Schoolyards Are Not

Just For Recess

Teachers are now taking children

outside equipped with clipboards

and journals. Through the Boston

Schools Environmental Initiative

(BSEI) and the Boston Schools

Initiative (BSI), BNC provides

resources to administrators,

educators, and students in six local

schools using a multidisciplinary,

inquiry-based model. BNC’s

Teacher Naturalists work with

teachers to engage students in

conservation activities that involve

observation, investigation and

prediction. Hands-on/minds-on

learning in outdoor classrooms,

schoolyard gardens, and field

experiences throughout the Boston

area inspire students to make

personal connections to the natural

world. All school programs are

aligned with the Boston Public

Schools science curriculum and

Massachusetts standards.

Afterschool

Discovery

Boston Public Schools students in

grades K-8 from several local

schools are engaged in multiple out-

of-school time nature enrichment

experiences that enhance their

science curriculum. BNC’s Teacher

Naturalists lead theme-based

afterschool sessions at partner

schools, lasting from six weeks to

the full school year. This extended

learning allows for in-depth science

experiments and investigations that

bring the students outdoors, giving

them opportunities to explore their

local landscapes in more detail and

with more discovery than can be

allowed during the school day.

Students have the flexibility to

engage in hands-on investigations to

further their knowledge and interests

in chosen areas, while being

exposed to new concepts and

experiences.

Camp Fun and

Nature Play

The BNC day camp, accredited by

the American Camp Association,

offers a high quality science and

nature program in a fun and

engaging atmosphere for children

ages 5-16. The camp curriculum is

crafted by the Teacher Naturalists

and based on the Massachusetts

framework. Each day is filled with

environmental education activities,

art projects, team building, and

outdoor exploration. Throughout the

camp session children have a chance

to direct their experience through a

constructivist atmosphere, choice

activities, and free play time in the

Nature Nook. The high staff to child

ratio creates a safe environment that

allows children to grow both

emotionally and socially. Summer

camp and two vacation week

programs connect children to the

BNC and the environment in a

unique and lasting way.

Ambassadors to the

Natural World

The BNC Teen Ambassador

program is a three-year internship

program designed to introduce

Boston youth to urban nature,

encourage interest in environmental

and science concepts, and introduce

careers in these fields. Throughout

the year, six high school students

work with BNC staff in a variety of

roles. As assistants for educational

programs and community events,

guides for visitors, administrative

supporters, and junior counselors for

c am p p r o g r am s , t h e T e en

Ambassadors are an integral part of

our team. BNC’s Teen Ambassador

program is made possible through

the support of the BNY Mellon

Charitable Giving Program through

the generosity of the Arthur F.

Blanchard Trust.

Exhibits, Trails, and

Green Design

At the George Robert White

Environmental Conservation Center,

visitors have the opportunity to learn

about green building design and

energy conservation with Boston’s

greenest municipal building as a

model. Visitors of all ages enjoy

seasonal educational and art exhibits

and participate in free or low cost

public programs on a wide variety

of topics, ranging from tree

identification to guided snowshoe

walks. All are welcome to explore

1.3 miles of trails on BNC’s 67-acre

wildlife sanctuary, which is open to

the public every day of the year.

BNC’s property also features the

Clark Cooper Community Gardens,

one of the oldest and largest

community gardens in Boston,

providing garden plots to over 250

families.

Volunteers work with BNC staff

throughout the year in a variety of

ways. Individuals and groups of all

ages participate in volunteer projects

to maintain the trails, manage

invasive plants, help with events,

lead programs, and more.

Volunteer Sanctuary Committee

members meet regularly to provide

guidance and support on many

issues relating to BNC’s property,

programming, fundraising, and

annual goals. Three subcommittees,

Education Advisory Task Force,

Environment Committee, and

P lann ing and Deve lopment

Committee, focus on objectives

related to these areas. Volunteers

play an important role by helping

to inc rease BNC’s overa l l

effect iveness and out reach .

Volunteers Make A

Difference

Dear BNC Family and Friends,

What a vibrant and thriving year! Thank you to all of

you who continue to attend our public programs, support

our important environmental education work, participate

in our land conservation and stewardship projects, and

work as members of our dynamic volunteer committees.

