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

Education has always been central to the mission of the National Audubon Society. As we enter the 21^st 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!

Audubon Adventures

In an effort to compliment our chapters' and members' dedication to environmental education, the North Carolina State Office is creating the 2nd edition of Audubon Adventures focused solely on North Carolina. With the state-specific companion, students will learn about the birds, other wildlife and habitat found in their own backyards. Imagine how exciting it will be for them to recognize the birds and habitats covered in their companion, and then observe changes throughout the year and for years to come.

Some of the exciting learning possibilities that the NC Audubon Adventures Companion offers kids and teachers include:

• Reinforcing that North Carolina's natural resources are an important, diverse and a vital part of broader themes covered in Audubon Adventures--it really hits home.
• Teaching that conservation begins in your own backyard and schoolyard.
• Giving teachers a North Carolina resource.
• Enhancing Adventures-related field trips and birding in the schoolyard.

Equally exciting as well as satisfying is what the companion says about North Carolina Audubon's commitment to environmental education. We are one of only a few states to have a new state-specific Adventures companion created. North Carolina is helping set the tone for future state-specific editions. We are delighted to share with members of the Audubon family our efforts in expanding our education programs, as well as the benefits of collaboration in education.

The North Carolina companion to Audubon Adventures will make this excellent program an even more exciting and effective learning experience for our kids.

To order Audubon Adventures and the NC companion, call Audubon's North Carolina State Office for more information!

National Audubon Society
North Carolina Coast Office
7741 Market Street, Unit D
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 686-7527