2015 ANNUAL REPORT
Boston Nature Center
Nurturing
Stewards of
Our Land
Thank You
Dear BNC Family and Friends,
We want to share with you some of the feedback we received during this past year that reminds us of the impact
nature can have on our lives when we give ourselves the opportunity to explore and engage with the beauty of the environment.
One of BNC’s preschool parents told us:
If I were to imagine a learning environment that had everything that was important to me for my child, BNC’s Pathways to
Nature Preschool would be exactly what I would imagine. I want my kids to love learning. I want them to be confident in
their ability to learn new things and be curious and interested. Seeing my city girl become a nature-loving happy learner has
made me so proud and so happy and so grateful.
From BNC’s Camp Evaluation, one camp parent shared:
My child learned so much with you this summer - how to paint with mud, a lot about sumac, how to build a mini mushroom farm. I've noticed that she has been much more observant of and talkative about the natural world around her since
she's been at camp. I’m so thrilled that she’s making these connections and having such a happy experience. Thank you.
Your ongoing generosity makes sure that thousands of children and families in our surrounding neighborhoods
have the chance to experience nature and engage in hands-on, minds-on environmental education. In the past year, donor
support helped the BNC to:
c Serve over 3,000 children during summer months through BNC’s day camp programs and
Summer Discoveries;
c Raise $100,000 for our Scholarship Fund to support area families participating in camp,
vacation week and the YouthLeaders program;
c Welcome the Chittick School in Mattapan to the BNC’s Boston Schools Environmental Initiative;
c Launch a multi-year school-year long partnership with Young Achievers Science and Math School
for second and fifth graders; and
c Continue the Pathways to Nature Outreach Program by providing nature-based
experiences for area preschools and professional development for their teachers.
As BNC creates our next five year strategic plan, we envision a future of growing
conservation communities, reaching even more budding environmentalists, facilitating
conversations around climate change and other environmental issues, and providing
opportunities to connect people with nature and each other. Thank you for all you do to
support these efforts. In the coming year, we hope you will be inspired to visit the sanctuary,
continue to be part of our community, and enjoy your own experiences with nature.
Sincerely yours,
Julie and Patricia
Julie Brandlen and Patricia Spence
(left to right).
Julie Brandlen, Anne and Peter Brooke Director
Patricia Spence, Chair, Boston Nature Center Sanctuary Committee
Page 1
2015 Annual Report
Boston Nature Center
Supporting Outdoor Play!
A Busy Bee preschooler explores the trees on a sunny day at the BNC.
For the typical preschooler, unstructured free play during the school
day consists of time at indoor centers, perhaps creating with building
blocks, dressing-up, using musical instruments, or enjoying sorting
games. At BNC’s Pathways to Nature Preschool there is more, much
more. Families asking their children about their day will hear responses like, “I climbed a tree” or “I jumped in deep puddles” or
“I found a roly-poly under a log.”
In year two of the preschool, BNC enrolled 43 families in the
Busy Bees and Curious Crickets classrooms with children attending
five, three or two days per week. Throughout the year, during every
season, children begin their day outdoors, reimagining the purpose of
a stick or log, walking on nature trails, exploring and investigating the
natural world in all kinds of weather, and forming friendships as they
learn important social skills. In all but the most inclement weather,
children also enjoy their snacks and lunches outdoors on the grass,
a picnic table or out on the trail. Even 112 inches of snowfall didn’t
deter them from climbing snowbanks, discovering the science of ice
and snow, and creating snow creatures!
Our teachers have also been teaching about the importance of
the outdoors in the development of young children by attending and
presenting at conferences focused on nature play. They help other
educators understand that, even in urban areas, a single tree or small
patch of grass plays an important role in the appreciation of the natural world. We believe in this philosophy of nature linked to education
and are always willing to share our experience. One of our families
offered the following insights into the program: The children at
Pathways show such happiness as they explore the trails together and
learn about the natural world around them. At the Pathways to Nature
preschool children are encouraged to play and learn about the natural
world around them.
Great winter explorations by Curious Cricket friends.
Education for All Ages
With early morning bird walks, late night owl prowls, and everything in
between the Boston Nature Center hosted over 859 participants through a
variety of public programs. Family activities included the very popular
weekly program Early Explorers for 3 to 6 year olds as well
Over 217
as new offerings for children including Earth Day Every
Public Programs
Day, Animal Senses, and Critter Carpentry. Adults joined
with Over
in on the fun this year and created homemade gifts using
859 Visitors!
beeswax and honey and learned about local amphibians
through a Citizen Science program. Over 217 public programs were
offered throughout the seasons of the year to educate, connect, and
inspire adults and children about the beautiful natural world around us.
