Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association

STUDY & CONSERVATION OF RAPTORS; EDUCATION OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS & THE PUBLIC IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE.

BACKGROUND:HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY WAS FOUNDED IN 1934 BY PIONEER CONSERVATIONIST ROSALIE EDGE AS THE WORLD'S FIRST REFUGE FOR BIRDS OF PREY. THE SANCTUARY'S FOUNDING WAS A TURNING POINT IN REVERSING THEIR WIDESPREAD PERSECUTION. TODAY THE ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED IN 1938, CONTINUES ITS PIONEERING WORK TO PROTECT BIRDS OF PREY THROUGH EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MONITORING OF RAPTOR AND OTHER MIGRANT POPULATIONS, CONDUCTING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND THROUGH INFORMATION SHARING AND PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATION TRAINING. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONSERVATION AND TO WOMEN'S HISTORY, THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS ADDED HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.EIGHT BIOLOGISTS AND EDUCATORS SERVE ON ITS PROGRAM STAFF, INCLUDING THREE PH.D. LEVEL SCIENTISTS AND A BILINGUAL DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION ALONG WITH A THREE MEMBER STEWARDSHIP TEAM, VISITOR CENTER STAFF AND THEIR SUPPORT TEAM. IN THE LAST DECADE, THE SANCTUARY HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF GLOBALLY IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS TO MONITOR RAPTOR POPULATIONS AND TO STUDY THE DYNAMICS OF RAPTOR MIGRATION AND ECOLOGY. ITS ACOPIAN CENTER FOR CONSERVATION LEARNING SERVES AS A HUB FOR GLOBAL RAPTOR INFORMATION, TRAINING AND STUDIES AND THIS YEAR CELEBRATES THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS OPENING. IN 2021 THE SANCTUARY SPEARHEADED A FOCUSED EFFORT TO 'CONSERVE THE CORRIDOR', IDENTIFYING MILLION-RAPTOR WATCH SITES IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA FOR FOCUSED COLLABORATION, ON THE GROUND OUTREACH, AND INCREASED PARTNERSHIP AS THIS IS AN AREA WHERE RAPTORS ARE MOST AT RISK.PROGRAMS AREAS:1) NATURE DISCOVERY - WILDLIFE WATCHING, HIKING, ECO-TOURISM:HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY IS A WORLD-CLASS OBSERVATION SITE FOR BIRDS OF PREY AND A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED NATIONAL NATURAL LANDMARK. LOCATED ON THE KITTATINNY RIDGE, HAWK MOUNTAIN IS PART OF AN ICONIC AND CRITICAL GLOBALLY IMPORTANT LANDSCAPE. HAWK MOUNTAIN IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE LARGEST AND HIGHEST-PRIOITY IMPORTANT BIRD AREA AND IS ONE OF EIGHT CONSERVATION LANDSCAPES DESIGNED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES. ITS CONTINENTLALY IMPORTANT FLYWAY PROVIDES STOPOVER HABITAT FOR 150 SPECIES OF SONGBIRDS, 16 SPECIES OF RAPTORS, DRAGONFLIES, MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, AND OTHER POLLINATOR MIGRANTS INCLUDING BATS. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HAS IDENTIFIED THE RIDGE AS A CLIMATE RESILIENT LANDSCAPE AS ITS CONTINUITY OF FORESTED HABITATS WITH NORTH AND SOUTH SLOPES PROVIDE CORRIDORS FOR PLANT AND WILDLIFE MOVEMENTS. AT HAWK MOUNTAIN, THE ANNUAL AUTUMN SPECTACLE OF THOUSANDS OF WILD HAWKS, EAGLES AND FALCONS IN FLIGHT, COMBINED WITH THE SCENIC MOUNTAIN VIEWS, APPEAL TO A WIDE AUDIENCE AND DRAW SEASONSAL VISITION, BUT ALSO YEAR-ROUND HIKERS AND WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS. EACH YEAR HAWK MOUNTAIN HOSTS AN AVERAGE 70,000 VISITORS. FREE NATURE