We simply could not have achieved all of this year’s

accomplishments without YOU.

BNC’s Teacher Naturalists have worked with thousands

of children and their educators, connecting nature and

science with integration into all other disciplines.

Summer camp operated at 100% because of the high

quality activities campers and their families experience

year after year.

Pathways to Nature and Early Explorers – BNC’s work

with preschoolers – continued for another spectacular – continued for another spectacular –

year where our youngest program participants observed

seasonal changes, the qualities of worms, and the

behaviors of coyotes.

We are so appreciative of your support and hope that you

will join us in the coming year—will join us in the coming year—will join us in the coming year meeting our Teen

Ambassadors, participating in Work for Wildlife, or

attending our Rockin’ for Raptors community event.

Sincerely yours,

Julie Brandlen

Anne and Peter Brooke Director

BSEI School Highlights

Everett: Students in Grades 4 and 5 were engaged in a

year-long study of schoolyard trees specific to their grade.

Throughout the year, trees were researched, observed, and

sketched as students developed a schoolyard field guide

describing their tree in all four seasons.

HaleyHaley: Fifth graders investigated ―How do we use the

engineering design process to solve the problem of

keeping cold things cold and warm things warm?‖

followed by ―How do we use and conserve energy?‖ They

experimented with different insulation materials to keep

model houses (plastic bottles, then cardboard boxes) warm

even when placed outdoors or in a freezer. They

investigated the effects of paint color and tree shade on

keeping a model house cool in the summer.

Mason: Third graders became experts at composting.

They observed the importance of the nutrient cycle, life

cycle, and what it takes to make soil. By creating worm

bins, asking questions, and following up with research and

outdoor investigations, students learned why composting

is important and were able to associate it with the work

they had done with the Food Project. Food scraps from

the cafeteria found a new home and students discovered

more about soil.

Summer Explorers

This summer 25 rising fourth graders from Young Achievers Pilot School and Haley Pilot School spent five weeks exploring science at the Boston Nature Center. Our overall theme was animal adaptations, and our classroom was the BNC trails, Carson Beach, and other local sites.

In a typical day, students:

Performed hands-on investigations such as pill bug races, surface tension experiments, and live insect studies

Wrote and read about animal adaptations

Did math word problems that related to their daily adventures and built skills in choosing the correct operation

Built social and teamwork skills through games and songs

Science and literacy were completely integrated, so that

students often did not realize they were essentially in a

summer school program. Staff from Young Achievers

worked closely with a BNC Teacher Naturalist to plan,

carry out, and evaluate this first year of the program. We

were thrilled to have Dr. Carol Johnson, Boston Public

Schools Superintendent, spend a morning observing pond

organisms with the Summer Explorers participants.

The Boston Nature Center was one of 15 community

partners working with 30 schools reaching 1,500 children

in partnership with the Boston Public Schools and Boston

After School and Beyond’s Summer Learning Project.

The goal of this citywide effort was to advance student

learning during the summer, integrating academics,

skill-building, and enrichment. The BNC’s site was

celebrated as a model for this student-centered,

results-driven project.

Mission Hill: Students in Grade 7 enhanced a project

from the prior year, ―A Study of the Muddy.‖ They

added several more water selection sites and used the

data already gathered as a baseline to develop a better

understanding of water quality, composition, and

density. Their project was presented for a second year at

Wheelock College’s Muddy River Symposium.

OhrenbergerOhrenberger: Students in Grade 2 integrated a study of

birds with literacy to author books based on their

favorite local bird. Students gained an understanding of

fiction and factual information, detailed their writing

with illustrations and labels ,and presented the results to

their families at a publishing party. The books were later

displayed at the BNC.

Philbrick: Students in grade 5 spent three days on the

coast of Maine at Ferry Beach Ecology School,

investigating ecosystems and learning about

conservation practices such as waste reduction. This

year’s trip had more of a focus on sustainability than in

past years, inspiring the classroom teacher to maintain

that focus back at school. Throughout the year her class

emptied the paper recycling bins and partnered with

students from Boston Latin School to learn about bottled

water and why it’s not sustainable. They were surprised

by the taste test and discovered that the majority of

students couldn’t distinguish tap from bottled water.