Tour de Hives with the Boston Area Beekeepers Association.
Boston Nature Center
2015 Annual Report
Page 2
Boston Schools Environmental Initiative
The Boston Schools Environmental Initiative (BSEI) continues to be
a hallmark partnership between Boston Public Schools and the BNC.
With generous donor support, the BNC was able to continue working
with the Haley (Roslindale, K-8), Mason (Roxbury, K-5), Mission Hill
(Jamaica Plain, K-8) and Philbrick (Roslindale, K-5) and add a new
school to this intensive, multi-year partnership.
This year at the Chittick Elementary School in Mattapan, staff,
students, and Principal Michelle Burnett-Herndon welcomed Teacher
Naturalist, Kim Baker, who thoughtfully prepared activities to roll out
the BSEI with the “early adopter” teachers in the school. These
teachers already used the school’s outdoor classroom, but were eager
to find new ways to incorporate the outdoors and nature into their
science units.
To start the year and to re-energize the recycling program, Kim
met with every grade and did a short lesson about recycling. This
included a puppet show for the younger children and recycle relay
races for the older children. The second and third grade students
made informational posters that used actual recycled materials to
show what could be recycled in the school.
In a kindergarten class the teacher asked Kim, “How can we
use our five senses to explore our community?” Through planning
sessions at the BNC and at the school, Kim and the teacher developed
a unit to explore the classroom, school, schoolyard, block, neighborhood, and eventually the BNC sanctuary, incorporating each of the
students’ senses. The culminating project was an ABC map which
showed student sketching, writing, photos, and ideas about their
community.
Third grade teacher, Cameron Dominick, felt comfortable with
science content and using outdoor space, but was concerned that
he had insufficient outdoor time to implement the entire plant unit
effectively. Together, he and Kim found an overarching idea,
developed a big question, and took one part of the structures of life
unit and focused on plants. Using both the outdoor classroom and a
field experience at the BNC, students learned about the functions and
structures of plants as a jumping-off point for the next social studies
unit on the Wampanoag, where students learn how Wampanoags used
plants to survive in their everyday life. As Cameron explains, “Kim
and the BNC have had a tremendous impact on the planning, teaching, and learning of science at the Chittick. The BSEI program has
helped teachers use the outdoors to meet the diverse learning needs
of our students in creative and interactive ways.”
The collaboration at the Chittick was very strong and successful in
year one. Many other teachers are eager to take part in the coming year.
New BSEI Partners — Chittick School Principal Michelle BurnettHerndon, BNC Teacher Naturalist Kim Baker, and Chittick Third Grade
Teacher Cameron Dominick. (left to right)
Eager learners meet and greet a garter snake.
BNC YouthLeaders
BNC and BNY Mellon YouthLeaders funded by the Arthur F.
Blanchard Trust completed its 13th year of an internship program
that introduces Boston youth to urban nature, encourages interest in
Summer campers harvest squash in the Food Forest.
Page 3
2015 Annual Report
Boston Nature Center
environmental and science concepts, and exposes teens to science
and environmental careers. The program emphasizes professionalism,
environmental stewardship, and education. Through hands-on experience YouthLeaders learn to be educators as they lead a variety of
programs for campers, preschoolers and sanctuary visitors. The teens
develop and practice work skills as they plan and implement workshops for peers, work side-by-side with Teacher Naturalists to support
special events, and take on increasing responsibilities. As life-long
learning is one of our most important values, YouthLeaders are
always being encouraged with feedback and constructive
comments.
BNC YouthLeader Carlos and campers create a delicious treat in the
Nature Nook.
Camp Connections
Whether weeding the butterfly garden or turning over the worm compost,
campers at the Boston Nature Center care for the environment while
deepening their understanding of stewardship. Through an engaging
nature-inspired curriculum, weekly themes include a combination of
investigations, group projects, nature journals, art activities, and related
group games. In a safe and inclusive camp
1,197 children
atmosphere, children take part in camp tradiages five to fifteen
tions like Morning Circle and all-camp games
participated in
and events like Earth Carnival. Everyday
camp!
children have fun outdoors playing in the
Nature Nook, digging in the garden and going for walks on a beautiful
67 acre wildlife sanctuary. 1,197 children between the ages five to fifteen
participated in camp and vacation weeks with 383 of them benefitting
from $75,793 of scholarship support. Another 2,590 children and adults
visited the BNC from other camps through the Summer Discoveries
program for an extended field experience that includes exploration of
the sanctuary and discovering nature in their neighborhood.
Urban Preschoolers Experience the Outdoors
The Pathways to Nature Outreach program, Boston Nature Center’s
collaboration with four local preschools, is focused on helping
urban preschoolers experience the outdoors and nature in their own
neighborhoods. This dynamic and engaging program also provides
preschool teachers opportunities to guide children through the
process of observation, inquiry and investigation while at the BNC
and then back at their own sites.
