit the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary at Hot Springs y ...and more!

Visit the CALENDAR OF EVENTS on our website or email info@audubon-center.org for more information

Homeschool Weeks

Upcoming Events

We are extending our quality K12 programming to the homeschool community. We specialize in overnight experiences for K–12 students and our classes are aligned with MN Academic Standards.

October 21, 2017 .....................Girl Scout Badge Day

Nov. 6-9, 2017 & Jan. 22-25, 2018

Fall/Winter/Spring

November 6-9, 2017.................. Homeschool Week November 18, 2017 ......... Scout Climbing Wall Day

Join for us for a two- or three-day environmental learning experience during a week designated for homeschool families. During these weeks your students will have the opportunity for more in-depth and hands-on learning in an outdoor setting. Through class options focused on ecology, wildlife, adventure, or cultural and natural history they will discover new ways to connect with the natural world, challenge themselves to push the limits of their comfort zones, and have fun in a new learning environment.

December 30, 2017 .................... Dinner at the Lake

These are offered at a tiered family rate to make them more affordable for homeschool parents and co-ops.

May 4-6, 2018 ........... Women’s Wellness Weekend

www.audubon-center.org

January 2-21, 2018 ..........................................J-Term January 22-25, 2018 ................... Homeschool Week February 10, 2018 ........... Scout Climbing Wall Day February 10, 2018 ...................... Dinner at the Lake February 16-19, 2018 ....... Winter Family Weekend March 17, 2018 ............... Maple Syrup Day/Brunch April 14, 2018 ............................. Dinner at the Lake

888-404-7743

Fall/Winter 2017

News from the North Woods

Page 7

Charter School Authorizer Update by David Greenberg, Director of Charter School Authorizing

As one of fourteen approved charter school authorizers in Minnesota and as authorizer of thirty-seven (of approximately 175) charter schools in Minnesota, the Audubon Center of the North Woods (ACNW) is responsible for making critical decisions related to education for students in many communities around the state. An authorizer is charged with approving (i.e chartering) new schools, conducting ongoing oversight and evaluation of operating schools, reviewing school expansion requests and ultimately determining whether a school is meeting expected outcomes and warrants the ongoing privilege and responsibility of educating Minnesota students with public funds. The past spring and summer has been a busy one for ACNW as an authorizer; the ACNW board of directors has made a number of important decisions related to charter schools. First, ACNW approved two new charter schools. Three Rivers Montessori (TRM) plans to open in the fall of 2019 in Elk River with approximately 60 students in 1st and 2nd grades and add one grade each year to achieve its full enrollment of to approximately 220 students in grades one through eight. As its name suggests, TRM will implement the Montessori learning models which groups students in multi-aged classrooms, provides for much self-directed student learning, and highlights care for the environment as core elements of the learning program. ACNW also approved Minnesota Wildﬂower Montessori School, a unique new model that plans to open three sites with approximately 25 students each in the fall of 2019 and grow to over 13 sites and 360 students over the next five years for students Pre-Kindergarten to grade eight. These unique store-front “micro-sites” will be located in the Twin Cities and, true to the Montessori model, serve students in multi-aged classrooms. School sites will be developed by teacher leaders and operate in cooperation with families and community. We are very excited to welcome both of these schools to our charter school portfolio. While approving new schools is a particularly exciting time for an authorizer, making the decision to close a school is one of the greatest challenges an authorizer faces. ACNW was presented with this challenge this spring/ summer and made the difficult decision to terminate the charter contract for Odyssey Academy in Brooklyn Center. As an authorizer, it is ACNW’s responsibility to families and tax payers to ensure the schools we authorize serve students well. While Odyssey had been serving students grades K-8 since 1998, over the past few years academic performance fell far below the expectations agreed upon by the school in the charter contract, and the school failed to provide a quality education to its students. As such the school is closing and students will be attending other schools in the area. ACNW is committed to being an effective authorizer of charter schools in Minnesota not only by ensuring schools achieve positive academic outcomes for students, but also by requiring schools that we authorize to develop the environmental literacy of students, advancing ACNW’s mission to instill a commitment and connection to the environment in people of all communities through experiential learning. For more information about our charter school authorizing work please visit www.auduboncharterschools.org. www.audubon-center.org

K12 students on snowshoes in our Animal Signs class

Many of our ‘wished for’ items can be found on our Amazon.com wish list – search “Audubon Center of the North Woods” under wish lists to see other needed items.

General Wish List We are in need of the items below. Remember, your ‘inkind’ donations are tax-deductible.

                        

utility trailer reliable, fuel-efficient car for interns wide-track snowmobile for trail grooming balls (soccer, volleyball, football, etc.) canoe trailer cordless and electric tools (saws, drills, etc.) industrial-size washer & dryer pressure sprayer firewood topsoil for lawn rehab cross country skis & snowshoes for very small kids backpacking stoves (MSR) 4-person tents ice machine large mixing bowls and platters table lamps Snowmobile, wide-track bobcat/skidster ATV rubbermaid bins with lids Gas trimmer Chipper Cordless tools Montreal Voyageur Canoe Voyageur costume items

Wildlife Barn Wish List To assist us in the care of our educational animals. 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.

 ¼” , ½”, and ¾” Manila Rope (Available from    

Amazon.com wish list)

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

888-404-7743

Audubon Center of the North Woods Experience Your Environment P.O. Box 530, Sandstone, MN 55072 Phone: 888-404-7743 or 320-245-2648 Fax: 320-245-5272 Email: info@audubon-center.org

If you would like to view this newsletter online instead, please send an email to info@audubon-center.org and we will add you to our enewsletter list

Visit our website! www.audubon-center.org News from the North Woods Volume 43, Issue 2—Fall/Winter 2017 Bryan Wood, Executive Director Laurie Fenner, editing/layout Published twice yearly by Audubon Center of the North Woods Mail, call or email us your inquiries and ideas. Printed with soy-based inks on paper containing 100% post-consumer waste, 100% carbon neutral and made with 100% renewable green energy.

PO Box 530, Sandstone, MN 55072 Audubon Center Experience Your Environment 888-404-7743  www.audubon-center.org PO Box 530, Sandstone, MN 55072 EIN: 23-7044164 of the North Woods Audubon Center Experience Your Environment 888-404-7743  without www.audubon-center.org Thank you for your support of ACNW – we could not do it you! EIN: 23-7044164 of the North Woods

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 Add me to your enewsletter list (provide email above) ACNW does not address sell or share your information  Send me information on how to include ACNW in my will  Add me to your enewsletter list (provide email address above) Ask your employer if they have matching gift program to leverage your donation  Send me information onahow to include ACNW in my will Please go to audubon-center.org or call 888-404-7743 more information or toyour contribute online Ask your employer if they have a matching giftfor program to leverage donation Please go to audubon-center.org or call 888-404-7743 for more information or to contribute online

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