The Nature Nook

It’s amazing to watch children’s instincts take over when they

are given a few key ingredients like dirt, water, sticks, and

shovels. Shoes come off, mud squishes between toes, and branch

-stuffed forts pop up around every tree. You hear squeals of

delight as a big bucket of water is emptied, flooding the channels

and leading to another frenzy of dam-building.

Children build significant relationships with nature by playing;

they build, dig, crawl, and create miniature worlds. It is through

these repeated and often self-guided experiences that young

people connect with nature and develop a foundation for

stewardship later in life.

The appeal of the Nature Nook is apparent everyday. During the

summer, many campers would spend all of their ―choice time‖

in the Nature Nook, making up games, building shelters, and

creating economies based on staghorn sumac berries and leaves!

During the year the play area draws new and repeat visitors who

spend hours exploring and playing. The Nature Nook is now

integrated into most field trips for all ages. The range of visitors,

the time spent, and the repeat visits all speak to the depth of

connection children are building with nature in the Nature Nook.

BNC was assisted with the Nature Nook’s conceptual design

along with field tested principles for affective outdoor learning

by Nature Explore. The staff worked closely with landscape

architects from Horizons Design, as well as contractors from

Northeast Landscape Materials, to craft unique spaces that

include digging areas, a stone streambed, and a maze. Nature

combined with the children’s imagination creates an

ever-changing playscape full of adventure!

Summer Camp Snapshot

Songs and laughter, dirty hands and

muddy knees, gardens harvested, trails

hiked, lunches composted - these are a

few of the ways we judge camp as a

success.

Here are a few more…

302 Campers

768 Openings Filled

100% Capacity

59% of Campers received

financial support from BNC

New Leaders In Training

program for ages 14-16

New extended day options

Over 300 hours spent playing and

learning in the Nature Nook

“BNC shouldn’t stand for Boston Nature Center,

instead it should be the Best Nature Camp!”

- 9 year old camper

Thank You TripAdvisor & Boston Cares

Conservation for All Ages

The BNC Teen Ambassadors partnered with the HIP Program from Mass

Audubon’s Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont. Habitat Intergenerational

Program (HIP) is a group that enables persons of many generations to participate

in environmental service projects. This year-long collaboration brought together

two groups with different backgrounds but with one goal: connect visitors with

the environment around them.

Throughout the year, the two groups met to plan and implement a project with

their goal in mind. As they worked together they learned from each other:

seniors shared life experiences, teens mentored younger participants, and teens

from both groups compared notes on their college preparation experiences.

In a fun-filled building session, the group produced six interactive wooden

houses. Three houses were built for the Boston Nature Center’s Nature Nook and

three were built for a trail at Habitat. The houses encourage visitors to stop and

ponder a nature question. Inside the house lays the answer, a seed pod, or an

interesting rock, reminding visitors of the little treasures that can be found when

one stops to look. This exciting year long journey was filmed by Maryanne

Galvin for her upcoming documentary Urban Odyssey.

This spring the Boston Nature Center participated in the sixth annual Birds

and Bards Festival, in collaboration with Arnold Arboretum, Emerald

Necklace Conservancy, Franklin Park Coalition, and Friends of Jamaica

Pond. The festival is a weekend celebration of birds, poetry, and nature with

related programs at each site. BNC has been involved with its planning and

programming since its inception.

More than fifty individuals attended the kick-off event at the BNC, a

screening of the film Ghost Bird, followed by a panel discussion with Joan Ghost Bird, followed by a panel discussion with Joan Ghost Bird

Walsh, Director of Bird Monitoring for Mass Audubon; Pearl Yusuf,

Assistant Curator of Hooves & Horns at Franklin Park Zoo; and Wayne

Klockner, Director of The Nature Conservancy, Massachusetts Program.

This year’s festival also featured Work for Wildlife, Mass Audubon’s state-

wide volunteer day, during which over 200 volunteers spent the morning

pruning and weeding the butterfly garden and orchard, preparing garden beds,

sprucing up the nature play area, and picking up trash on the property.

