Jamestown, N.Y. – Since closing their doors in mid-March, Audubon Community Nature Center has remained closed to daily visitors through the summer to help limit the risk of summer day camp participants’ potential exposure to COVID-19.
Now that day camp has wrapped up for the 2020 season, Audubon staff are working hard to prepare parts of the building to re-open to daily visitors starting on Saturday, September 5.
You are invited to come and say “hello” to Lincoln, Hershey, Ebenezer, and the rest of the Audubon Animal Ambassadors who have been lonely without their visitors. They are also excited to share with you some of the projects they worked on over the last six months, including renovations to the indoor nature play area (made possible through a grant from the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation), new and improved toilets (made possible through a grant from the Lenna Foundation), and a new “Lost Words” exhibit.
Be sure to stop by the “A Few of Our Favorite Things” art exhibit. This art was created by kids during the pandemic thanks to the “Nature Art Kits” provided by funding from the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County Projects Pool Grants Program.
Starting Saturday, September 5, the restrooms, Blue Heron Gift Shop, Discovery Room, and other first floor exhibit spaces (with some COVID-19-related modifications) will be open. The indoor nature play area on the third floor will be available by reservation only to help limit contact between family groups.
Audubon Executive Director Leigh Rovegno said of the reopening, “Because access to the exhibits will be limited to the first floor, we feel it’s important to adjust our typical building admission prices. Until we are able to open up more of the building to daily visitors, admission will be ‘by donation’ only. We hope that our visitors appreciate this gesture, but also understand that we will continue to have building-related expenses, including general utilities and cleaning costs which are necessary to provide a safe and enjoyable visitor experience.”
Starting Saturday, September 5, the Nature Center’s building hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday. Visitors are required to wear face coverings while inside the building and to adhere to social distancing recommendations.
Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren, Pa. You are welcome to visit the 600-acre nature preserve from dawn to dusk daily. Enjoy the native tree arboretum, gardens, picnic area, and six miles of trails, and view Liberty, Audubon’s non-releasable Bald Eagle, while practicing safe social distancing measures.
To learn more, call (716) 569-2345 during open hours, visit AudubonCNC.org, or find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook.
Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways.
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