Nominator: Tony Murphy, Ph.D.

The Audubon Center began as a bequest in 1968 and began programming when Mike Link was
hired as director in 1971. The center has been a college field campus for 31 years with undergraduate programs offered to students in over 30 colleges and graduate courses to Teachers through the Hamline University degree in Environmental Education. The center also works with close to 80 K-12 schools and Charter Schools in resident education, teacher training, and retreats. In addition to these programs they also offer Certified Forest Management – FSC; smartwood program; wetland and prairie restoration and continuous raptor care programs. Sustainable energy is a significant commitment and to that end, the heating and cooling is done with ground source heat pumps, electricity is generated through a combination of solar collection and wind generation, solar hot water provides for showers. A veggie oil powered eco-RV takes our birds of prey and energy message to schools. In addition, a large increase in energy development is expected over the next 12 months.