Birds and Bards Festival

BNC celebrates the completion of the Nature Nook with special thanks to TripAdvisor and Boston Cares. TripAdvisor

provided a gift of $10,000 to purchase needed plants to complete the landscaping for this project. This wonderful

financial gift was combined with a volunteer day in which 125 TripAdvisor associates planted hundreds of trees, shrubs,

and perennials before converging with over 250 associates for a company picnic at BNC.

We are appreciative of Boston Cares’ efforts in organizing this project as well as connecting us with other corporate

groups that carry out needed service projects at BNC.

Program Statistics

School Programs

Pathways to Nature

Everett Elementary School, Dorchester

Haley Elementary Scool, Roslindale

Mason Elementary School, Roxbury

Mission Hill K-8 School, Roxbury

Ohrenberger K-6 School, West Roxbury

Philbrick Elementary School, Roslindale

In partnership with:

Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)

13,773 Children

645 Sessions

Out-of-School Time of-School Time of

Programs

Summer Discoveries

Everett Elementary School, Dorchester

Haley Elementary School, Roslindale

Henderson Elementary School, Dorchester

Irving Middle School, Roslindale

Lyndon K-8 School, West Roxbury

Manning Elementary School, Jamaica Plain

Mason Elementary School, Roxbury

Mattahunt Elementary School, Mattapan

Mission Hill K-8 School, Roxbury

Ohrenberger K-6 School, West Roxbury

Philbrick Elementary School, Roslindale

Pope John Paul II Academy, Dorchester and Mattapan

YMCA West Roxbury

Young Achievers K-8 School, Mattapan

Program participants included: schools, community

centers, churches, childcare centers, YMCA, Boys & Girls

Clubs, libraries, and other private organizations

3,468 Children

214 Sessions

Summer Camp and

School Vacation Weeks

Nine weeks of Summer Camp

Two School Vacation Week Programs

889 Camper Openings

Filled

Public Programs Programs included: Exploring the Night, Tracks & Signs, Nuts

About Squirrels, Nature Play Dates, Trail Detectives’ Club,

Winter Trees & Maple Syrup, ABC’s of Gardening

86 Programs

810 Participants

Special Events and

Fundraisers

Bird-a-thon Birds & Bards Festival

Rappin’ with Raptors

700 Attendees

$12,582 Raised for BNC

Scholarship Fund

Volunteers Projects included: trail resurfacing, tree planting, invasive plant

control, orchard maintenance, garden bed preparation

555 Volunteers

2,308 Hours

Value of Service: $61,469

Year in Review

FY 11 Income

Program Income

Mass Audubon

$76,515 Facility Rentals

Endowment

Income

$290,353

29%

$462,466

46%

Buildings, Grounds,

Maintenance, Insurance

$103,729

14%

Community Outreach

$118,094

11%11%

Fundraising, Fundraising,

General Administration General Administration

$213,956

18%

Educational

Programs and Staffing

$570,839 $570,839

57%

FY 11 Expenses

The Boston Nature Center’s annual budget for FY 2011 totaled $1,006,618. The charts below identify the major income

and expense categories (unaudited). BNC operated within the budget projections and secured the necessary income to

meet its expenses. As indicated in the Gifts and Grants category (representing 46% of our income), BNC’s success to

deliver programs to the Boston Public Schools and other community programs is dependent upon effective fundraising

to meet ambitious goals. In keeping with BNC’s commitment to access and inclusion, state vouchers are accepted and

many programs are offered on a sliding scale basis. We are extremely grateful to BNC’s family of friends and funders

who generously support our vision to engage Boston residents in conservation and stewardship of this precious resource.

Program Income

$161,836

16%

8%Facility Rentals

$15,448

2%

Endowment

Income

$290,353

29%

Gifts and Grants

INDIVIDUAL DONORS and

DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS

Anita Adelson

James & Mary Adelstein/Mary T.

