(5/12) Strawberry Hill is no stranger to strong community support, as seen during its annual ‘A Night For Nature’ event April 21. Over 100 supporters of Strawberry Hill attended the event. This year’s beautiful evening of environmental stewardship welcomed the community as it met its fundraising goals and raised $23,000 for environmental education programs for both the young and the young at heart.
The auction included over 75 amazing auction items, including luxury picnics, private dinners, multi-day vacation packages, glider rides, and more. In addition to bidding on items, attendees had the opportunity to "raise a paddle" to provide a month's worth of food for Strawberry Hill's Animal Ambassadors. Collectively, supporters provided over a year of food for Strawberry Hill’s owl, skunk, and turtles.
These program animals are crucial to our mission of environmental education. Strix, the Barred Owl, allows students to get up-close to a bird of prey and introduces the concept of the food chain through an owl pellet dissection. The snakes, turtles, and toad help children learn the native species that call this area home, distinguish reptiles from amphibians, and the importance of a healthy ecosystem. Naturalists use our insects to teach about life cycles, invasive species, and the significance of pollinators.
In addition, Strawberry Hill has partnered with the Adams County Winery on a new wine called Nature’s Preserve. A portion of the proceeds from the wine will go to Strawberry Hill and help continually inspire stewardship of the natural world and invaluable contributions to the community.
Nature’s Preserves is described as a "delightfully sweet Catawba and strawberry wine, sweetened with strawberry juice and infused with a hint of basil." Inspired by dedication of the local nature reserve, notes of wild strawberry come alive in every sip, with a taste so much sweeter knowing it is supporting the mission of the local nature nonprofit.
Proving that "grape" minds think alike, the winery presented the collaborative wine idea to the nature preserve about six months ago and Strawberry Hill enthusiastically jumped on board, said Amanda Markle, Environmental Education Manager.
With its major fundraiser behind it, Strawberry Hill now readies for school groups and summer programs, Markel said. Strawberry Hill has been able to educate more than 105,000 people since their foundation in 1986. For decades, they have been planting seeds, nourishing minds, and nurturing an appreciation for the natural world. These lessons learned leave a lasting impact. The children they educate grow up to be scientists, environmental engineers, zoologists, foresters, educators, entomologists, and ecologists who will carry on their mission.
More information about Strawberry Hill can be found at strawberryhill.org