Preschoolers and their teachers visit the sanctuary monthly and
with a BNC Teacher Naturalist explore the trails, meadows, and
wetlands in search of examples of their monthly nature-based theme.
Children and educators may discover animal homes to replicate,
plants and flowers to dissect, and creepy crawlies to imitate. From
October through June, each child enjoyed 20 hours of nature
exploration. Educators received additional hours of professional
development to support their efforts to bring hands-on, nature-based
activities to their urban preschool classrooms.
Singing and dancing during Morning Circle at summer camp.
Preschoolers are ready to explore the sanctuary.
Boston Nature Center
2015 Annual Report
Page 4
In Their Own
Words....
Scholarship support provides the opportunity for
area families to participate in both summer camp
and school vacation week. The BNC is grateful
to all the supporters who help ensure access to
our programs by supporting our scholarship fund.
n
r thoughts o
en shares he his drawing
m
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nt
re
Camp Pa n Joshua, 7, shared
BNC. Her so ary.
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Brother Jonas, 9,
explains why BN
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Page 5
2015 Annual Report
Boston Nature Center
Special Events Shine at the BNC!
Guests enjoy Bird Hop and
sample brews.
Nature craft fun at Rockin’ with
Raptors.
A sincere thank you to all the friends and supporters, old and new, who
continue to make BNC’s annual special events such a great success. The
BNC is thrilled to welcome event attendees during all seasons for fundraisers and community gatherings.
On Friday, November 14, 2014 the BNC hosted another sell-out crowd
of over 230 people for the 4th annual bird demonstration and beer tasting
evening. Raptors from Blue Hills Trailside Museum, local breweries, great
food, music and trivia are all big draws for this lively crowd eager to support
urban environmental education.
A windy day did not stop the crowds from attending Spring Swing on Sunday, May 31, 2015. Nearly
200 supporters raised close to $40,000 to support the
scholarship fund for local camp families and the BNY
Mellon YouthLeaders and to honor BNC and Mass
Audubon friends Judith and Lee Spelke. Guests had
the opportunity to view and bid on amazing birdthemed artwork from area artists.
Rockin’ with Raptors continues to delight
neighbors and community members with over 600
BNC friends attending this free September event
which includes music, cake and ice cream, a cookout,
and great demonstrations and activities from partner
organizations.
Spring Swing guests from left to right. Mass Audubon Board Chair Jared Chase, Mass Audubon Past
President Henry Tepper, Judith Spelke, Peter Brooke, Patricia Spence, Lee Spelke, Anne Brooke and
Julie Brandlen.
Clark Cooper Community Gardens
This year Clark Cooper Community Gardens welcomed many new gardeners, including three
people who are also bee-keepers at BNC. Although a dry summer, gardeners harvested record
amounts of okra, green beans, and sweet potatoes. We owe much to the wonderful deer fence,
which kept deer from harvesting our crops and to the excellent compost which made our gardens
grow beautifully from Bruce Fulford who operates the City of Boston’s Leaf Composting Project
at BNC.
Tomatoes were late, perhaps due to the cold spring. A plant biologist from
UMass Boston who is surveying verticillium wilt in community gardens visited
to take plant tissue samples which his students will test. We are eager to learn
what he finds and what organic remedies he suggests.
Finally, our events this summer were fantastic! We had record attendance
at our August fish fry, a delightful crowd of happy dancers at our September
Farmers’ Ball, and a lively time at BNC’s Rockin’ with Raptors where our
herb and tomato samples were snapped up so quickly that we had to run
down to the garden to replenish our supply! It is time now to put our
gardens to bed for the season, except for those last cold weather crops
such as collards, kale and turnip greens.
Boston Nature Center
2015 Annual Report
Clark Cooper Community Gardener
harvests bountiful crops.
