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Audubon's 2020 Vision:
Environmental Education Centers Reach Every Corner of North Carolina

Evening Grosbeak © Ray Raymond

Education has always been central to the mission of the National Audubon Society. As we enter the 21st century, Audubon working throughout the nation on a newly invigorated program of environmental education. We envision that by the year 2020, over one thousand communities across the nation will support an Audubon Nature Center where families, school children, adults, and community leaders discover amazing birds, wildlife and habitats right in their own backyards and learn from hands-on, real life experiences.

Our goal is to have one in every four school children in North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast, from every socioeconomic group, inner city, and underserved community, visit an Audubon Center. We want each of these children to have an experience with nature that opens their eyes, stirs their heart, and instills the value of conserving wild places and living things. We will position Audubon to become the standard for site-based environmental education and be the leading advocate for environmental education in schools and communities.

Audubon Centers in North Carolina will be part of a national network of centers that have access to the latest curricula and the most talented educators. With dozens of centers and camps already operating from East Los Angeles to the wilds of south Florida, Audubon is working hard to establish North Carolina's first Audubon Centers. Stay tuned!