Nature Forward Inc

ANS INSPIRES RESIDENTS OF THE DC REGION TO APPRECIATE, UNDERSTAND, AND PROTECT THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. ANS SEEKS TO CREATE A LARGER AND MORE DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO TREASURE THE NATURAL WORLD AND WORK TO PRESERVE IT.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AUDUBON NATURALIST SOCIETYS EDUCATIONAL MISSION IS TO NURTURE A LIFETIME OF OUTDOOR DISCOVERY, EXPLORATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURE FOR PEOPLE IN THE WASHINGTON, DC METRO REGION. AUDUBON NATURALIST SOCIETY CONNECTS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF ALL AGES TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ACTIVELY CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. THROUGH OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAMS WE REACH MORE THAN 14,000 CHILDREN EACH YEAR WITH CLASSROOM VISITS, SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, A LICENSED PRESCHOOL, AND SUMMER CAMPS. OUR GREENKIDS PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGES COUNTIES IN MARYLAND, LOUDON COUNTY IN VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TEACHERS. OUR CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS EDUCATE AND TRAIN MORE THAN 2,000 ADULTS ANNUALLY IN NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION TOPICS. OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS WORK TO REACH FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIESNEAR WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, AND GO TO SCHOOLAND CONNECT THEM TO NEARBY NATURE THROUGH ENGAGING, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND TRAININGS. WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SANCTUARIES THE AUDUBON NATURALIST SOCIETY MAINTAINS TWO NATURE SANCTUARIES: OUR HEADQUARTERS 40-ACRE WOODEND SANCTUARY IN CHEVY CHASE, MD AND OUR 68-ACRE RUST SANCTUARY IN LEESBURG, VA. ANS PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC ACCESS TO OUR SANCTUARIES AND INVITES PEOPLE TO ENJOY OUR TRAILS, INCLUDING A NEW WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAIL AT WOODEND. THE SANCTUARIES PROTECT CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITATS IN THE DC METRO REGION AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO DISCOVER AND APPRECIATE THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH SELF-GUIDED AND NATURALIST-LED EXPERIENCES. ANS SANCTUARIES EDUCATE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SERVE AS GATHERING PLACES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSES AND PROVIDE A HUB FOR ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PRESERVE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA. ANS ACTIVELY WORKS TO RESTORE THE HABITATS AT ITS NATURE SANCTUARIES. THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY ACTION NETWORK, MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT AND TAKE GRASSROOTS ACTION WITH ANS ANNUALLY TO PROTECT NATURE IN THE DC REGION.

ANS HAS THE ANNUAL SUPPORT OF MORE THAN 2152 ACTIVE MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 6,500 INDIVIDUALS IN THE DC METRO REGION. MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN ANS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, SUPPORT CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THROUGH GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT IN MANY CAPACITIES. ANNUALLY, MORE THAN 350 PEOPLE VOLUNTEER FOR THE SOCIETY BY SERVING ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES, MONITORING THE WATER QUALITY OF LOCAL STREAMS, MAINTAINING, AND RESTORING NATURE FORWARD SANCTUARIES, LEADING NATURE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, REPRESENTING NATURE FORWARD AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, SUPPORTING OFFICE FUNCTIONS, AND TESTIFYING AT PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THE AUDUBON NATURALIST SOCIETY CONSERVATION PROGRAM WORKS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE THROUGH ADVOCACY AND POLICY ACROSS FOUR PRIORITY AREAS IN THE DC METRO REGION: HUMAN HEALTH & ACCESS TO NATURE; BIODIVERSITY & HABITATS; THE CLIMATE CRISIS; AND SUSTAINABLE LAND USE. ANSS CONSERVATION OUTREACH BRINGS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER TO COLLECT DATA ON LOCAL FLORA, FAUNA AND STREAM HEALTH AND THEN USES THAT DATA TO ADVOCATE FOR PRESERVATION OF OUR REGIONS SPECIAL NATURAL PLACES. EACH YEAR WE TRAIN AND MOBILIZE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION AS MONITORS, STEWARDS AND ADVOCATES OF OUR PRECIOUS ENVIRONMENT.