Page 6
Program Statistics FY 15
Boston Area Beekeepers Association
Schools included: ABCD Bradshaw, ABCD Early Learning Program
at Madison, ABCD Gertrude Townsend Headstart, ABCD Mattapan
Head Start, Nurtury Learning Lab, Beethoven Elementary School, Boston
Arts Academy, Boston International High School, Bridge Boston Charter
School, Clarendon Early Education Services, Conservatory Lab Charter
School, Corner Co-op Nursery School, Dennis C. Haley Elementary
School – BSEI, Dexter Southfield School, Family Daycare, Gan Israel
Shaloh House of Boston, Harvard Kennedy School, Heath Elementary
School, Hugh Roe O'Donnell Elementary School, James J Chittick
Elementary School – BSEI, John D. Philbrick Elementary – BSEI, Josiah
Quincy School, Lee Academy Pilot School, Little Brown Bear Academy,
Lyndon Pilot School, Manville School, Match Community Day, Mattahunt
Elementary School, Mission Grammar School, Mission Hill – BSEI,
Oak Hill Middle School, Samuel W. Mason Elementary School – BSEI,
The Advent School, Village Preschool, William Monroe Trotter
Elementary School, Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School
9,220
Children
Pathways to
Nature Preschool
Year round, on-site nature based preschool
program
43 Children
59,242
Contact Hours
Community
Group Programs
Groups included: 2nd Nature, BCYF Blackstone Community Center,
2,109
Participants
School Programs
BCYF Gallivan, BCYF Roslindale Summer Program, Boston Chinatown
Community Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, BPHC-Healthy
Baby, Healthy Child, Brookline Devotion School Brownie Troop, B-Safe
Holy Spirit, B-SAFE Summer Program/St. Mary's, Children's Services of
Roxbury, Consortium For Energy Efficiency, Cornerstone Deliverence
Ministries, Dorchester YMCA, East Boston YMCA, Healthy Baby Healthy
Child, Joseph M Tierney Learning Center, Native American Youth Enrichment Program, Neighborhood School, Nurtury @ Essex Street, Nurtury @
Harvard Street, Nurtury Boston South End, Nurtury Learning Lab, Outback
Summer Program, PBHA Franklin I-O, PBHA South Boston Summer
Program, Providence House, Roxbury YMCA, Salvation Army Croc Center
Boston, Shelburne Community Center, St. Columbkille Summer Program,
Summer Compass Program, TILL Toward Independent Living and Learning,
Inc., Trinity Education for Excellence Program, United South End Settlements Summer Program, YMCA of Greater Boston
397 Sessions
53 Sessions
Summer Camp
and
School Vacation
Week Programs
Ten weeks of Summer Camp
1,197
Openings Filled
Two School Vacation Week Programs
$75,792
Provided in
Scholarships
Public Programs
Program Sample: An Introduction to Observation
Hives Part 2, Butterfly Bon Voyage!, Early Explorers,
Guided Snow Show Adventure, Under the Night Sky,
Trail Detectives’ Club
217 Programs
859
Participants
Special Events
and
Fundraisers
Bird-a-thon
Bird Hop
Rockin’ with Raptors
Spring Swing
1,186 Attendees
Volunteers
Groups included: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Boston Latin
School, BU Branch Out, BU (Environmental CSC, FYSOP),
British School of Boston, Camp Ranch, CFGI, City on a Hill
Charter Public School, Compass School Harvard, Cretera,
Eagle Scouts, Fenway High School, Fontbonne Academy,
Gardner School, Heath School, MathWorks, Nielson
Company, Work Inc., Young Achievers Science and Math
Pilot School, and many dedicated individuals.
1,337
Volunteers
6,641 Hours
Value of
Service
$120,636
Rentals
Facility Rentals include: weddings, memorials,
showers, retreats, conferences and other private
functions.
31 Private Functions
37 Non-profit
Organizations
7 Corporate
Organizations
2,198 Total
Participants
Page 7
Boston Area Beekeepers Association (BABA) is
a local non-profit whose goal is to promote sustainable beekeeping through the sharing of
knowledge. Evolving from the Boston Beekeepers Club (established in 2011), the Boston Area
Beekeepers Association (BABA) was incorporated in 2015 to bring together beekeepers and
pollinator advocates living in the greater Boston
area. BABA aims to be an inclusive hub for beekeepers, honey bee and native bee enthusiasts in
and around Suffolk County and Metro Boston.
In addition to educating beginning and intermediate beekeepers, BABA strives to engage and
educate the public on the important role that
bees play in our food system and ecosystem.
BABA offers:
1) Regular meetings that are free and open
to the public
2) Beekeeping workshops at our Teaching
Apiary at Boston Nature Center (BNC)
3) An annual 6-session intensive Organic
Bee School
4) An annual Tour de Hives bicycling and
apicultural educational event focusing
on honey bees and their keepers in a
different area of metropolitan Boston
each year
During the past year BABA led five workshops
at BNC, brought several groups of children
(including on-site and off-site camps) to visit
the bees, and featured the Teaching Apiary on
the annual Tour de Hives event.
$59,109 Raised
for BNC’s
Education
Programs
2015 Annual Report
Beekeepers share their knowledge with program participants.