& S. James Adelstein Charitable

Fund

Irfan Ali & William Coady

Michael J. & Elisa S. Anderson

Sandra L. Anderson & Meg

Wallace

Anonymous (3)

Jean S. Bamforth

Christopher Barber

Matthew Barber

Peter & Marygrace Barber

Robert Barber & Bonnie Neilen

Jacob Barnett

Jessica Bell & Doug Reichgott

George H. & Margot P. Bixby

Nora Bloch & Charles Jones

Robert M. Bloom & Christina

Jameson

Victoria Bok & Dick Jones

Nelson E. & Alice M. Bolen

William Boyce

George C. & Prilla Smith Brackett

Matthew Brackett & Karley

Ausiello

Julie Brandlen

Nannette C. Braucher

Anne & Peter Brooke

Brian A. & Betty Brooks

Glenn Bubley

Lila Bucklin

Lalor & Patricia N. Burdick

Carey Butlien

Heather Buzby

Catherine M. Campbell & Jack W.

Orrock

Katherine Catlin

Jennifer Charles

Pamela A. Chatis

Annie Chen

Shruti Cherian

Karen & Larry Chretien

Tracy & Richard Coller

Bruce & Leah Conner

John Coppola

Maria Coppola

Joseph & Susan Coppola

Susanne Coppola

Peter Creighton/Peter H. Creighton

Charitable Gift Fund

Guthery Crim

Dr. Modestino & Mrs. Nancy

Criscitiello/Criscitiello Family

Fund

Spencer R. Day & Lois F. Brown

Dave Demerjian & Ethan Brackett

Marion Devokaitis

Lawrence DiCara

Joan H. & Kevin Donahue

Jean Dorcus

Anne Drolet & Kate Spokes

Jacqueline Durgin

Marcus Eichenberg

Ellen L. Elcock

Eleni Eliades

Alexander Ellis III

Robert D. & Jeanette Emerson

Gerald Fitzgerald

James Fitzgerald

Nancy R. & Joseph B. Fitzgerald

Rodman K. & Elsa Forter

Barbara & Martin Francis

Hannah Franklin

Kate Frazer & Marc J. Devokaitis

Sarah E. Freeman & Sam

Sherwood

Gretchen Friend

Dr. Matthew Friese & Alicia

Svenson

Richard Frisbie

Boston Nature Center is grateful for the support of its many donors

LEADERSHIP FRIENDS

BNC is pleased to recognize as Leadership Friends the following

families and individuals who have, through personal or donor-

advised funds, provided leadership-level gifts in support of BNC.

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.

Irfan Ali & William Coady

Sandra L. Anderson & Meg Wallace

Peter & Marygrace Barber

Anne & Peter Brooke

Brian A. & Betty Brooks

Catherine M. Campbell & Jack W. Orrock

Peter Creighton/Peter H. Creighton Charitable Gift Fund

Dr. Modestino & Mrs. Nancy Criscitiello/Criscitiello Family Fund

Lorna Gibson & Jean Hess

Bruce M. Hauben & Joyce M. Brinton/Helen G. Hauben Foundation

Barbara Herzstein/Sigmund E. and Barbara B. Herzstein Fund

Stephen B. Kay/The Aquidneck Foundation

Pamela Kohlberg & Curt Greer/Pamela Kohlberg Fund

Virginia Maloney Lawrence

George & Ann Macomber

Elizabeth & Raymond McAfoose/Gilbert H. Hood Family Fund

Mary & Elijah Moran/Mary C. Moran Fund

Deborah Putnam/Nathaniel and Elizabeth P. Stevens Foundation

Nicolas & Sheila Smithie/Smithie Family Fund

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 Rick Arnaud at 781.259.2149.

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.

Anonymous (1)

Associated Grant Makers Inc./The Summer Fund

Beacon Hill Garden Club

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

BNY Mellon CityACCESS Charitable Giving Program through the

generosity of the Arthur F. Blanchard Trust

Children’s Investment Fund

City of Boston

Josephine and Louise Crane Foundation

Garden Club of the Back Bay, Inc.

GE Foundation

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Northeast Landscape Materials

Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust

Howard Gerrin & Florence

Rosenberg

Ernestine A. Gianelly

Lorna Gibson & Jean Hess

Mildred Glass

Eric Goldman

Guido Goldman

Dr. Sarah Gordon

Mike Goudzwaard

Pat Grant

Deborah Greene

Jan Hamilton

Kathlyn Hanas

Jane Hans

Jeanne B. Hanson

Norma Harrington

Bruce M. Hauben & Joyce M.

