The Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is pleased to announce the Prairie Resorations Challenge. Nearly 75% of the way toward the goal to raise $25,000 to furnish the Refuge’s new Oak Savanna Learning Center and its outside learning spaces, the Friends recently received a challenge from Princeton based Prairie Restorations, Inc.: “Raise $25,000 in new gifts by year end and we will match them dollar for dollar.”

 

Says company president Ron Bowen, “There is nothing more important to our future than a diverse, healthy environment and the basis of that is an informed and spirited ‘next generation.’ This projcet will help in that process by providing a place for the kind of educational experience that all of us must be committed to.”

 

Underway since early 2015, the Be Wild campaign for Youth Nature Education has already received generous support from Friends and community members, area businesses and grantors. However, with more than $13,000 left to raise by Dec. 31 to meet the challenge, fundraising activities remain in high gear.

 

Construction of the Oak Savanna Learning Center is expected to be complete before year-end, and plans are already in the works for teachers from nearby schools to bring their students for hands-on, standards -based learning in the new indoor classroom as well as the surrounding “outdoor classroom.” More structured year- round visits and special events will now be possible to schedule with weather no longer a limiting factor.

 

The Friends of Sherburne is a 501c(3) nonoprofit that supports education programs and conservation efforts of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. For more information about the Friends or the Be Wild campaign for Youth Nature Education, go to www.exploresherburne.org or find the Friends on Facebok, Twitter and Instagram.