INTERPRETATION IS PRACTICED AT ITS LOOKOUTS DURING SPRING AND FALL MIGRATION. THE SANCTUARY VISITOR CENTER, WHICH IS OPEN DAILY AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC, HOUSES A MUSEUM ON BIRDS OF PREY AND NATURE BOOKSTORE. A "WINGS OF WONDER" GALLERY FEATURES 19 HAND-CARVED AND PAINTED, LIFE-SIZE MODELS OF RAPTORS IN FLIGHT. TRAILS ARE OPEN DAWN TO DUSK YEAR-ROUND. IN 2020 THE SANCTUARY OPENED A FULLY ACCESSIBLE AMPHITHEATER FEATURING UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY, COVERED STAGE WITH LIGHTING AND GENEROUS SEATING, A PORTION OF WHICH IS COVERED. THIS FACILITY ALLOWED FOR SOCIALLY DISTANCED PROGRAMMING DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC AND RECOVERY PERIODS AND ALSO INCLUDES AN ACCESSIBLE TRAIL THAT LINKS THE FACILITY TO THE VISITOR CENTER AND ON TO SOUTH LOOKOUT. EIGHT MILES OF TRAILS ARE MAINTAINED YEAR-ROUND AND LEAD TO SCENIC OVERLOOKS OR AN ICE-AGE BOULDER FIELD ON THE VALLEY FLOOR. IN 2021, THE SANCTUARY'S AWARD-WINNING STEWARDSHIP TEAM CONSTRUCTED A REROUTE ON ITS RUGGED SKYLINE TRAIL TO PROTECT SENSITIVE HABITAT. THE WORK INCLUDED HIKING IN LUMBER AND CONSTRUCTING ON-SITE RAILINGS TO BETTER GUIDE HIKERS TO INCREASE SAFETY. HAWK MOUNTAIN SUCCESSFULLY RAISED FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A NEW IDEA FUND DESIGNED TO ADVANCE INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN THE OUTDOORS. WITHIN MONTHS, THE FUND MORE THAN DOUBLED AND THE SANCTUARY HAS AWARED SCHOLARSHIPS TO TEN YOUNG PEOPLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN EITHER SUMMER NATURE DAY CAMP OR A NEW APPALACHIAN ECOLOGY COURSE DESIGNED FOR TEENS.A PLANNING COMMTTEE OF STAFF AND BOARD LED AND COMPLETED A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE NEEDS AND CRAFT A VISION FOR UPGRADES TO ITS VISITOR CENTER HEADQUARTERS AND WELCOMING POINT FOR ALL VISITORS TO HAWK MOUNTAIN. THIS GROUNDWORK PAVES THE WAY FOR A FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND INCLUDED BROAD STAKEHOLDER INPUT FROM STAFF, BOARD, VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, AND COMMUNITY DECISION MAKERS. 2) CONSERVATION EDUCATION - SCHOOL AND GROUP PROGRAMS, PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, LIFE-LONG LEARNING, LOCAL TO GLOBAL:PER ITS MISSION, BIRDS OF PREY ARE THE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR LEARNING IN HAWK MOUNTAIN EDUCATION PROGRAMS. APPALACHIAN FOREST ECOLOGY IS INCORPORATED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY BY USING OUTSIDE EXPERTS AND BY ENCOURAGING SPONTANEOUS DISCOVERY BASED UPON THE CHANGING SEASONS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED DURING OFF SEASONS TO BETTER CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE SANCTUARY, AND MAY INCLUDE YOGA, A WINTER ARTISAN SERIES, AND CULTURAL HISTORY PROGRAMS. HAWK MOUNTAIN HAS VASTLY EXPANDED ITS EDUCATION PLATFORM TO OFFER 18 TYPES OF PROGRAMS RANGING FROM A ROBUST AND SOLD-OUT NATURE DAY CAMP TO MULTI-DAY FIELD COURSES FOR ADULTS TO COLLEGE LEVEL CREDIT CLASSES TO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. THE EXTENSIVE ON-SITE EDUCATION PROGRAM INCLUDES MORE THAN 500 FREE INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UP TO A DOZEN SPECIAL-FOCUS WORKSHOPS FOR NOMINAL FEES, WILDLIFE INTERPRETATION YEAR-ROUND, TEACHER WORKSHOPS AND MORE. THE TEAM HAS EXPANDED ITS THREE-MONTH RESIDENTIAL TRAINEESHIPS TO INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL AND BILINGUAL PARTICIPANTS WHO APPLY COMPETITIVELY AND CAN HELP TO EXPAND OUTREACH IN