New Ways We Fulfill Our Mission and How You Can Help

Many people seem to have the perception that Audubon members are just folks with binoculars that go around looking at bids. We are actually so much more. Nowadays you are just as likely to see a group of us with rakes in our hands clearing invasive weeds or helping children make decals to put on their windows at home to prevent birds from colliding into them.

While our Audubon chapter's members enjoy a good walk at Mount Charleston we can also be found checking out the urban bird population on the campus of UNLV, right in the heart of Las Vegas.

Our efforts to bring people together for the conservation and enjoyment of birds, other wildlife and the natural world in support of our mission have taken our members in new directions. RRAS is in an urban environment with a very diverse population. Over the past two years RRAS has expanded its outreach to new people in new ways by developing partnerships with other organizations.

We are funding school fieldtrips to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve through our partnership with the CCSD School-Community Partnership Program. We have partnered with Clark County Park's Winchester Dondero Cultural Center to provide programming for Winchester Nesters, a monthly event for families. We are planting native plant gardens at the Roots Community Garden and the Winchester Center to attract pollinators that will support local bird populations. At Ruby Thomas Elementary School we will participate in their after school program. At Mark Fine Elementary School we are starting an outdoor photography club.

All of these initiatives reach portions of our population that might never have even heard of us. Bringing children to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve has opened their eyes and minds to the wonder of our natural world. Teaching people the importance of growing native plants is a step toward improving our urban environment.

In addition to your annual dues, RRAS has been lucky that many of our members have donated money and items to support these new programs. We can do all this and more with your help.

At our monthly meetings we have the popular raffle; the proceeds go into our general chapter operations fund. Beginning with the September meeting you will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction whose proceeds will go toward the school field trip fund. We will also sell some items. We appreciate your support as we work to increase our membership and develop new conservation-minded birders.