Registration for Fall 2022 Homeschool now open

It may be the first day of August, but we’re already excited for fall: Registration for Fall 2022 Homeschool in the Wild is now open!

Piedmont Wildlife Center’s homeschool program is a wonderfully unique experience. Composed of a diverse group of community-oriented families, Homeschool in the Wild provides an opportunity for your child to engage with others and grow on their own terms. We encourage self-expression and foster healthy communication between our campers, staff, and parents/guardians.

We follow a model for teaching and learning based on nature mentoring and the art of questioning. It is designed to engage the body and senses, inspire the mind, awaken curiosity, develop confidence, create community, and build nature connection.

Our homeschool program features:

• Unique outdoor learning experiences

• A small group setting

• Applied projects

• Experienced mentors

• Stories, games, and adventures in life science and wilderness skills

• Community building, leadership opportunities, and inspired learning

All of our homeschool programs will be following our COVID-19 protocol. This Fall 2022 season, masks are recommended but not required. This is subject to change, dependent on local COVID levels and cases.

Learn more about our Homeschool in the Wild program, then follow the link below to register. Hurry - spots are limited and typically fill up quickly!

You helped us raise $4,014 this July Bonus Day!

Here at Piedmont Wildlife Center, we begin every meeting by reflecting on what we're grateful for. Today, we all have one thing on our mind: YOU!

On July 20th, July Bonus Day, 20 people who answered the call to support conservation, environmental education, and nature connection. We'd hoped to raise $3,000 this July Bonus Day - but because of your generosity, we received a whopping $4,014!

Here's how these funds will help further our mission:

• $2,720 will expand our on-site box turtle research and Turtle Trekkers citizen science project by purchasing new radio telemetry receivers, printing bookmarks and other educational materials, and defraying the cost of sending our staff to the next Box Turtle Connection conference

• $390 will purchase a year's worth of heat lamp bulbs for all our reptiles, cover routine veterinary exams for 3 Ambassador Animals, feed Apollo the barred owl for 2 months, and buy 2 containers of superworms for our resident box turtles

• $280 will cover an average summer camp scholarship of $235 for 1 camper and restock 2 first aid kits

• $260 will cover a $230 afterschool scholarship to help 1 student attend our program this fall and purchase 1 case of IvyX poison ivy wipes

• $260 will provide a free wildlife program to 1 classroom at a Title 1 school and feed our box turtles for 1 month

• $104 in donations to our general operating fund will give us the flexibility to respond to unexpected situations as our programs continue to grow!

We could not have done this without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support of Piedmont Wildlife Center!

July Bonus Day may be over, but you can still support us on GlobalGiving. Check out our projects below to see all the ways you can connect people with nature in the Triangle and beyond:

NEW! Personalized Birthday Videos

Oh no, our Ambassador Animals are running late! Find out what exciting party they're going to - and learn how YOU can get a personalized birthday video from your favorite PWC critter.

Starting this week, it's easier than ever to help provide food, care, and enrichment for our Ambassador Animals. Adopt-An-Ambassador sponsorships are now available in our online Nature Store! You can even add a birthday video from your Ambassador for an extra $15.

Sponsorship options start at $25 for 3 months and $100 for one year. In honor of former Executive Director Gail Abrams, all proceeds from birthday video add-ons will support the Gail E. Abrams Wildlife Ambassador Fund.

On July 20th, your gift goes even farther

July Bonus Day is next Wednesday, July 20th - and we're gearing up to celebrate our most generous donors! With their donations of $100 or more, these Protectors of the Piedmont allow us to:

• offer low -or no-cost nature programs at Title 1 schools

• ensure our Ambassador Animals receive the best possible care

• provide scholarships to campers and afterschool students in need

• keep our on-site box turtle research running

And more! As we prepare for the next #20YearsOfPWC, we know we can't do it without them - and you.

This July Bonus Day, our partner GlobalGiving is offering a special opportunity to get donations of $100 and up matched. The bigger the donation, the higher the match! Starting at 9 AM EST on Wednesday, July 20th, GlobalGiving will match:

• 30% on donations from $100-$499

• 40% on donations from $500-$749

• 50% on donations from $750-$1,000

In order to be eligible for matching, donations must be made online through GlobalGiving on the morning of July 20th while funds last. (We recommend donating early, before 10 AM EST!)

Can we count you in? Follow the link below to see all the PWC projects you can support on GlobalGiving... and mark your calendars for July Bonus Day next Wednesday, July 20th!

Have 5 minutes? Help shape future PWC events!

What kind of PWC events would you like to see in the future? Do you want us to offer more virtual experiences? Who cooks for YOU?!

We want to know! (Well, okay, Apollo may be the only one asking that last question…) Will you help us by filling out our survey?

We’re so excited to hear your opinions that we’re giving away prizes to THREE lucky respondents! Enter your name and contact info on the last page of the survey to be entered in a drawing for one of three FREE virtual or in-person animal encounters, plus some fun PWC merch.

The survey should take about 5 minutes and will remain open until Wednesday, July 27th. Thank you for giving your opinions to help us better serve our community. Don’t forget to share with family and friends!