named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring Program
Volunteer-led initiative to monitor and maintain bluebird nest boxes, supported by annual sponsorships that fund materials and predator protection
Community Science Programs
Engages volunteers in wildlife data collection and observation at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Family and Adult Programming
Offers seasonal events and educational programs for families and adults, including nature walks and community science opportunities
Guided School Program (GSP)
Science-based outdoor lessons for Pre-K through high school students at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, including pond studies and maple sugaring activities
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 2 activities
- Community science and wildlife monitoring programsEngages volunteers in long-term community science initiatives including weekly bluebird nest box monitoring (March–August), weekly monarch butterfly monitoring (June–August), bi-monthly winter raptor surveys (December–March), and seasonal bat emergence counts at Jones Barn to monitor a maternity colony of Little Brown Bats.
- Wildlife research at Delmar facilityConducts wildlife research studies at the Delmar Experimental Game Farm, including ruffed grouse surveys and white-tailed deer population studies.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Environmental education programs for students and adultsProvides science-based outdoor education programs for students from Pre-K through high school, as well as educational programming for families and adults at the Five Rivers Environmental Center. These include guided school programs that operate year-round, even under adverse weather conditions.
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Commemorative Brick and Memorial Installations 1 activity
- Memorial and donor recognition programsAdministers the Forever Friends program, which includes installing memorial poles made from sustainable cypress wood along the Nature’s Accessible Backyard Trail and maintaining a Giving Tree mural with named leaves affixed in honor of individuals in exchange for donations. An annual summer gathering is held for participating families.
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Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- On-site retail operationsOperates an on-site gift shop at Five Rivers that sells environmentally themed merchandise, including apparel, accessories, and educational materials, with discounted access available to members.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Volunteer engagement and support for center operationsRecruits and manages volunteers who serve as instructors, greeters, interns, and program assistants at the Five Rivers Environmental Center. Volunteers are organized through password-protected systems and support both educational programming and operational needs.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Public outreach and awareness eventsParticipates in community tabling events at festivals, fairs, farmers markets, and other public gatherings to promote environmental awareness and connect with the broader community.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$248K
Contributions & grants$185K75%
Program service revenue$13K5%
Investment income$9K4%
Other revenue$41K
expenses
Total expenses$244K
Program expenses58%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising21%
Salaries & benefits$166K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$435K
Cash$390K
Investments$0
Liabilities$5K
Net assets$430K
Liquid reserves19.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -0.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 12
- Alan Lewis — Treasurer
- Andrew Pludrynski — Director
- Brian Andreson — Director
- Carole Nemore — Director
- Cyndee Berlin — Director
- Kathryn Simpson — Secretary
- Kim Wells — Director
- Mary Louise Stanford — President
- Miles Garfinkel — Director
- Monica Sharp — Director
- Susna Novotny — Director
- William Cote — Vice President
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Carol Coogan Partner — Local artist who painted the Giving Tree mural at Five Rivers.
- Civilian Conservation Corps Camp S-72 Partner — Partnered in the development of infrastructure at the Delmar Experimental Game Farm.
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborated with Cornell wildlife biologists in conducting research at the Delmar facility.
- Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Conducts vetting of companies prior to accepting sponsorships on behalf of Friends of Five Rivers.
- Five Rivers Environmental Center Partner — Provides environmental education programs and volunteer support at the center.
- Five Rivers Environmental Education Center Partner — Friends of Five Rivers is the non-profit support organization for Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.
- Monarch Larva Monitoring Project Partner — Participates in the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project by collecting field data on monarch butterfly activity.
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to support Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.
- NYS Nest Box Survey Partner — Collaborates on data collection for the NYS Nest Box Survey through volunteer monitoring of bird nest boxes.
strategies · 2
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 Science for Conservation and Engagementmethodology: community_scienceBy involving volunteers in wildlife monitoring and habitat maintenance (e.g., bluebird nest box programs), we advance species conservation and data collection while deepening public stewardship, because participatory science increases community investment in environmental outcomes.
- Experiential Environmental Educationmethodology: experiential-environmental-educationBy providing hands-on, immersive outdoor education experiences, we foster lifelong environmental stewardship and student respect for nature, because direct engagement builds deeper emotional and cognitive connections to ecosystems than classroom-only learning.