named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Audubon Escape Room for Kids
Hour-long puzzle and clue-based adventure for children ages 8–12 to rescue a fledgling screech owl, held on-site with staff facilitation
Birthday Party Program
Themed nature-based birthday parties for children ages 4–12 featuring live animal encounters, nature wonderland exploration, or creature clues hikes
Live Animal Encounter
Program featuring Animal Ambassadors including birds of prey, reptiles, and amphibians that reside at the Nature Center
School Programs
Classroom, schoolyard, and field trip lessons for schools in Chautauqua and Warren Counties, including indoor programs, outdoor exploration, and guided nature walks at Audubon
Scout Discovery Walks
Guided 1.5-hour nature walks for scouts with optional self-guided activities; includes specialized walks tailored to badge requirements
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
- Operate interactive Nature Center with exhibits and live animalsRuns a three-floor Nature Center with interactive exhibits and live animals, including an aviary with birds of prey, to educate and engage visitors of all ages.
- Provide environmental education programsOffers on-site and off-site educational programs for schools, scout groups, and the public, including classroom lessons, field trips, Discovery Walks, and custom programs for all ages. Uses live animals as part of its education team to connect people with nature.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host public events and programsOrganizes and hosts events such as monthly Photo Club meetings, birthday parties with educational components, escape room experiences for children, and festivals. Offers volunteer support for event setup, admissions, and refreshment sales.
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Public Space Beautification and Maintenance 1 activity
- Maintain gardens and groundsPerforms regular garden maintenance including weeding, planting, mulching, and general care. Conducts seasonal site maintenance such as mowing, weed-whacking, snow removal, and building upkeep.
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Lake Invasive Species Management 1 activity
- Manage invasive species and wildlife conservationMonitors and removes invasive water chestnut from ponds and waterways using annual hand-pulling by staff and volunteers, with data recording and proper disposal since 2006. Also conducts seasonal nest box monitoring as part of wildlife conservation efforts.
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Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
- Offer free admission programsProvides free admission to the Nature Center on specific holidays (Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day, Veteran’s Day), every Sunday, and for SNAP/EBT and Arts Access cardholders.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Operate public nature preserve and trailsMaintains and provides free public access to a 570-acre wetland preserve with over five miles of trails, open daily from dawn to dusk. Includes ongoing trail maintenance and improvement projects.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Provide volunteer engagement opportunitiesOffers structured volunteer roles in trail maintenance, garden care, event support, wildlife monitoring, and administrative tasks to support environmental stewardship and operations.
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Nonprofit Organizational Management 1 activity
- Support organizational operations and outreachSupports administrative functions including data entry, filing, mailings for newsletters and fundraising appeals, and preparation of educational materials.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$842K
Contributions & grants$399K47%
Program service revenue$226K27%
Investment income$139K17%
Other revenue$78K
expenses
Total expenses$793K
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead27%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$563K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.60M
Cash$130K
Investments$2.72M
Liabilities$69K
Net assets$3.53M
Liquid reserves43.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -2.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEIGH ROVEGNO | FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $87K |
board members · 12
- ANTOINETTA LINDELL — SECRETARY
- CAREY LEE — DIRECTOR
- DAVE BURLEE — FIRST VICE CHAIR
- ERIN PENDER — DIRECTOR
- EUGENIE POIGNARD — SECOND VICE CHAIR
- LAURIE KORB — DIRECTOR
- LOUISE BOUTWELL — DIRECTOR
- LYNN SCHAFFER — DIRECTOR
- PAT EVANS — DIRECTOR
- PETER STARK — TREASURER
- STEVE RICZKER — DIRECTOR
- TINA DOWNEY — CHAIRMAN
relationships · 101
Who they work with
- Audubon New York Network — One of 27 affiliated chapters within Audubon New York.
- Bruce and Juline Battler Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting access to nature for children
- Bruce and Juline Battler Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting access to nature for children.
- Bruce and Juline Battler Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's access to nature experiences.
- Bruce and Juline Battler Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's connection to nature
- Bruce and Juline Battler Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's connection to nature.
- Bruce and Juline Battler Funder — Community Partner providing annual financial contribution
- Bruce and Juline Battler Funder — Provides annual financial support to enable children's access to nature-based experiences.
- Bruce and Juline Battler Partner — Annual financial contributor supporting children's access to nature
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting access to nature for children
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting access to nature for children.
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's access to nature
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's access to nature experiences.
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's connection to nature
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's connection to nature.
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Community Partner providing annual financial contribution
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Provides annual financial contributions to support children's connection to nature.
- Carnahan-Jackson Foundation Funder — Provides annual financial support to ensure children have access to nature experiences.
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting access to nature for children
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting access to nature for children.
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's access to nature
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's access to nature experiences.
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's connection to nature
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's connection to nature.
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Community Partner providing annual financial contribution
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Provides annual financial support for programming that connects children with nature.
- Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Funder — Provides annual financial support to ensure children have access to nature experiences.
- David Campbell Funder — Annual financial contributor supporting children's connection to nature
- David Campbell Partner — Supporter contributing to children's access to nature
- Escape Rooms Jamestown Partner — Collaborates with Escape Rooms Jamestown to offer the Audubon Escape Room for children.
+ 71 more
strategies · 4
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.
- Equitable Access Modelmethodology: equitable_accessBy removing financial barriers through free admission—especially for low-income individuals and community-wide on Sundays—the organization increases inclusion and broadens public engagement with nature, because cost is a primary barrier to participation in environmental programming.
- Experiential Environmental Educationmethodology: experiential_environmental_educationBy engaging people in hands-on outdoor experiences, nature education, and live animal encounters, the organization fosters meaningful connections with nature that lead to responsible environmental action and sustained behavioral change, because direct experience produces deeper emotional and cognitive engagement than passive learning.
- Invasive Species Management via Early Detectionmethodology: early_detection_and_rapid_responseBy detecting water chestnut infestations early and removing plants during their initial growth stage, the organization prevents large-scale spread and enables long-term eradication, because early intervention minimizes seed bank accumulation and leverages more manageable control timelines.
- Nature for Human Wellbeingmethodology: nature_for_wellbeingBy promoting positive relationships with nature through outdoor access and programming, the organization enhances physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, because immersion in natural environments has restorative and therapeutic effects on human health.