Boston Nature Center
Financial Overview
The Boston Nature Center’s annual budget for FY 2015 totaled
$1,472,405. BNC secured the necessary income to meet its operating
expenses. We are deeply appreciative of the generous support from
BNC’s donors and volunteers who provide BNC with the means to offer
affordable programs. BNC strives to ensure access to its high-quality
programs including summer camp, school vacation programs, and the
Pathways to Nature Preschool, and offers participants a sliding scale fee
structure which includes Massachusetts vouchers. The charts below indicate the major income and expense categories for the year (unaudited).
Boston Food Forest Coalition volunteers build an herb spiral.
Income
A Forest of Food in the City
Passing through the meadows of Mass Audubon’s
Boston Nature Center you may have noticed
many volunteers and growing plants, as the
second year of a partnership with the Boston
Food Forest Coalition continues to establish
Boston’s first “agroforestry” site. The teachings
and methods being practiced have revitalized
the land which is why you may have tripped over
the occasional native Paw Paw and Serviceberry
sapling and wondered how it could have gotten
there without seeing any signs of digging or
disturbance.
The hugelkultur beds and herb spiral
installations you can view at the site demonstrate
ethical and sustainable practices in growing
herbs and vegetables. Part of BNC’s programming for campers and students includes visits
to the tasting beds and the soil-building woodchip paths to see the medicinal and pollinator
herb mounds. With each passing season,
children and adults alike discover new flavors as
tended plants mature into productive members
of a food forest. As the site continues to
develop, we all have the opportunity to learn
from the interactions of the ecosystem and work
together to create healthy, consistent yields for
our community. We look forward to the coming
years of this growing partnership.
Rentals
$14,128
1%
Mass Audubon
$64,778
4%
Endowment Income
$305,076
21%
Program Fees
and Services
$671,765
46%
Gifts, Grants,
and Special Events
$416,658
28%
Expenses
Fundraising,
General Administration
$253,699
17%
Buildings and
Grounds
$161,885
11%
Educational Programs
and Staff
$983,310
67%
Community Outreach
$73,511
5%
Boston Nature Center
2015 Annual Report
Page 8
Individual Donor and Donor Advised Funds
The Boston Nature Center gratefully acknowledges its donors, supporters, and volunteers. Thank you for supporting inspiring and engaging urban education.
Anonymous (4)
Ben & Emily Achtenberg
James & Mary Adelstein/Mary T. & S. James
Adelstein Charitable Gift Fund
Martina Albright & Jon Bernstein
Deb Allen
Rosemary Anderson
Sandra L. Anderson & Margaret Wallace
Mary Ann Buras
Jennifer Ashburn
Rosemary G. Ashby
Marjorie Bakken
Grazia Balestrieri
Matthew & Mindy Barber
Peter & Marygrace Barber/
Barber Family Charitable Fund
Julie B. Smith-Bartoloni & Guido Bartoloni
Nancy Belkov
Fred Berger
Nora Bloch & Charles Jones
Nelson E. & Alice M. Bolen
Ann Boyajian
Gail Boyajian
Debbie Bradlee
Julie Brandlen
Jonathan Brandon & Harriet Scheft
Flint Brayton
Leslie Brayton
Erin & Austin Brayton
Catherine Brigham
Anne & Peter Brooke
Patrick Fellion & Monica Brookman
Betty Brooks
David & Deborah Brooks
Cara Brostrom & Chris Orkerberg
Ray Brown
Nina Brown
Lalor & Patricia Burdick
Bettina & Craig Burr
Nancy Bush Ellis
Margaret J. Cain
Kelly Cannon
Anna Carter-Bruno
Constance Cervone & Janet Deegan
Lori Cetrino
Ann and Jared Chase
Ava Cheloff
Adrienne Christner
Ellen Church
Thomas M. & Rachel C. Claflin
James Kaemmerlen & Mary Clarke
Kathy Clunis D'Andrea
Stephen Coady & James Hahn
William Coady & Irfan Ali
Ann R. Coffin
Ellen Cohen
Christy Pardew & Josh Raisler Cohn
Emily & John Cole
Barbara Collins
Roberta D. Conant
Elizabeth Cooney
Copeland Family Foundation, Inc.
Nancy Cotta
Sarah Coyne
Peter Creighton
Modestino & Nancy Criscitiello/
Criscitiello Family Fund
Jeanne M. Cronin
Diane & Gerard Cronin
Helen R. Strieder & Steve Crosby
Nancy & John Curtin, Jr.
