The grant program, managed by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Foundation, provides matching small grants to support projects in Wisconsin that promote the responsible stewardship of Wisconsin's natural resources at the local level.

"Madison Audubon Society will fund field trips to local natural areas, allowing us to help at least 150 middle and high school students explore nature. The overall goal of this project is to encourage exploration of local natural areas, to forge a connection between children and nature, and to plant the seed for future land stewardship - all while having fun! Additionally, we're aiming to trigger a realization that nature is all around us, and that students need only step outside to experience it." said Carolyn Byers, operations and education specialist.

The grant will allow for a strong continuation for Madison Audubon's growing community-based education programs. To date, since the start of the organization's youth education programming in March of 2014, MAS educators and volunteers have provided over 260 programs for 4600 youth in our 8-county service area.

"We're really excited to have the support of the Natural Resources Foundation, and to help carry on Buzz Besadny's legacy of stewardship," said MAS executive director Matt Reetz.

C.D. "Buzz" Besadny was the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources from 1980 to 1993, and founded the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin in 1986. "The Foundation is honored to make these grants to support conservation and education projects across the state in honor of Buzz Besadny," said Ruth Oppedahl, executive director of the Natural Resources Foundation. "Wisconsin's natural resources continue to benefit from the legacy of Buzz's 42-year career at the Department of Natural Resources. With each grant we award, we are helping provide hope for the future of our state's wildlife and wild lands."

More at: http://madisonaudubon.org/