named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Bird Chat
Twice-monthly Zoom gatherings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays featuring birding discussions, photo sharing, and guest speakers from the Lower Hudson birding community.
Larry Light Youth Scholarship
Provides support for youth and adults to pursue summer environmental studies; awarded annually with a recipient presentation at the Annual Dinner.
Lunetta Explorer Bags
Free nature exploration kits available at 12+ Westchester libraries, containing binoculars and activity tools to encourage outdoor discovery for children and adults.
Monthly Bird Walks
Guided birding walks at Westchester County hotspots including Croton Point Park, Rockefeller State Park, and Marshlands Conservancy, limited to 25 participants with advance registration.
Nature Book Club
Discussion group focused on nature and conservation literature, with past selections including works by Rachel Carson, Barry Lopez, and Elizabeth Kolbert.
Youth Education Programs
Classroom and field trip programs for students, including "Westchester Birds," "Raptors for Rookies," and pond studies at Pinecliff Sanctuary, with free trips supported by state funding.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 3 activities
- Deliver environmental education programs to schools and community groupsProvides hands-on classroom programs about local birds, mammals, and habitats, and offers guided student field trips at Pinecliff Sanctuary featuring seasonal walks and pond studies with live specimens. Also offers free Audubon-guided field trips to Rockefeller State Park Preserve with transportation reimbursement through New York’s Connect Kids to Parks program.
- Host virtual and in-person educational programs on birds and natureHosts biweekly Zoom Bird Chats on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, monthly Share Nights for photo and sighting sharing, and guest speaker sessions. These virtual events attract over 70 participants on average and are recorded and shared on YouTube. Also provides in-person and Zoom presentations for libraries and community groups.
- Organize birding field trips and regional outingsOffers free year-round birding field trips, including monthly bird walks at key hotspots in Westchester County, pop-up trips to regional locations, and special events such as the Hook Mountain Hawk Watch. Trips are open to the public with some requiring advance registration and limited to 25 participants.
-
-
Library of Things Lending 1 activity
- Distribute nature exploration kits through public librariesMakes Lunetta Explorer Bags available for free checkout at twelve to thirteen public libraries in Westchester County. Each bag contains binoculars, field guides, and nature exploration tools to support hands-on learning and outdoor engagement.
-
-
Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Engage volunteers in wildlife and habitat conservation effortsRecruits and involves volunteers in activities supporting birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, including field monitoring, education, and stewardship initiatives.
-
-
Youth Outdoor & Conservation Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Fund youth environmental education through scholarship programsOffers scholarships to youth ages 13–17 to support participation in environmental camps, workshops, or classes. Has supported over 160 youth and adults through scholarship funding over more than 65 years, including recognition at the annual dinner.
-
-
Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Host annual member dinner with educational and community programmingHosts an annual dinner event featuring open seating, a potluck buffet, organizational updates, a slideshow of recent projects, a raffle, and a presentation by the recipient of the Larry Light Youth Scholarship. Includes special guest programs, such as an author talk on urban birding.
-
-
Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Host nature-themed book clubOrganizes and facilitates an ongoing book club focused on books related to ecology, conservation, and natural history, fostering community discussion around environmental themes.
-
-
Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Operate sanctuaries for public education and environmental protectionManages sanctuaries including Brinton Brook Sanctuary in Croton, where it hosts monthly Second Saturday Walks and other educational programming to promote public engagement with wildlife and conservation.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$326K
Contributions & grants$116K36%
Program service revenue$109K34%
Investment income$92K28%
Other revenue$9K
expenses
Total expenses$329K
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead29%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$114K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.72M
Cash$26K
Investments$1.45M
Liabilities$6K
Net assets$1.71M
Liquid reserves54.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 22
- CARY ANDREWS — DIRECTOR
- DEBBIE VAN ZYL — DIRECTOR
- ERIK ANDERSEN — PRESIDENT
- GINGER BERNARDIN — DIRECTOR
- JEAN SPARACIN — DIRECTOR
- JENNIFER STERN — DIRECTOR
- KARA MASON — DIRECTOR
- KATHLEEN WILLIAMSON — DIRECTOR
- KEN NOVENSTERN — DIRECTOR
- LARRY TRACHTENBERG — DIRECTOR
- LYNN SALMON — TREASURER
- MARK MAGEL — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL MADIAS JR — DIRECTOR
- MITCHELL GOLDFARB — DIRECTOR
- PHILIP HEIDELBERGER — DIRECTOR
- RICHARD SARAVAY — DIRECTOR
- STEVE RAPPAPORT — DIRECTOR
- SUZANNE KAVIC — VICE-PRESIDENT
- THOMAS MCENERNEY — DIRECTOR
- THOMAS RUTH — DIRECTOR
- VALERIE LYLE — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM KELLNER — SECRETARY
relationships · 11
Who they work with
- Birding clubs Partner — Partners with birding clubs to offer birding workshops.
- Chappaqua Library Partner — Collaborated with Saw Mill River Audubon to launch the Mr. Lunetta’s Explorer Bag project.
- Light family Partner — Established the Larry Light Memorial Scholarship Fund for Youth in 1981.
- Michael Madias, Jr. Partner — Leads Second Saturday Walks at Brinton Brook Sanctuary as SMRA Sanctuaries Chair.
- New York State Government — Partner in the Connect Kids to Parks program, which funds free guided field trips and reimburses bus costs.
- New York State Bird Chat Discord Network — Connects with statewide birding reports through the New York State Bird Chat Discord.
- Other Audubon chapters Partner — Collaborates with other Audubon chapters to deliver birding workshops.
- Rockefeller State Park Preserve Partner — Hosts Connect Kids to Park field trips in partnership with Saw Mill River Audubon.
- The Center at Mariandale Partner — Venue host for the 2026 Annual Dinner.
- Westchester County Libraries Partner — Distributes Lunetta Explorer Bags through a network of twelve local libraries for public checkout.
- YouTube Partner — Platform used to share recorded Zoom events and nature programming.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Engagement and Inclusionmethodology: community-engaged-birdingBy lowering barriers to participation—through equipment lending, inclusive event design, virtual access, and partnerships with community institutions—we expand engagement in birding and conservation because accessible, welcoming experiences cultivate broader and more diverse stewardship.
- Education as a Pathway to Conservationmethodology: education-for-conservationBy promoting learning about birds, wildlife, and ecological interconnectedness through place-based, literature-integrated, and classroom programming, we foster stewardship and drive habitat protection because understanding nature inspires conservation action.
- Youth Empowerment Through Targeted Scholarshipsmethodology: environmental leadership multiplierBy awarding merit-based scholarships to environmentally engaged youth who demonstrate leadership potential, we multiply conservation impact because these individuals extend their learning into communities, schools, and workplaces, creating ripple effects in environmental awareness and action.