Nature Ready
Mayor Brown, in conjunction with Cities Connecting Children with Nature (CCCN), has developed an inventory of existing children’s nature programs. Those programs include things like nature walks, science camps, birding, fishing, shoreline and park clean-ups, recycling, gardening, and tree planting. This valuable information is meant to inform parents and other city residents of the many programs available to them, connect program organizers with potential sponsors and grant opportunities, as well as improve city parks and other spaces to better meet programming needs. (The following organizations appear in alphabetical order.)
- Buffalo Animal Adventures
- Buffalo Audubon Society
- Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens
- Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper
Buffalo Animal Adventures is a traveling wildlife education organization teaching kids about and promoting awareness of exotic wildlife and their natural environments.
- Lessons on Animal Adaptations, Ecosystems, Food Chains and Food Webs, and More…
- Meet a variety of animals: Birds, Reptiles, Invertebrates, Mammals, etc.
Impact: Our explorers learn: biological aspects of our wildlife, their ecological significance, and the conservation efforts that are in place or lacking that are needed for their survival
Location: 5321 Transit Road
Frequency: Daily, Weekly, Monthly
Sponsored by: Personal donation, Fee for service
# of children impacted: ~4,000
Free programming offered?: Yes
Phone: (716) 913-6034
Email:Director@BuffaloAnimalAdventures.net
Website:BuffaloAnimalAdventures.net
The Buffalo Audubon Society is dedicated to the promotion, enjoyment, and protection of the natural world through education, advocacy, and community conservation
- Birdwatching, Exploration Hikes, Snowshoe Adventures, and More…
- Lessons on Ornithology, Animal Adaptations, Insects and Pollinators, etc.
Location: Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, Schools, Libraries, community centers
# of children impacted: Varies
Frequency: Weekly, Monthly
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: Fee for service, Grants
Impact: All programs adhere to NYS Next Generation learning standards
Phone: (716) 457-3228
Email: Info@BuffaloAudubon.org
Website: BuffaloAudubon.org
The Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens is a historical, living museum that inspires curiosity and connects people to the natural world.
- Self-guided tours, Kids Day, Family Day, Workshops, and More…
Location: 2655 South Park Avenue
# of children impacted: ~11,000
Frequency: Weekly, Monthly, Annually
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: Foundations, Private donors
Impact: Providing programs for underserved populations has been a long-term commitment of the Botanical Gardens.
Phone: (716) 827-1584
Email: info@BuffaloGardens.com
Website: BuffaloGardens.com
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is a guardian of Western New York’s fresh water, aiming to protect and connect people to their waterways and inspire community engagement.
- River Tours, Young Environmental Leaders, Waterway Cleanup Programs, and More…
Location: Parks, Schools, Community Centers, Museums
# of children impacted: 500
Frequency: Daily, Weekly
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: Grants, Donations
Impact: BNW engages 3,000 volunteers annually in water protection and educates over 500 students through BNW courses and service project events. In addition, BNW removes 25 tons of litter, plants 1,000 trees, and tests over 3,000 water samples annually.
Phone: (716) 852-7483
Email: Info@BNWaterkeeper.org
Website: BNWaterkeeper.org
- Buffalo United Front & Friends of Broderick Park
- The Champion Project
- The Change Circle
- City of Buffalo DPW – Recycling Office
- Family Fishing Day and other volunteer community based activities
Location: Varies
# children impacted: Varies
Frequency: Seasonally
Free programing offered? Yes
Sponsored by: Grants and donations
Website: facebook.com/friendsofbroderickpark
Website: facebook.com/Buffalo-United-Front-Inc-188800781143424
The Champion Project provides opportunities and guidance for kids to become Champions, strengthening the places children learn, live and play.
- Organized Sports, Free Play, Child-Centered Communities, Nature Play, and More…
Location: TBA
Frequency: Other
Sponsored by: Community Foundation of WNY, Project Play Western New York
# of children impacted: Varies
Free programming offered?: Yes
Email: KateBraun10@outlook.com
Website: nfvbjuniors.com/thechampionproject
| The Change Circle encourages the native curiosity in children for discovering wonder in nature while promoting mindfulness. Impact: Provide children with nature immersion activities, increase children and adults appreciation of the benefits of sharing time in nature. Location: Parks, Libraries, Schools Email: dave@TheChangeCircle.com |
The Environmental Champions Program is a joint partnership between Mayor Byron W. Brown, the City of Buffalo, and Buffalo Public Schools that is designed to promote the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
- Conduct a waste audit, learn about waste reduction and recycling
Location: Buffalo Public Schools
# children impacted: 32 schools in 2019
Frequency: Annually
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: City of Buffalo Recycling Education Fund
phone: (716) 851-5568
Email: SAttridge@City-Buffalo.com
- Grassroots Gardens
- Jes Breathe Block Club Association
- NYSDEC Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
- Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc.
