Adventures Await at AWF

Alabama WIldlife Federation now offers raptor education programs

STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI PHOTOS COURTESY OF AWF

When it comes to conservation and natural resources education, look no further than Alabama Wildlife Federation, the county’s main hub for all things wildlife. The nonprofit is governed by a 59-member board of directors and supported by individuals, foundations and corporations that are passionate about the environment.

Established in 1935, AWF has grown exponentially over the last eight-plus decades. AWF’s Alabama Nature Center and State Headquarters is a 425-acre destination for learning and exploring. Headquartered in Millbrook on a property known as Lanark, the programs, camps, classes and fundraisers hosted are seemingly endless.

By far, Lanark’s largest clientele, making up nearly 65% of all visitors, is youth and school groups, according to AWF director Tim Gothard.

The Alabama Nature Center features an active apiary that sells local honey

A turtle basks in the sun of a recently built habitat

While COVID-19 and related shutdowns temporarily decreased attendance, Gothard explained things are back up and running like normal. The location is fully operational and open to the public Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We have the same suite of opportunities for people to enjoy,” he said.

Like almost every other organization and business, AWF staff had to get a little creative during the pandemic and launched weekly virtual naturalist chats. The programs were livestreamed on social media and open to students, teachers and the general public to tune in.

“It allowed us to stay engaged,” Gothard explained.

Instructors provided live animal demonstrations and other outdoor education programs and allowed a question-and-answer period for participants to provide feedback.

Also, since fewer people were coming to AWF — attendance was basically cut in half for two years — Gothard said staff went to them. The Nature on Wheels program, while not new, came in handy during the pandemic. The mobile learning program brought live animals and outdoor topics to the schools in place of its normal field trips.

“We’ve had Nature on Wheels since we opened, under a different name, but it was an off-season program,” Gothard said. “The deepest experience we provide is on site, so we typically offered Nature on Wheels during winter when schools seldom take field trips.”

On any given day, AWF employs about 20 staff — mostly full-time with a group of part-time naturalists and volunteers. Throughout the entire organization, including its wild game cookoffs — it’s largest fundraisers, held throughout the state and drawing thousands of attendees and contestants — AWF is supported by more than 500 volunteers.

These volunteer groups include individuals, scout troops, master gardeners, military personnel, and corporate teams.

“Without those, the whole story would be different,” Gothard said.

AWF relies on individual and private funds to operate, as it’s not a government entity. Revenues from admission and facility rentals assist in keeping the doors open, but fundraisers and private assistance are its main source of funding.

“When COVID hit and our wild game cook-offs went by the wayside, we implemented an austerity program,” Gothard explained.

He said AWF froze vacant positions and made additional adjustments as needed to be as efficient as possible.

Also, in the midst of COVID, AWF installed its first raptor mew.

“We know raptor education is important,” Gothard said. “We actually have done raptor education programs in years past, but we would pay other groups to bring in a raptor.”

AWF now is working toward having its own in-house raptor, and hopefully two.

The type and timing of educational raptor availability depends on raptor rehab facilities having a bird with injuries that prevent its survival in the wild. Some examples AWF is hoping to bring in include screech owls and hawks.

Once a raptor is acquired, staff members work with the raptor in an acclimation period. In the meantime, a second mew is in the works with a goal of expanding the program for the future.

It will likely be 2023 before construction is complete, a bird can be acclimated and programs can truly begin.

MAIN PROGRAMS

AWF focuses on three major areas: conservation education, resource stewardship and hunting and angling heritage. In its conservation education arena, the Alabama Nature Center hosts initiatives for youth and adults, such as Lanark Field Days, Summer Field Days, Expedition Lanark Summer Camp, Homeschool Programs and weekend programming. The 23,000-square-foot NaturePlex is a welcome and educational facility open six days a week. It offers a broad variety of outdoor-themed events and programs. It includes a 120-seat auditorium; a hands-on Discovery Hall; a fully equipped classroom with a lab; a community room for meetings; a gift shop and offices for the staff. The Alabama Nature Center offers 5 miles of trails, which can be self-guided or naturalist led. Hikers can even enjoy a picnic lunch School field trips and youth groups under the ANC are the largest audience at AWF pavilion. AWF’s Land Stewardship Assistance program promotes abundant wildlife and wildlife habitats through technical assistance to private landowners around the state. Specific habitat initiatives include the Native Warm Season Grass Project and Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Restoration Project. AWF also utilizes wildlife seminars, the AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards program and Alabama Wildlife magazine to promote proper natural resource stewardship. Its third tier, hunting and angling heritage, celebrates the conservation role of these outdoor pursuits through its Wild Game Cook-Offs, annual AWF Youth Fishing Rodeo, Alabama Quail Trail, Operation GameWatch and various youth and women’s programs. AWF promotes hunting and angling as an integral part of conservation efforts. With a calendar full of year-round events and plenty of areas to explore, AWF has something to offer everyone of all ages. For more information, visit alabamawildlife.org.