OUR FOCUS AREAS OF MESOAMERICA. THE TEAM CONTINUES ITS POPULAR SERIES OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING, WHICH HAS NOW REACHED MORE THAN 17,000 INDIVIDUALS LOCAL TO GLOBAL. IT IS CURRENTLY EXECUTING ITS SECOND YEAR HOSTING EIGHT CONSECUTIVE WEEKS OF NATURE DAY CAMP WITH TWO AGE SESSIONS PER WEEK FOR A TOTAL OF 16 SESSIONS. THE IDEA SCHOLARSHIP FOR NATURE DAY CAMP REMOVES BARRIERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY OTHERWISE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. ALL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO (1) BE SCIENCE AND INQUIRY-BASED, (2) OFFER CONTENT AND SKILLS TO EMPOWER VISITORS TO OBSERVE AND LEARN ABOUT NATURE AFTER THEIR VISIT, AND (3) PROVIDE MEANINGFUL, SITE-SPECIFIC CONTENT THAT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. A NEW FOCUS ON COLLABORATION WITH OTHER CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS HAS HELPED TO EXPAND OPTIONS THAT REACH NEW AUDIENCES AND ALSO GENERATE REVENUE THROUGH EARNED INCOME THAT CAN MAKE EDUCATION SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG-TERM. A MAJOR GOAL NOW IS TO BUILD A $1 MILLION EDUCATION ENDOWMENT.EDUCATION FACILITIES INCLUDE THE FULLY WIRED AND ADA-ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION BUILDING, THE "WINGS OF WONDER GALLERY" IN THE VISITOR CENTER FOR PUBLIC LECTURES AND OTHER PROGRAMS, THE NEWLY UPGRADED, EXPANDED AND ACCESSIBLE AMPHITHEATER, AND "LAURELWOOD NICHE," ANOTHER ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACE. SANCTUARY TRAILS LEAD TO EIGHT SCENIC LOOKOUTS THAT PROVIDE A BACKDROP FOR MOST EDUCATION EXPERIENCES AT HAWK MOUNTAIN AND ARE CONSIDERED OUR 'SCHOOL IN THE CLOUDS' DURING GUIDED GROUP WALKS. DURING AUTUMN, UP TO A DOZEN PERSONNEL SPOT BIRDS AND INTERPRET THE MIGRATION FOR VISITORS AT TWO PRIMARY LOOKOUTS. HAWK MOUNTAIN ALSO SEEKS TO EXPORT ITS RAPTOR EDUCATION MATERIALS, INCLUDING A DOZEN BOOKLETS, FLYERS AND BOOKS AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE OF MATERIALS, CURRICULA, LEARNING ACTIVITIES, AND CLASSROOM POSTERS, MOST PROVIDED FREE VIA ITS WEBSITE AND IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS INCLUDE A 92-PAGE TEACHER GUIDE WITH ANNUAL LESSON PLAN UPDATES BASED ON NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS, SEVERAL DOWNLOADABLE POWERPOINT'S FOR CLASSROOM USE, AND NUMEROUS ONLINE RESOURCES ON RAPTORS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD, ALSO AT NO COST. DOZENS OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMS COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS ARE AVAILABLE TO VIEW AT NO COST AT HAWK MOUNTAIN'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL. AN EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAM WAS RELAUNCHED IN 2015 AND HAWK MOUNTAIN IS WORKING TOWARD BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH MASTERS-LEVEL STUDENTS STUDYING ADVANCED DEGREES IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND/OR WHO WANT TO LAUNCH OR IMPROVE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS AT INTERNATIONAL RAPTOR MIGRATION WATCH SITES. THIS YEAR THE FOCUS IS ON DEVELOPING A YEAR-LONG INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR AN EDUCATOR TO PROVIDE A TRULY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AND BOOST EXPERIENCE FOR THE INTERN AS WELL AS BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT. A NEW BARN OWL AND BLACK VULTURE HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LIVE RAPTOR COLLECTION AND A PERMIT FOR AMPHIBEANS SECURED.