OAS Seeks Support to Grow

Orange Audubon Society (OAS) has been saving for a nature and environmental education center of its own since the 1970s. A center with exhibits—to help teach about local ecosystems and a demonstration garden that links native plants to the conservation of birds and other wildlife—has been our vision. In 2001, OAS selected the Lake Apopka North Shore as the location, because the North Shore is so rich in bird life, resident, overwintering, and migratory.

OAS is setting up a strong foundation for a sustainable funding stream with an endowment, using the interest for operating costs. This has been a long road, but plans are now accelerating.

Recent progress toward a nature center:

• In January 2022, OAS hired a part-time education coordinator to facilitate school programs, in association with our future nature center. Kathy Rigling, a retired Orange County Public School middle school science teacher, loves teaching children outdoors about the environment and people of all ages about birding.
• In late July 2022, OAS and the City of Apopka signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on creation of an Apopka Birding Park nature and environmental education center to the right of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive entrance.
• In March 2024, the City of Apopka granted a long-term lease to Orange Audubon Society for its nature center at the Apopka Birding Park.
• In May 2024, OAS hired Little Diversified Architectural Services to design the renovation of the green barn-like Truck Shop into a nature center.
• OAS has started its capital campaign to pay for the building, which will be LEED certified, to landscape the grounds with native plants, and to add trails and water features. Funds will also be used for a sustainable endowment for operations.

National Audubon Society and Audubon Florida, organizations that do so much for our chapter, also must continually fundraise to maintain their operations. We hope our members support these groups, but also contribute directly to OAS’ independent funding work.

Below is the link to donate to OAS. We thank you!