Pickering Creek Audubon Center

What Pickering Creek Audubon Center does

Pickering Creek Audubon Center is a 501(c)(3) wildlife sanctuary and environmental education nonprofit operating on a 400-450 acre property along tidal Pickering Creek in Talbot County, Maryland. Founded in 1984 when the Olds and Strahl families donated the land to Chesapeake Audubon Society (EIN 52-1038833), the center provides hands-on, field-based programming for K-12 students from at least eight Maryland counties and the District of Columbia, plus families, volunteers, and the general public. Its core product suite includes EcoCamp (a seven-week summer day camp at $350/week with transportation and scholarships), School Programs and Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences aligned to NGSS and Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards, the Junior Naturalist Club for grades 7-12, Nature Preschool Programs, Public Programs priced at $10/person, and a Build Your Own Program offering for custom field experiences. The center's "technology" is experiential rather than digital: a working farm with hardwood forest, marsh, meadow, and wetland habitats functioning as a living classroom, together with a 60-box Eastern Bluebird trail monitored by volunteers and citizen science participation through eBird, Project FeederWatch, and Monarch Watch.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack in which private contributions (individuals, corporations, foundations, major donors, and events such as the 'Something of the Marvelous' challenge) supply roughly two-thirds of the operating budget, with program fees (school field trips priced affordably with contributions covering the gap, $350/week EcoCamp, $10 public programs), grants (Chesapeake Bay Trust, NOAA B-Wet), an annual birdseed sale, and planned giving/endowment vehicles supplying the remainder. Public trail access is free 365 days per year. Distribution is direct and place-based through on-site visits, off-site school delivery, and virtual Zoom programming that reached over 2,000 participants during the pandemic period. The center is staffed by approximately 7-10 full-time employees plus 8-10 seasonal educators, supported by 240+ volunteers donating 3,330+ hours annually, with reach cited at 16,000+ student visits and 13,000+ total contacts per year. In July 2021 the board of Chesapeake Audubon Society ended a 21-year operating partnership with the National Audubon Society and resumed direct independent management of the center.

Name

Pickering Creek Audubon Center

Legal name

Chesapeake Audubon Society, Inc.

Website

https://pickeringcreek.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pickering Creek Audubon Center is a Maryland 501(c)(3) wildlife sanctuary operating a 450-acre environmental education campus for K-12 students across eight counties, families, and the general public, delivering summer EcoCamp, school programs, and citizen science volunteer engagement funded primarily by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG), Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Outdoor/Nature/Forest Preschools (EDACABAJ), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Wildlife sanctuary management
• Habitat conservation services
• K-12 field trip programs
• Nature summer camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Easton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Contributions and Donations: Private contributions provide roughly two-thirds of the operating budget. Donations come from individuals, corporations, foundations, and special events like 'Something of the Marvelous' challenge. Includes annual giving, monthly recurring gifts, and major donor programs (Founders Circle $1,000+).
2. EcoCamp Fees: Summer day camp program charging $350 per camper per week ($280 for 4-day week June 15-19). Transportation available for $35 per camper per week. Scholarship assistance available for families in need.
3. Public Program Fees: Public programs such as sunset paddles, nature journaling, monarch tagging, wading in wetlands charged at $10 per person. Age restrictions apply (typically 6+ years).
4. Program Fees for Schools: School field trip and multi-day program fees. Programs offered at rate extremely affordable to school systems with contributions covering the difference. Contact for specific pricing.
5. Birdseed Sales: Annual birdseed sale with pre-orders in October, pickup in November. Products include black-oil sunflower seed, backyard mix, Chesapeake blend, conservation mix, peanut halves, suet cakes. Revenue supports center operations.
6. Planned Giving and Endowments: Bequests, IRA charitable rollovers, charitable gift annuities, legacy gifts. George Olds & Margaret Strahl Founders Circle for $1,000+ annual donors with special benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pickering Creek Audubon Center operates a 450-acre wildlife sanctuary and environmental education center on Maryland's Eastern Shore, delivering outdoor K-12 school programs, summer EcoCamp day camp, Junior Naturalist teen leadership programs, nature preschool sessions, public nature events, and volunteer-based habitat conservation (Eastern Bluebird nest box trail, native plantings, stream restoration). Programs are aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards, with free public trail access 365 days a year as a community engagement anchor.

