Hidden Wonders

PROGRAMS (80% OF BUDGET): (30%) INSECT LAB & PHOTO STUDIO, (30%) FIELDWORK & COLLECTING, (20%) OUTREACH. OVERHEAD (20% OF BUDGET) DIVIDED EVENLY BETWEEN FUNDRAISING & OFFICE ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE DOCUMENTED THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION DOZENS OF INSECT SPECIES FOR THE CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE, BOOKS AND MAGAZINES THAT REACH GENERAL POPULATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT REACH CHILDREN AND YOUTH. IN THE INSECT LAB & PHOTO STUDIO THERE ARE DISCOVERIES MADE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. OVER 100 SPECIES NEW TO SCIENCE HAVE BEEN FOUND AND ARE BEING DESCRIBED BY THE LEAD SCIENTIST/ENTOMOLOGIST OF HIDDEN WONDERS. INSECTS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED AND STUDIED FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD. THESE FINDINGS HAVE RESULTED IN BROADENING THE UNDERSTANDING OF INSECT BIODIVERSITY AND AFTER STUDYING AND OBSERVING THE BEHAVIORS, REVEALED THE IMPORTANCE THAT INSECTS PLAY IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTS. VIDEO CALLS WITH OVER A DOZEN CLASSROOMS OF STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE TAKEN PLACE FROM THE LAB AND ALSO FROM COLLECTING SITES IN NATURE VIA SATELLITE PHONE. ADDITIONALLY, CLASSROOM VISITS AND FIELD TRIPS WITH STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN-PERSON IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. HIDDEN WONDERS HELPED TO START A PROGRAM CALLED "SEMILLERO" WHICH BRINGS CHILDREN/FAMILIES/COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO NATURE FOR INTENTIONAL LEARNING AND CONNECTION WITH NATURE. THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES IN PATAGONIA, CHILE (INSTAGRAM: @SEMILLEROFORESTSCHOOL). AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED SO FAR. HIDDEN WONDERS IS REPRESENTED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, INSTAGRAM AND LINKEDIN. HIDDEN WONDERS ALSO HAS A WEBSITE FOR EVERYONE TO VISIT AND ALL THEY NEED IS THE INTERNET (NO ACCOUNTS, UNLIKE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA). FUNDRAISING IS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THE PERSONALIZED APPROACH OF MEETING IN-PERSON WITH POTENTIAL DONORS AND GIVING PRESENTATIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND WORK OF HIDDEN WONDERS. FOLLOW UP WITH DONORS INCLUDES THROUGH NEWSLETTERS AND EMAILS, AS WELL AS POSTCARDS AND IN-PERSON VISITS. SOME DONORS ALSO RECEIVE A FRAMED PHOTO OF AN INSECT TAKEN BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHER AND LEAD SCIENTIST OF HIDDEN WONDERS. THESE DONOR RETENTION METHODS DO NOT COST VERY MUCH BUT HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE MAINTENANCE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH DONORS. SMALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADMIN/OFFICE INCLUDE PAYING AN ACCOUNTANT, WEBSITE COSTS, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER, LOGO DESIGNER, AND WHEN NECESSARY, LEGAL AID. OTHER COSTS INCLUDE COVERING BASIC OFFICE SUPPLIES AND MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.