Theresa Czarcinski
Fred G. Davis & Jane Hilburt-Davis
Barbara De Braganca
Harriet Deane
Charles Y. Deknatel
Sherry Eskin & Matthew Demarrais
Abby & Jason Demarzo
Elisabeth Derby
Stephen Dickerman
Jean Dorcus
Page 9
Mary Ann Dority
Kim Van Dyke
Kathleen Emrich & Robert A. Sherwood
Gayle Epp
Karen & Andrew Epstein
Leila Erskine
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Tari Fanderclai
Ellen & David Faszewski
Paul Fenton
Heidi Fessenden & James Noonan
Andrew Cracknell & Karen First
Allison & David Fisher
James & Janet Fitzgibbons
Kate S. Flather
Robert Fleming
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Trudi Fondren
Louise Ford
Rodman K. & Elsa Forter
Kate Foster
Nora Frank & Walter Houseman
Peter and Linda Freedman
Sarah E. Freeman
H. Susan Freireich
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Anthony Fuccillo
Brian & Kelly Gallagher
Ruth Gamper
M. Dozier & Sandy M. Gardner
Amy Garfield
Marcy Gefter
Robert & Amelia Geggel
Jane Gerry
Ernestine A. Gianelly
Lorna Gibson & Jean Hess
Jody & Thomas Gill Jr./
Palace Head Foundation
Alison Glerum
Sara & Barry Goldberg
Jennifer & Brian Goldson
William Goodwin
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Alfred & Sarah Gracombe
Ann Grady
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Pat & Susan Grant
Ellen Granter
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Deborah Greene
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Phil Hall
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Nancy C. & John S. Hammond III
Leslie & Torben Hansen
Mary Harman
Alynn & Andrew Harvey
Bruce M. Hauben & Joyce M. Brinton/
Helen G. Hauben Foundation
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Ann Helwege & Simon Moody
Bret Hendrickson
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Thomas J. Hollister
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Tracy Holmes
Katharine Howard
Anna Howard
Karen Howard & Chris O'Brien
James S. Hoyte
Robin Hunnewell
Patricia Hurley
Henry R. Irving
Robert M. Bloom & Christina Jameson
David Randall & Judith A. Jarashow
Daniel Johansen
Erika Johansen
Ernest Johansen
Steven & Joanne Johansen
Elizabeth & Edward C. Johnson III
Elizabeth L. Johnson
Elizabeth G. & Douglas C. Johnson
Richard E. & Sandra A. Johnson
Carole R. Jorgenson
Donald P. Kalischer
Jason Karakehian
Harry and Edith Katz Charitable Fund
Caryn B. Kauffman
Mary Lou Kaufman
Nancy E. Kaufman
Stephen B. Kay/The Aquidneck Foundation
Martha Keating
Lorna J. Keith
Alyson Kelley Hedgepeth
Jean Kendall & Robb Moss
Alex Khitrik
James & Cathy Kobler
Pamela Kohlberg & Curt Greer
Mary Kowalski
Liam Sullivan & Susan Lacefield
Steven & Gail Landry
Kelly & Eloise Lawrence
Virginia Maloney Lawrence
Joan LeBel
Adam Leiterman
Larry F. Lenrow
Patty and Paul Levi
Elizabeth Lewis
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Robert & Elizabeth Lodi
Sue & Paul Lotke
Andrea Lukens
Mark & Mary Lunsford
George & Ann Macomber
Chris Busch & Carolyn Manning
John O`Brien & Kathleen Marsh
June Martin & Laurie H. Appleby
Hugh & Arlene Mattison
Robert G. & Susan C. Mayer
Elizabeth & Raymond McAfoose/
Gilbert H. Hood Family Fund
John F. & Nancy McCarthy
Michael L. McCarthy & Daphne D. Minner
Julianna Connolly & Brian McDonnell
Marie & Paul McDonough
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Mary Knox Miller & Matthew Miller
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Nessen Charitable Fund
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2015 Annual Report
Mary O'Neil
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Dorothy H. Stevens Foundation
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King Mountain Foundation
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John Fulton & Eve Sorum
Jesse & Hilary Southwick
Robyn Souza & Susan Caloggero
Lee & Judith R. Spelke
Shawne & Jon Spelke
Patricia E. Spence
Stevenson-Cannon Family Fund
Carol T. & Ralph E. Stuart Jr
Joy Olaes Surprenant
Alicia Svenson & Matthew Friese
Charles & Sally Svenson
Hooker & Jane Talcott Jr.
