Blue Heron Nature Preserve Inc

WE CREATE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH NATURE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES THROUGH INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CONSERVATION PROJECTS, AND NATURE-INSPIRED ART EXHIBITIONS AT OUR 30-ACRE PRESERVE AND IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS ATLANTA TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

CONSERVATION: AS AN ECOLOGICAL TREASURE FILLED WITH WOODLANDS, WETLANDS, RIPARIAN CREEK AREAS OVER 30-ACRES, A MEADOW, BLUE HERON NATURE PRESERVE IS COMMITTED TO TAP THE BEAUTY AND WONDER OF OUR GREENSPACE REGIONALLY AS A DYNAMIC OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AND RESEARCH HUB FOR METROPOLITAN ATLANTA AND BEYOND. IN 2022, WE STARTED A PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA TECH AND THE CITY OF ATLANTA TO LEVERAGE THE USE OF DRONE AND APPS FOR OUR ONGOING TREE CANOPY WORK. OUR NATIVE PLANT GARDEN HAS GROWN IN SIZE AND APPRECIATION WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS. IN TOTAL, OVER XXX VOLUNTEERS FROM CORPORATE AND UNIVERSITY GROUPS DONATED XXX HOURS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING TRAIL CLEANUPS AND REMOVAL OF INVASIVE PLANTS. WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF OUR TREE CANOPY STUDY AT THE LARGEST PARKS AND GREENSPACE CONFERENCE IN THE SOUTHEAST IN MARCH 2023.

EDUCATION: BLUE HERON NATURE PRESERVE, INC. ENHANCED THE QUALITY AND REACH OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN 2022. UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR CURRICULUM SHOULD BE DYNAMIC LIKE OUR 30-ACRE GREENSPACE, BLUE HERON EDUCATORS COMPLEMENTED OUR REGGIO EMILIA CURRICULUM WITH ART ACTIVITIES FOR THE 930 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN OUR SUMMER AND SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS, SCOUT PROGRAMS, AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING PROGRAMS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SERVING UNDERSERVED FAMILIES, WE WERE HONORED TO INSPIRE CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS ABOUT THE NATURE BEAUTY AT OUR 30-ACRE PRESERVE AND THE GREENSPACES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

PUBLIC ART:2022 WITNESSED THE BLOSSOMING OF OUR NATURE-THEMED ART PROGRAMS. A RECORD 11 VISUAL ARTISTS AND 3 PERFORMING ARTISTS FROM THE ATLANTA REGION AND THE SOUTHEAST PARTICIPATED IN OUR ART OF NATURE OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITION, CURATED BY THE BLUE HERON ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE. THE FERTILE GROUND EXHIBITION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH ZUCOT GALLERY AND ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS (APS) EXPANDED APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF OUR PRESERVE TO 70 APS ART EDUCATORS AND 150 APS STUDENTS. ART LOVERS WERE ALSO FETED WITH THREE EXHIBITIONS FROM EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS FROM ATLANTA TO DALLAS, TEXAS. OUR ARTS PROGRAM STANDS OUT AS ONE OF THE FEW COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE FREE, ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS PROGRAMS IN THE SOUTHEAST.