Grassroots Gardens is both an urban land trust and facilitator of leased land with over 100 community and school gardens in their network. Their mission is to share knowledge, power, and resources to grow healthy food, heal systemic harm, and strengthen neighborhood connections through community gardens.
Location: 24 Buffalo Public Schools, 3 Buffalo private/charter schools
# children impacted: ~1,500 annually
Frequency: Annually, other
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, WNY CEHC
Phone: (716) 783-9653
Email: GrassrootsGardensDirector@gmail.com
Website: grassrootsgardens.org
- Beautification Projects, Health, Safety, National Night Out, Physical and Nutritional Education, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Programs, and More…
Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
# children impacted: 100 - 200
Frequency: Monthly
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: Donations
Impact: Keeping love, hope, beauty, and unity in our community.
Email: BentlyGirl621@gmail.com
Reinstein Woods promotes knowledge of nature through awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of the unique and diverse environment of Reinstein Woods and its programs.
Impact: The goal is for kids to have an understanding and appreciation of nature in their own neighborhoods and the larger world, resulting in kids who are healthier, happier and do better in school.
Location: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, schools, community centers
# children impacted: 11,000
Frequency: Weekly, Monthly, Annually
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: NYS, Non-profit
Phone: (716) 683-5959
Email: info@ReinsteinWoods.org
Website: reinsteinwoods.org
The Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc. (PAL) provides youth with recreational, educational, cultural, environmental, and preventive program activities in structured, supervised, and organized settings, using professional recreation and law enforcement personnel, in an effort to provide leadership, direction, and an opportunity for those youth to become responsible, successful adults.
- Outdoor Camping and Skiing, Gardening, Organized Sports, and More…
Impact: Over 500 youth have participated in two years. 90% of them reported that their first experience with outdoor camping is with Buffalo PAL and 85% report that they have never gone skiing.
Location: Allegany State Park, City of Buffalo Parks, Kissing Bridge
# children impacted: 500
Frequency: Weekly, Monthly, Annually
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: Community Foundation of WNY
Phone: (716) 851-4615
Email: PoliceAthleticLeague@City-Buffalo.com
Website: BuffaloPAL.com
- Tifft Nature Preserve
- University District Community Development Association, Inc.
- Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo
- Western New York Land Conservancy
Tifft Nature Preserve is a 264-acre nature refuge dedicated to conservation and environmental education.
- Hiking, Birdwatching, Fishing, Watercolor, and More…
Location: 1200 Fuhrmann Boulevard
# children impacted: Varies
Frequency: Seasonally
Free programming offered? No
Sponsored by: State, Federal, and other grants
Phone: (716) 825-6397
Email: TifftReservations@ScienceBuff.org
Website: Tifft.org
The University District Community Development Association promotes connection with nature through volunteer service and stewardship.
- Tree Planting, Bulb Planting, Community Gardening, Park Clean-ups, and More…
Location: University District
# children impacted: ~50
Frequency: Weekly
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: Grants, Donations, Sponsorships
Phone: (716) 832-1010
Website: UDCDA.org
- Community Walks, Safe Routes to School, Education on a variety of health topics, and More…
Impact: Cultural change for improved health, economic, social capital, and the environment
Location: City of Buffalo, Erie County
# children impacted: 350 - 500
Frequency: Monthly
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: Varies
Phone: (716) 687-1225
Email: Wellness@city-Buffalo.com
Website: CreatingHealthyCommunities.org
The Western New York Land Conservancy allows children to experience nature right in their backyards while promoting stewardship and conservation.
- Hiking, Kayaking, Nature Based Art Projects, and More…
Location: Old First Ward, Perry, and Valley Neighborhoods
# children impacted: 50
Frequency: Monthly
Free programming offered?: Yes
Sponsored by: Grants
Phone: (716) 687-1225
Email: Info@WNYLC.org
Website: WNYLC.org