Ronna Tapper-Goldman & James Goldman
David Van Ness Taylor & Susie Sargent/
David V.N. Taylor Foundation
Katherine & Ben Taylor
Henry G. Tepper & Jane A. Henoch
Erica A. Fletcher & Rob Thacher
Peter Jeffries & Pamela J. Thompson
Lanny & Anne Thorndike/
Thorndike Family Fund
Bonnie Thyrselius
Michael K. Tooke/Tooke Family Fund
Sarah Babb & Eddy Torrez
Lindsay and Bestine Tourijigian
Jayne Trachman
The Trautmann Family
Robert S. & Sally Truesdale
Mimi Turchinetz
Allan Underwood
Rosamond B. Vaule/Sven and
Rosamond Vaule Fund
Peter Wagner
Boston Nature Center
Institutional Funders
Stuart Walker
Ann Fowler Wallace & Brad Wallace
Charles & Louise Weed
Linda A. Welter
Jill Wierbicki Abrahams
Sharon Wiggins and Lisa Brady
Andrea Willett
Jeffrey M. Williams
Shirley Wine
Jeff & Martha Winokur
Deborah Wishner
Paul & Jennifer Wood
Mary Woodall-Jappe
Gerry Wright
Ehrick H. Wright
Nathan Yang
Gail Yeo
Jerrold & Linda Zindler
Alicia Zipp & Brian Middleton
Charles Zrike
Richard & Karen Zuppardi
AFT Massachusetts, AFL-CIO
Alces Foundation
Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning
Associated Grant Makers Inc./
The Summer Fund
Beacon Hill Garden Club
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
BNY Mellon YouthLeaders funded
by The Arthur F. Blanchard Trust
The Boston Foundation
Cabot Family Charitable Trust
The Cedar Street Foundation
CFGI
Cruz Management Company, Inc.
Cummings Foundation
The Davis Companies
Department of Conservation and
Recreation
Feinberg, Campbell & Zack P.C.
Feldman Land Surveyors
Garden Club of the Back Bay, Inc.
Harold Whitworth Pierce
Charitable Trust
Hays Companies
Highland Street Foundation
ICON Architecture, Inc.
Josephine and Louise Crane Foundation
Mabel Louise Riley Foundation
Sumner Elementary School
Urban Strategy America Fund
VHB
Yawkey Foundation
Leadership Friends
In-Kind Donors
Sandra Anderson & Meg Wallace
Laurie Appleby & June Martin
Atlas Liqors
John Brooke
Black Rock Lodge
Blue Hills Brewery
Ethan and Joan Bolker
Boston Beer Company
Boston Natural Areas Network
Boston Party Rental
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Cape Ann Brewing Co.
Cathy Campbell and Jack Orrock
Clark Cooper Community Gardens
Clown Shoes Beer
Modestino and Nancy Criscitiello
Eduardo del Solar
Down East Cider House
El Mundo Boston Newspaper
Gunn Design, LLC/Martha Heath
Imani Massage
Jack's Abby Brewing, LLC.
JP Licks
The Kressley-Goldstein Family
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
The Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Martignetti Liquors
Mystic Brewery
Newburyport Brew Co.
New England Aquarium
Oak Knoll Dairy
Patagonia
Post 390
REI
Renew Boston
David Sibley
U.S. Rafting
USDA Forest Service
Kim Van Dyke
Whole Foods, Jamaica Plain
Ken Wise
Woodstock Inn & Resort
Zoo New England
Boston Nature Center
BNC is pleased to recognize as Leadership Friends the following families and individuals who have, through
personal or donor-advised funds, provided leading gifts. The Leadership Friends program recognizes donors
who select Mass Audubon as one of their top philanthropic priorities. Those listed below have designated all
or part of their annual operating, program, or capital fund support during the past fiscal year to BNC.
Leadership Friends membership is available at several levels, from Guardian ($750) and President’s Circle
($1,250) to Founder’s Circle ($2,500 and above). For more information, please visit www.massaudubon.org or
contact Kelly Gallagher at 617.983.8500
Sandra L. Anderson &
Margaret Wallace
Peter & Marygrace Barber/
Barber Family Charitable Fund
Anne & Peter Brooke
Betty Brooks
David & Deborah Brooks
Lalor & Patricia Burdick
William Coady & Irfan Ali
Copeland Family Foundation, Inc.
Peter Creighton
Modestino & Nancy Criscitiello/
Criscitiello Family Fund
Kathleen Emrich &
Robert A. Sherwood
Kate S. Flather
Sarah E. Freeman
M. Dozier & Sandy M. Gardner
Lorna Gibson & Jean Hess
Jody & Thomas Gill Jr./
Palace Head Foundation
Helen H. Haller & Jeremy Epworth
Nancy C. & John S. Hammond III
Bruce M. Hauben & Joyce M. Brinton/
Helen G. Hauben Foundation
Stephen B. Kay/
The Aquidneck Foundation
Pamela Kohlberg & Curt Greer
Virginia Maloney Lawrence
George & Ann Macomber
Robert G. & Susan C. Mayer
Elizabeth & Raymond McAfoose/
Gilbert H. Hood Family Fund
Jack W. Orrock &
Catherine M. Campbell
Deborah Putnam/The Abbot and
Dorothy H. Stevens Foundation
Margaret L. Rhodes
Robin K. Schweikart &
David Farrington
Mary H. & David Smoyer
Lee & Judith R. Spelke
Shawne & Jon Spelke
David Van Ness Taylor &
Susie Sargent/David V.N. Taylor
Foundation
Katherine & Ben Taylor
Lanny & Anne Thorndike/
Thorndike Family Fund
Michael K. Tooke/Tooke Family Fund
Rosamond B. Vaule/Sven and
Rosamond Vaule Fund
Leading Institutional Supporters
BNC extends special thanks to the following foundations, businesses, organizations, and government
agencies for their generous leadership support for the full range of BNC’s youth, family, and community
educational programs and conservation initiatives.