Brinton/Helen G. Hauben

Foundation

Evelyn Hausslein

John A. & Rosalie Hermos

Barbara Herzstein/Sigmund E. and

Barbara B. Herzstein Fund

David M. & Cynthia C. Hill

Abby Hird

Thomas J. Hollister

Ogden Hunnewell

William Hunt

Karen Ingalls-Epstein

Carolyn Ingles

Douglas C. & Elizabeth G.

Johnson

Richard E. & Sandra A. Johnson

Pamela John-Waryas

Alun G. Jones & Anne

Serrell-Jones

Carole R. Jorgenson

James Kaemmerlen & Mary Clarke

Mary Lou Kaufman

Nancy E. Kaufman

Stephen B. Kay/The Aquidneck

Foundation

Michael Kazenel & Susan Paula

Caplan

Pamela Kohlberg & Curt Greer/

Pamela Kohlberg Fund

Dana Kowalchyk

Virginia Maloney Lawrence

Susan Leary

Judith Lennett & Helen Horigan

Sue Lotke

Jill Loui

Maggie Lund

Johanna Lynch

Andrew & Elizabeth MacBlane

Rebecca L. MacBlane

Robert MacBlane

George & Ann Macomber

Polly & John Malcolm

June Martin & Laurie Appleby

Anna Martineau & Aaron

Osowiecki

Elizabeth & Raymond McAfoose/

Gilbert H. Hood Family Fund

Marie & Paul McDonough

John McLean

Ryann McQuilton

Mary Meehan

John E. & Kathleen Meserve

Lauren Meserve

Martha Meserve

Pamela Meserve

Georgia Metz

Carole & Linda Miller

Stephanie Miller

Pat Mirageas

Errin Mixon

Maria & Toni Montez Rath

Ana Patricia Montoya

Betty Moore

John Moot

Mary & Elijah Moran/Mary C.

Moran Fund

Paul Morgan

Philip Morgan

Sandra Morones

Hellen Morse

Kathryn Cochrane Murphy

Mary & Ken Nelson

Marjorie Nichols

Nancy Noga

Michael & Kristin O'Connor

Clare O'Donoghue

Kathleen O'Neill

Linda & Whitfield Painter, Jr.

Carol S. Parks/Sawyer Charitable

Foundation

Mary Anne Petti

Chris Phillips

Rebecca Pierce & Michael

Prokosch

Lisa Price

Richard F. & Margaret G. Puffer Jr

Deborah Putnam/Nathaniel and

Elizabeth P. Stevens Foundation

David Randall & Judith A.

Jarashow

Brock C. & Polly C. Reeve

Audrey Riley

Edward S. & Ann Ritchie

Lizabeth Roemer

Catherine Ryan

J. B. Sapienza

Dr. Harriet Scheft & Jonathan

Brandon

Alan & Susan Schlesinger

David & Janet Seeley

Annemarie Selvitelli

Andrei & Irina Shishov

Ellen Simons

Robin Sleith

Courtneay A. Small

Isabel B. Smith

Nicolas & Sheila Smithie/Smithie

Family Fund

Mary H. Smoyer

Lee & Judith R. Spelke

Wade Staniar

Mark Steck

Ed & Margaret Stedman

Ernest & Marcia Stern

Laurie Sumski

Charles & Sally Svenson

Melony Swasey

Benjamin Taylor

James Taylor

Lindsay Tourijigian

Tahina Trias-Lizama

Kim Van Dyke

David Van Ness Taylor & Susie

Sargent

Daniel & Abra Verinder

Christopher Weber

Michael & Barbara Weinblatt

Sheryl White

Barbara Widett

Jodie Wigren

Kim Wilson

Kristin M. Wilson

Linda Wilson

Ross & Lesia Barbara Wilson

Jeff & Martha Winokur

Mary E. & Kristen Wyman

Peter Wyman

Heidi Xenophontos

Jerry & Linda Zindler

INSTITUTIONAL FUNDERS

American Alarm

Anonymous (1)

Associated Grant Makers Inc./The

Summer Fund

Beacon Hill Garden Club

Black River Architects, Inc.

