Getting children interested in conservation is the idea behind the new Audubon Science Center in Albert Lea.

&uot;Audubon’s mission is to foster a culture of conservation,&uot; said Paul Moore, president of the Albert Lea Audubon society. &uot;We’re here for families and young children. That’s where you start educating about and fostering conservation.&uot;

The science center is located across from Skyline Mall on West Main Street. The rooms are still bare; the walls have a few posters with pictures of different birds, butterflies and animals.

&uot;We’re really just getting started here,&uot; Ann Bryson, the director of the Audubon Science Center, said. &uot;We’re hoping to get some aquariums with fish, frogs, and salamanders in them.&uot;

Bryson also said they are hoping to get animal skulls, fur and other items with which to teach about animals in the future.

The center moved into the building in January, so much is left to be done in terms of decorating and getting settled. But Bryson hopes that by April or May the center will be fully functional.

Bryson says the goal is to be a place school children can come to learn about conservation. Working with local schools, she hopes the center can provide that.

During spring break later this month, the center will have two days of programs about conservation for young children. Bryson says the center will try to do many of these types of programs throughout the school year and summer.

This summer, the center will be working on the Water Education for Teachers (WET) program. The program will teach fun ways to learn about water: through teaching about water and the human body, animals that live in water and even water testing.

The center will also have presentations, scientific demonstrations, interactive science, and guided field trips. Also, they will have a program called SOS (Science on Saturdays) for families to learn about conservation together.

The funding came from a donation from Albert Lea Audubon member Margaret Peterson in 1999. But Moore said the upkeep of the center will be provided primarily through donations.

&uot;This center will serve a multi-faceted purpose,&uot; Moore explained. &uot;It will not only be a place to learn about conservation, but a place for families to learn about these things together.&uot;