TheMassachusetts Audubon Society, commonly known asMass Audubon, founded in 1896 byHarriet Hemenway andMinna B. Hall and headquartered inLincoln, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "protecting the nature of Massachusetts". Mass Audubon is independent of theNational Audubon Society (NAS), and was founded earlier than the NAS. Mass Audubon protects more than 40,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts,[1] saving birds and other wildlife, and making nature accessible to all with its wildlife sanctuaries and 20 nature centers.
The Massachusetts Audubon Society was born out ofHarriet Hemenway's desire to stop the commercial slaughter of birds for women's ornamental hats. Hemenway and her cousin, Minna Hall, soon enlisted 900 women and formed a partnership with many from Boston's scientific community to form their organization. They named the organization the Massachusetts Audubon Society in honor of the bird painterJohn James Audubon. In 1905, a national committee of Audubon societies was developed. This committee was vital in passing the Migratory Bird Conservation Act in 1913 and theMigratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 with Great Britain. The passage of these measures effectively eliminated the commercial plume trade.[2]
Mass Audubon's first wildlife sanctuary,Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary inSharon, Massachusetts, dates back to 1916 when the board accepts an offer of Sharon resident George Field to use his property as a bird sanctuary. Mass Audubon purchased the parcel in 1922.[2]
Mass Audubon's statewide network of more than 100 wildlife sanctuaries[3] welcomes visitors of all ages and is a home for more than 150 endangered and threatened native species. Some of the sanctuaries, as noted below, have staffed nature centers or museums.
For information about properties without a Wikipedia page, visit the Mass Audubon website's list of wildlife sanctuaries[3] and select the property.
"Planning is now underway for the removal of buildings in disrepair at the home site, the creation of trails for passive recreation, and a parking area nearby."[9]
Camp Wildwood, established in 1950, is the Society's only overnight summer camp, and it is accredited by theAmerican Camp Association.[22] The 159 acre camp is located inRindge, New Hampshire, on Hubbard Pond, bordering 1,494-acreAnnett State Forest. The property includes a central shower house, arts and crafts center, 135-seat dining hall, health center, office, camp store, seven cabin sites, an archery range, high and low ropes challenge course, playing field, and several trails and areas of forest and wetland for exploration.[23]
During the summers, Camp Wildwood hosts campers ranging from ages 7 to 17. The programs at the camp include a day camp, a three-day session for campers 7 to 8 years old, one- and two-week sessions for campers ages 9 to 16, one- and two-week off-site Treks for campers ages 14–17, and a several-week long Leadership program (called LIT/LIA, meaning Leaders in Training and Leaders in Action) for campers ages 16 and 17. The camp also hosts several three-day long "Family Camp" sessions throughout the summer for all ages.[24]
Camp Wildwood was previously located on Lake Wampanoag in Gardner, Massachusetts. It moved to its current location in 2003. The current site was previously a boy scout camp, Camp Quinapoxet.[25][26][27]
