IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO KEEP A REFUGE...
As we close out our 60th year in 2025, we reflect on one of our most impactful and transformative years yet, made possible by the generosity of supporters like you.
Our team has worked tirelessly to turn your support into meaningful achievements that expand access to nature and outdoor learning. Our new Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Kristen Buck has connected with communities across Maine, attending dozens of outreach events that introduce more people to the wonders of nature. Program Director Brianna Guy reached hundreds of children this year through day camps and school field trips, led citizen science activities, guided paddles and walks, and served as our Traveling Naturalist, bringing environmental education directly to schools and community groups. Refuge Manager Howard Corbett has improved trails, bridged wet areas, maintained gear and facilities, and collaborated with University of Maine Construction Engineering Technology students to build a large screened pavilion, tripling the Refuge’s capacity for outdoor programs.
These dedicated staff members, and the many others behind the scenes, bring Hirundo’s mission to life every day, connecting people with nature in meaningful ways.
Paired with supporters like you, Hirundo continues to thrive, inspiring and educating more people every day. We are deeply grateful for your commitment.
Keep reading to learn more about the impact you helped us make this year, and
we’ll see you outdoors!
Donate online through the button above
Venmo @hirundo-wildlife
Mail Checks:
Hirundo Wildlife Trust
PO Box 266
Orono, Maine 04473
EIN: 01-0359948
Donate through Donor Advised Funds
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 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!
