IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO KEEP A REFUGE...
It was a banner year for Hirundo, thanks to community support!
At this season for giving thanks, Hirundo proudly acknowledges the brilliant work being done by our new staff members: Program Director Brianna Guy, Refuge Manager Howard Corbett, and Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Caroline Clemmer, alongside our dedicated Social Media Assistant Elizabeth Brennan. They are expanding our educational programs and recreational opportunities, spiffing up trail conditions and facilities, and creating exciting community engagement initiatives.
This year, we also welcomed four new trustees: Laura Lewis (Maine Master Naturalist), Judy Walker (Maine Master Naturalist), Robert Pomeroy (Central High School social studies teacher), and Sophie LaPlante student trustee at the University of Maine.
Highlights of the year include our 2nd annual Earth Day Meet a Scientist event that saw record attendance, our nature-themed day camp weeks, Central High School summer credit recovery outdoors program, Central High School's teacher training program in outdoor education, and our 5th annual Fall Fest. Many community members enjoyed the ever-popular guided paddles and self-guided free use of boats on Saturdays as well as fun themed programs and guided walks. Hirundo continues to serve as a living laboratory for education and research at all academic levels with ongoing collaborations with the University of Maine community and a new partnership with Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a Golden Eagle Study location.
Without the ongoing support of the community we serve, Hirundo could not achieve its mission: To enjoy, understand and protect Hirundo’s natural and cultural environment for the mutual well-being of our human and wildlife communities. A small nonprofit with big dreams, we rely on individuals who share our passion for the great outdoors to support us as well as the businesses who provide sponsorships and foundations awarding grants.
A donation of any size is most welcome. Your contribution, be it $50, $100, or more, will play a pivotal role in meeting the burgeoning demand for our programming, catering to kids of all ages. Every dollar you contribute holds immense value and is deeply appreciated. If you would like to contribute to a gift of equipment that we need to serve the public, please see our wish list below.
Next year's goals include: hosting February + April Kid's camps, summer internships to support our growing program and outreach needs, and new exciting partnerships including with Maine Wildlife Rehabilitation.
Donate online via PayPal or Venmo @hirundo-wildlife
OR Mail Checks:
Hirundo Wildlife Trust
PO Box 266
Orono, Maine 04473
HIRUNDO'S WISH LIST
Cleaning out your attic, garage? We're currently accepting donations of the following gently used items. Or click the links to donate a newly purchased item.
Protective Gear:
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Toddler Life Jacket 30-40 lbs $32
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Child Life Jacket 30-50 lbs $32
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Kids life jacket 50-90 lbs $32
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Fly Net Hats $21 for 6
Opticals:
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Telescope $96
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Mini Microscopes $50 for 4
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Spotting scope $280
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Magnifying glasses $18 for 8
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Trail Cameras
Camp + Field Items:
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Sibley Backyard birds pocket guide $70 for 10
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Kneeling/Sitting Pads $45 for 20
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Lap White Boards for Kids $30 for 25
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Kid's Backpacks
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Miscellaneous Kids + Adult Nature Books for our Free Lending Library at Gate 1
Facilities:
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10 X 15 pop up canopy with sides $200
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Picnic tables- plastic top tables with 4 benches $200
Got something else you'd like to donate? Email us: info@hirundomaine.org
WHY SUPPORT HIRUNDO?
KIDS IN NATURE
We believe all can benefit from spending time in nature, but in particular we focus heavily on getting children outside, so that instead of logging an average of five to seven hours of sedentary screen time per day, they develop lifelong a passion for the great outdoors.
When youngsters come to Hirundo for a visit, either on a school field trip or as day campers, we see them build a love for nature and an understanding of the need to protect it.
1,000+ Kids in Nature
5 Field Trips
4 Day Camp Weeks
Girl Scout Enrichment Programs
Homeschool Learning Opportunities
Summer Credit Recovery Program for Central High School
“Our girls absolutely love the Hirundo
camps! They are such an amazing mix of outdoor adventure, learning, and exploring. They look forward to the Hirundo camps every time they are available! Thank You”
- Parent
“We learned so much about the birds around us and enjoyed being out in nature. Students loved the touch tank and looking through the magnifying glasses at the different aquatic creatures. The HUGE bullfrog was incredible to see, too. Our students loved walking on the trails and finding salamanders. For a lot of our students, they have never experienced nature this way before. Hirundo's staff was incredibly patient and understanding with the various needs of our students. It was a wonderful experience for all.”
- Elementary School Teacher
LIVING LABORATORY + PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
We continue to work closely with University of Maine faculty, researchers, and students serving as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom for a wide variety of disciplines. We thank the Construction Engineering Technology Senior Class for re-grading our road at Gate 3!
We are grateful also for the ongoing contributions of the Wildlife Society at UMaine in monitoring and repairing bird nesting boxes.
Hirundo also serves as a partner with Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a Golden Eagle Study location.
Kids in Nature Promotional Video
This short video was created by UMaine Honors College Students Luke Valleli, Olivia Britton, Kathryn Gatewood, and Nicholas Seams.
CONSERVATION
We continue to maintain our dedication to wildlife by improving their habitats at the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. Annually, we work to remove invasive species from our conserved wild lands and foster the growth of native plants.
We thank the dozens of volunteers who spent many hours supporting our efforts.
THANK YOU!
