Audubon Society looks ahead after science center closes

Published 12:03 pm Sunday, March 1, 2009

Yogi Berra said, “You can see a lot just by observing.”

Many Albert Lea Audubon Society members follow this bit of wisdom and enjoy looking at birds, but the Albert Lea Audubon Society is much more than just looking at birds. We are people who nod in agreement when we read what Anne Frank wrote, “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.”

You cannot argue with Anne Frank.

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The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

The Albert Lea Audubon Society was organized in the spring of 1948. Charter members were Mr. & Mrs. Frank Barlow, Mr. & Mrs. Chauncey Carlson, Vankirk Carlson, Charles Flugum, Mr. and Mrs. M. Emanual, Millicent Kelts, Maude Koevenig, George Palmer, Mrs. Charles Vandenberge and Clayton Wulff. By the time monthly meetings had begun in September of 1948, Olive Johnson (later Nelson) had joined. The first meeting was held in Olive’s classroom at Albert Lea High School.

The Chickadee, the newsletter of the Albert Lea Audubon Society has been published since 1956. The first local Christmas Bird Count was done in 1956. The Albert Lea Audubon Society has been instrumental in the addition of a 560-acre esker portion to Myre-Big Island State Park and the preservation of the Osmundson Prairie SNA (Scientific and Natural Area). It brought the Audubon Wildlife Film Series (beginning in 1951) to the public and has provided the Audubon Adventures on environmental education to a good number of elementary school classrooms. The Albert Lea Audubon Society sponsored field trips, donated books to libraries, worked on the Blazing Star Trail and offered student scholarships to the Northwoods Audubon Center.

A bequest by the Joyce Pederson estate of a 10-acre apple orchard became the Albert Lea Audubon Nature Preserve that is located at the end of Oregon Street in Albert Lea.

I bring these happy things up because there is a bit of sadness in the Audubon world. The Albert Lea Audubon Science Center has closed. It was a victim of the times as we so often hear enterprises being. Many things conspired to bring about its closure — finances, illness and overworked volunteers. The economy could be thrown into the mix, if for no other reason, because it is blamed for everything today.

“It’s a shame it’s closing,” a woman said to me.

“That place was a medicine for the soul,” a man told me.

The Science Center began near the Albert Lea Seed House in 2003 and closed on Dec. 31, 2008, at the Skyline Plaza. It was an outreach of the local Audubon Society in an effort to connect with children. A generous bequest from Margaret N. Peterson helped launch the Science Center. Elna Ponto was one of the driving forces at its inception. Legacies from Rosemary Wulff and Nadine Spellman aided in funding. During its existence, it was privileged to have two fine directors in Ann Bryson and Megan Flatness. They worked hard and accomplished many good things.

I am astounded at the hours put in by Audubon members on behalf of the Science Center. Carol Bertelson put in so many hours that just talking to her makes me want to be a better person. Cheryl Schnarr, Rose Hood, Gerald and Grace Skaar, Paul Moore, Mark and Joan Anderson — the list goes on. It could be an edition of “Who’s Who of Good Folks.”

The Science Center was important to us because Audubon has always been about children.

I shared the podium at a college with a man named Richard Louv. Louv is the recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal. Louv’s book, “The Last Child In The Woods,” identified a phenomenon he calls the “nature-deficit disorder.” According to Louv, children who are plugged into TV and video games for ever-increasing amounts of time lose their connection to the natural world and do not get a chance to exercise all of their senses, which he claims is necessary to develop properly. This book states something that Auduboners know — children need nature as much as nature needs children.

That’s why the Science Center was started.

It has closed, but it touched many young lives. It brought kids into contact with nature. The Science Center was a good thing, but good things do end.

We know where the Albert Lea Audubon Society has been. We know not where it is going, but we have hope. It has a resume. It has a history that is reassuring. There is a national Audubon organization and a state one. They are fine concerns, but one of the things that makes Audubon such a wonderful outfit is that it is a grass-roots organization. Audubon is what the good folks who belong to the local chapter make it. Tip O’Neill said, “All politics is local.” The same could be said about Audubon.

Besides the volunteers from the Albert Lea Audubon Society itself, there were more volunteers than I could ever list who helped at the Science Center. Service clubs were of great service. We are appreciative of the support of the community.

The Albert Lea Audubon Society will continue to help bring children and adults into contact with nature. John Burroughs wrote, “To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.”

The Albert Lea Audubon Society will continue to do good.

You will see that just by observing.

Many members were instrumental in this undertaking, but Skipper Berg, Nadine Spellman, Mary Ann Dixen, Arne Aakre and Earl Jacobsen were recognized for their meritorious service.

In 1986, member Bill Bryson received the William Dutcher Award from the National Audubon Society for long-term contributions to Audubon. Bill and his wife, Arlene, were named Minnesota Environmental Heroes in 1996.

Other longtime members still in the area include Genevieve and Lloyd Schneider, Edna Aakre, Irene Weber, Don Chryst and Penny Jacobsen. I should mention all the other great people who have been instrumental in Albert Lea Audubon’s success and I want to, but there are too many.