Alces Foundation
Beacon Hill Garden Club
Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Massachusetts
BNY Mellon YouthLeaders funded by
The Arthur F. Blanchard Trust
The Boston Foundation
Cabot Family Charitable Trust
The Cedar Street Foundation
Cummings Foundation
Department of Conservation and
Recreation
Garden Club of the Back Bay, Inc.
Harold Whitworth Pierce
Charitable Trust
Highland Street Foundation
Josephine and Louise Crane
Foundation
Mabel Louise Riley Foundation
Associated Grant Makers Inc./
The Summer Fund
Yawkey Foundation
We have made every effort to acknowledge donors accurately. If we have made an error or omitted your name, please accept our
sincere apologies and contact Kelly Gallagher at (617) 983-8500 ext. 6922 with the correction. Thank you.
2015 Annual Report
Page 10
Stewards of Our Land
from Our Surrounding Communities
Boston Nature Center is grateful for the many volunteers who support all areas of our work from assisting in our
environmental education programs to beautification projects across the 67 acre sanctuary. This year, BNC’s
Sanctuary Committee provided leadership in areas of planning and development, environ1,337 volunteers
ment and sanctuary protection, and education projects and programs. Through the hard
offering
work of hundreds of community and corporate volunteers, BNC’s grounds and trails are
6,641 hour of work
restored, enhanced, and maintained.
to the BNC!
During the past year, 1,337 volunteers from the corporations, organizations, and
schools participated in service projects at BNC offering 6,641 hours of work which is valued at $120,636. We extend
our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers that are such an integral part of BNC’s vibrant community
—thank you. Please review the details in Program Statistic FY 15.
Boston Nature Center Staff
Adam Leiterman, Teacher Naturalist, Roxbury
Amir Abdulrahman, Property Worker, Hyde Park
Andrew MacBlane, Teacher Naturalist, Waltham
Brandon Emiliano, Receptionist, Jamaica Plain
Claire Harris, Lead Teacher Preschool, Dorchester
Emily Cherkin, Preschool Teacher, Jamaica Plain
Erin Kelly, Education Coordinator, Camp Director, West Roxbury
Hilary Johansen, Preschool Teacher, Norwood
Jean Dorcus, Education Manager, Preschool Director, Dorchester
Julie Brandlen, Anne and Peter Brooke Director, Jamaica Plain
Kendra Brucklin McDuffee, Preschool Teacher, Jamaica Plain
Kelly Gallagher, Development Director, Roslindale
Kim Baker, Education Coordinator, Camp Director, West Roxbury
Lauryn Cannon, Preschool Teacher, Brighton
Mike McWade, Property Manager, Milton
Nisia McCormick, Preschool Teacher, Mattapan
Timothy Juba, Caretaker, Mattapan
Zaskya Perez, Office Manager, Roxbury
Sanctuary Committee
Rosemary Anderson, Norwood
Laurie Appleby, West Roxbury
Catherine Campbell, Co-Clerk, Roslindale
Jennifer Charles, Medford
Susan Everett, Hyde Park
Bob Fleming, Hyde Park
Sandy Foley, Jamaica Plain
Nate Hagee, Roslindale
Martha Heath, Jamaica Plain
Jocelyn Heywood, Vice-Chair, Canton
Maria Higgins, Co-Clerk, Mattapan
Allison Meierding, Dorchester
MaryBeth Noonan, West Roxbury
Bill Perkins, Jamaica Plain
Charlene Ross, Boston
Pat Spence, Chair, Dorchester
Kimberly Van Dyke, Dorchester
Meg Wallace, Roslindale
Boston Nature Center
500 Walk Hill Street • Mattapan, MA 02126
617.983.8500
massaudubon.org/boston
Design: GunnDesign, LLC, Waltham, MA
Front Cover Photos (top right clockwise): Preschooler
learning about nature, Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition
members at an event at the sanctuary, camper examining
sumac seeds, a young camper watching a lady bug, and a
camper harvesting a gourd.