named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Dry Brook Valley Flora Study
Comparative flora project covering the entire Dry Brook watershed, recording plant species distribution and supporting long-term ecological monitoring.
Environmental Education and Interpretation
Public outreach through guided hikes, species identification, and ecological knowledge sharing led by volunteer naturalists.
Flora of the Michael Kudish Natural History Preserve
Comprehensive botanical inventory documenting bryophytes, ferns, conifers, dicots, and monocots within the preserve watershed, with detailed species records and geographic annotations.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
- Environmental education programsOffers educational programs on natural history, ecosystems, plant and fungi identification, edible and medicinal plants, forest history, human impacts on ecosystems, and clean drinking water protection, serving students and the public through field visits, hikes, and structured curricula.
- Public outreach and community engagement eventsHosts annual events such as "A Month in the Woods" and community gatherings that foster public connection with natural seasonal cycles, including educational hikes, theater festivals, and arts programming.
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Art Appreciation and Public Engagement 1 activity
- Arts integration and cultural programmingSupports artists and integrates art into natural history interpretation through the Outdoor Art Program, CHAOS!A Theater Festival, Page to Stage events, and interpretive performances that enhance public understanding of human relationships with nature.
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
- Coordination of conservation and research effortsCoordinates and stimulates collaboration among individuals and organizations focused on clean drinking water, forest history, and ecological diversity preservation in the Catskill Mountain Region.
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Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 1 activity
- Provision of primitive shelter and overnight accommodationsProvides primitive temporary shelter on the Preserve for scientists, historians, artists, and the public, including historically appropriate structures such as lean-tos, wigwams, longhouses, and log cabins to support field study and immersive experiences.
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Scientific research on natural history and ecosystemsConducts long-term, field-based research on Catskill Mountain bogs, forest history since the end of the Ice Age, flora and fauna inventories, bryophytes, fungi, and ecological patterns, including studies of Indigenous land use, summit fir caps, and peat formation dynamics.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Stewardship of protected natural landStewards 101 acres of permanently protected land in the Catskill Mountains to support biologically rich and diverse flora and fauna, maintaining ecological integrity and providing access for education and recreation.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$53K
Contributions & grants$43K82%
Program service revenue$3K5%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$55K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$35K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$47K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$47K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -26.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID J TURAN | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $33K |
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- Catskill Fungi Partner — Collaborates on hikes focused on fungal identification and ecological education.
- Community Foundation of South Central New York Funder — Provides funding for the Page to Stage program.
- Confederated Tribes of Siletz Partner — Quotes Grandmother Alice Baker Pilgrim, a Takelma Indian Elder of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, indicating a values-based connection or partnership.
- David J. Turan Partner — Artist who created the "Soundings Series" and "Windhawk 1" featured in the Outdoor Art Program.
- Dine'a Rose Partner — Artist who created the artwork "Owl Momma" featured in the Outdoor Art Program.
- Ekaterina Smirnova Partner — Artist who has spent time annually on the preserve and participated in the Outdoor Art Program.
- Goldenheart Unidiversity Farm Partner — Collaborative geographic inclusion in flora study; the Preserve's flora inventory includes areas draining through this farm.
- Jake DeNicola Partner — Cinematographer who collaborated on documenting trail maps and Preserve features.
- Mid-Hudson Mycological Association Partner — Engages in joint educational activities including hikes and lectures on mycology.
- Mountain Top Arboretum Partner — Collaborated on research at Emerald Bog, where joint efforts led to the discovery of 14,900-year-old vegetative fossils.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides funding support through the Delaware County Arts Grants regrant program.
- PayPal Partner — Payment processing partner used to complete donation transactions.
- Radical Convergence Partner — Delivers lectures on fungi and health topics.
- Robison Broadhurst Foundation Funder — Provides funding for the Page to Stage program.
- Roxbury Arts Group Partner — Administers Delaware County Arts Grants funding for the Page to Stage program.
- Stewart's Holiday Match Funder — Provides funding for the Page to Stage program.
- The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O'Connor Foundation Funder — Provided a generous grant that the preserve matched in support of the Sense of Place Workshop.
strategies · 5
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.
- Art as a Catalyst for Ecological Engagementmethodology: arts-for-environmental-engagementBy using visual and performing arts in natural settings, the organization inspires shifts in human worldview and motivates environmental action because artistic engagement creates emotional resonance with ecological systems in ways that analytical methods alone cannot achieve.
- Community Engagement Through Seasonal Stewardshipmethodology: community-based-environmental-stewardshipBy aligning community events with natural seasonal cycles, the organization strengthens local stewardship because recurring, rhythmically timed participation fosters ongoing connection to the land and shared responsibility for its care.
- Interdisciplinary Integration of Education, Art, and Researchmethodology: interdisciplinary-conservation-educationBy integrating education, artistic expression, and scientific research, the organization fosters deeper public understanding and stewardship of natural ecosystems because multi-modal engagement strengthens connection to place and promotes holistic ecological literacy.
- Long-Term, Systems-Based Ecological Researchmethodology: long-term-ecological-researchBy building on decades of prior research and using methods like bog coring and radiocarbon analysis, the organization generates robust understanding of forest and wetland dynamics because sustained, integrated scientific inquiry reveals patterns of ecological change over time.
- Place-Based and Experiential Ecological Educationmethodology: experiential-education-with-ecological-stewardshipBy using the preserve as a living classroom and leveraging its trail system and long-term research history, the organization builds ecological literacy and stewardship because direct, place-based experience fosters meaningful understanding of forest ecosystems and human-nature relationships.