BNC Sanctuary Committee

BNY Mellon CityACCESS

Charitable Giving Program

through the generosity of the

Arthur F. Blanchard Trust

Boston Party Rental

City Farm & Florist

City of Boston

The Copper & Slate Company Inc.

Josephine and Louise Crane

Foundation

The Davis Companies

DC Beane and Assoc. Construction

Co.

DS Graphics

Energy Consumers Alliance of

New England

Exotic Flowers

Feinberg, Campbell & Zack P.C.

Garden Club of the Back Bay, Inc.

GE Foundation

Google, Inc.

GunnDesign

Halvorson Design Partnership, Inc.

Harry R. Feldman, Inc.

Hartney Greymount

Jet-A-Way, Inc.

John B. Cruz Construction Co.,

Inc.

Lesley College

Mass. Mutual Life Insurance Co.

Massachusetts Clean Energy

Center

Massachusetts Department of

Elementary & Secondary

Education

Mass Energy Consumers Alliance

New Boston Fund, Inc.

Norel Service Company, Inc.

Northeast Landscape Materials

Northstar Mechanical Inc.

Penshorn Roofing Company, Inc.

Harold Whitworth Pierce

Charitable Trust

ServiceMaster Of Neponset Bay

Voice Systems Inc.

Boston Nature Center is grateful for the support of its many donors

BNC extends a special thank

you to Eduardo del Solar, who

generously allowed use of his

many wildlife photos in this

and other publications.

Mohamed Abdulrahman, Property Worker, Jamaica Plain

Julie Brandlen, Anne and Peter Brooke Director, Jamaica Plain

Irma Cambara, Receptionist, Mattapan

Jean Dorcus, Education Manager, Boston

Ben Driscoll, Teacher Naturalist, Roslindale

Jaimy George, Teacher Naturalist, West Roxbury

Marilyn Jean-Nazaire, Haley Afterschool Director, Hyde Park

Timothy Juba, Caretaker, Mattapan

Erin Kelly, Education Coordinator, West Roxbury

Andrew MacBlane, Teacher Naturalist, Somerville

Angelo Paul, Property Manager, Mattapan

Erica Quigley, Teacher Naturalist, Jamaica Plain

Kylee Wilson, Office Manager, Charlestown

Rosemary Anderson, Norwood

Laurie Appleby, West Roxbury

Catherine Campbell, Roslindale

Jennifer Charles, Medford

Melvin Feliciano, Roslindale

Bruce Fulford, Roslindale

Martha Heath, Jamaica Plain

Jocelyn Heywood, Milton

Maria Higgins, Vice Chair, Mattapan

Jim Hill, Marshfield

Betsy Johnson, Clerk, Boston

Nadvady Rosa, Roslindale

Charlene Ross, Boston

Pat Spence, Dorchester

Kimberly Van Dyke, Dorchester

Meg Wallace, Chair, Roslindale

Sonny Washington, Dorchester

Karen Weaver, Boston

Boston Nature Center Staff Sanctuary Committee

Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center

500 Walk Hill Street

Mattapan, MA 02126

617-983-8500

www.massaudubon.org/bostonwww.massaudubon.org/boston

Volunteer Spotlight: Karen First

Karen has been a vigilant volunteer working in the BNC Butterfly Garden!

Just as important to tending to the plants in the butterfly garden has been

Karen’s stewardship of the monarch butterflies. Throughout the summer

camp season, Karen brought in monarch eggs on milkweed plants and set

the plants up in homemade enclosures with netting. Campers, families, and

staff watched in awe as the eggs hatched and the caterpillars grew,

eventually completing their transformation to butterflies before our eyes. No

one can believably describe the transformation that the monarch undergoes

from caterpillar to pupa. It was a fascinating experience for all of us. The

summer culminated with the Butterfly Bon Voyage program, in which

monarchs were tagged and released to begin their journey to Mexico. A

special thanks to Karen and the monarchs for sharing their summer with us.