Irvine Ranch Water District Honors Sea and Sage Audubon as a Key Partner

Published Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Share |
Print

Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500

Sea and Sage Valued Partner for 19 Years

Irvine Ranch Water District honored Sea and Sage Audubon as a partner in education at its September 26 Board of Directors meeting. The September theme for the IRWD 50th anniversary is education.

"The unique partnership between Sea and Sage Audubon and IRWD began in 1992," said IRWD Interim General Manager Paul Cook. "Sea and Sage was offered the use of what is now known as The Audubon House – formerly a bunk house for the duck hunting club that used the marsh for more than 60 years – in exchange for promoting education, awareness and understanding of the marsh environment."

The Sea and Sage Chapter of Audubon was founded in 1958 with a mission to protect birds and their habitats through conservation, science and education for people of all ages.

With help from the Joan Irvine Smith and Athalie R. Clarke Foundation, the Marsh Education Project was launched in 1992, with development of its Outdoors Adventure Program. Trude Hurd was hired as the Project Director of Education.

Over the years, Audubon has hosted thousands of fourth through sixth grade students on their Tuesday and Thursday field trips. This two-hour interactive program, Outdoor Adventures, has received high praise from local educators and is used as a national model of excellence by the National Audubon Society.

In addition to Outdoor Adventures, Audubon hosts an array of programs such as Nature Day Camps, bat walks, group tours, Seasons of Nature, Art Meets Science and more at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Sea & Sage Audubon has been an outstanding partner to Irvine Ranch Water District. Trude Hurd was also recognized for her unwavering commitment to community education. Her dedication complements the IRWD commitment to education.

For more information about Sea and Sage and the San Joaquin Marsh, please visit the IRWD.

From left, IRWD Board members John Withers, Mary Aileen Matheis and Peer Swan; Marsh Education Project Director Trude Hurd; IRWD Interim General Manager Paul Cook; Carolyn Nobel, Education Chairman; Bruce Aird, Sea and Sage President; IRWD Board President Steve LaMar and IRWD Board Member Doug Reinhart.

© Irvine Ranch Water District | Contact Us | Media | Links | Privacy Policy | Home