Product overview

Pickering Creek Audubon Center operates as an environmental education nonprofit offering a comprehensive suite of programs for children, students, and community members. The center's portfolio includes EcoCamp (summer day camp), School Programs (field trips aligned to NGSS standards), Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs), Junior Naturalist Club (teen leadership program), Nature Preschool Programs, Build Your Own Program (customizable activities), Volunteer Programs, and Public Programs. These offerings are unified by the center's mission to conserve natural habitats on Maryland's Eastern Shore through exploration, education, and stewardship. The center spans 400-450 acres and serves thousands of Marylanders annually across eight counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EcoCamp Summer Day Camp A seven-week summer day camp for children entering K-7th grade offering outdoor activities including swimming, pond exploration, marsh activities, hiking, games, canoeing, fishing, animal encounters, and birding on the 450-acre sanctuary at $350/camper/week ($280 for 4-day week June 15-19).
• School Programs (Field Trips) Day-long or multi-day field trip programs for grades 1-12 aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards, featuring hands-on outdoor science experiences including wetland exploration, forest investigations, ponding, bird surveys, and biodiversity studies.
• Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs) Multi-day immersive programs combining classroom investigations, field experiences at Pickering Creek, student-driven action projects, and reflection. Encompasses ACT 4 Birds, Wetlands and Climate Change, and Audubon Watershed Experience for middle and high school grades.
• Junior Naturalist Club Year-round program for 7th-12th graders offering monthly meetings, field trips, outdoor skills development, citizen science participation, and summer EcoCamp counselor opportunities as a leadership pipeline.
• Nature Preschool Programs Season-specific two-hour programs for preschoolers featuring story time, outdoor exploration, and crafts; can be delivered on-site at the sanctuary or in partner classrooms. Sessions include Marvelous Monarchs, Falling Leaves, Animals in Winter, Owls, Signs of Spring, Busy Pollinators, Scientific Method, Habitats, and Birds of a Feather.
• Build Your Own Program Customizable field experience combining 2-4 activities selected from Canoeing, Ponding, Reptiles, Fishing, Ornithology, Tracks and Traces, Trees and Forests, Wetland Ecology, Marvelous Monarchs, and Teambuilding for schools and groups.
• Volunteer Programs Structured volunteer opportunities for community members including gardeners, weed warriors, groundskeepers, trail monitors, eBird monitors, nest box monitors (60-box Eastern Bluebird trail), Project FeederWatch participants, writers, photographers, and office support; 240+ volunteers donate 3,330+ hours annually.
• Public Programs Family-friendly community events including Summer Sunset Paddles, Wading in the Wetlands, Nature Journaling workshops, Monarch Butterfly Migration and Tagging, Pollinator Gardening Days, and Aquatic Life of the Creek, priced at $10 per person.
• Environmental Literacy Learning Community Professional development program for school leadership including curriculum supervisors, principals, and vice principals from Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne's, and Talbot counties, offering CPD credits through district collaborations and environmental literacy best practices.
• Habitat for Habitat Program Conservation partnership program with Habitat for Humanity Choptank in which Pickering Creek helps homeowners install native plant gardens that provide habitat for birds and pollinators while supporting water quality; participating homeowners earn sweat equity hours.
• Plant Natives Education Educational program teaching the importance of native plants for supporting birds and insects, with resources directing Maryland residents to native plant vendors.
• Annual Birdseed Sale Annual fundraiser retail sale of birdseed products (black-oil sunflower seed, backyard mix, Chesapeake blend, conservation mix, peanut halves, suet cakes, safflower, thistle) with pre-orders in October and pickup in November; revenue supports center operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 16,000 school children visit annually for hands-on environmental education experiences
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ShoreRiversminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in Environmental Literacy Learning Community for school leadership. Collaborates on district-level environmental literacy efforts across Eastern Shore counties.
• Habitat for Humanity ChoptankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Native Habitats for Habitat program working with 6 homeowners to install bird and bay-friendly native plant gardens. Homeowners earn sweat equity hours through participation.
• University of Kansas (Monarch Watch)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Participation in University of Kansas Monarch Watch tagging program. Students learn about monarch migration and participate in citizen science tagging activities during fall programs.
• Blackwater National Wildlife RefugeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partnership with US Fish & Wildlife Service refuge for Dorchester County 6th grade field trip experiences. Pickering Creek educators lead salt marsh restoration sessions with students planting native grasses.
• Environmental ConcernminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partner in Governor's Stream Restoration Challenge providing expertise for Tanyard Branch stream restoration. Assisted with tree planting and stream buffer restoration involving students.
• Town of EastonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partner in Governor's Stream Restoration Challenge project. Collaboration on Tanyard Branch stream restoration involving Easton High School students.
• Talbot County GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partner in Governor's Stream Restoration Challenge project supporting environmental education and stream buffer restoration efforts.
• Chesapeake Bay Gateways NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Partnership with National Park Service through Chesapeake Bay Gateways program. Received funding to develop curriculum guides 'Gateways to Conservation' for grades 1-5 and 6-8.
• National Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Operating partnership established in 2000 when Pickering Creek became Pickering Creek Audubon Center under NAS operating agency. Partnership ended July 2021 when CAS board returned to direct leadership. National Audubon Society provided operational support and alignment with Audubon network programs.
• Chesapeake Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984Pickering Creek Audubon Center is owned and operated by Chesapeake Audubon Society, Inc. (EIN 52-1038833), a chapter of National Audubon Society and independent 501(c)(3) organization. CAS donated the property in 1984 and maintains governance through board oversight. In July 2021, CAS board returned to direct leadership and management of the center.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Anita C. Leight Estuary Center: Harford County (Maryland) nature center offering school programs, summer camps, and public programs on the Bush River/Chesapeake Bay — directly comparable mission and program mix in a different MD county.
• Mt. Cuba Center: Delaware-based native plant garden and education center offering formal school programs, teacher professional development, and public programs — comparable educational programming and Mid-Atlantic donor pool.

Broad incumbents

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Large regional environmental nonprofit operating education programs, field experiences, and restoration across the Chesapeake Bay watershed — broader scope and budget, but overlapping curriculum and grant-funder pool with Pickering Creek.
• Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Edgewater, MD-based research and education center delivering professional development and student programs on Chesapeake Bay ecosystems — overlapping audience and content, but with a research-led rather than school-led emphasis.
• National Audubon Society: National conservation nonprofit running a network of 500+ nature centers and sanctuaries; Pickering Creek previously operated under NAS (2000–2021) and continues to align with Audubon educational frameworks.

Direct peers

• Adkins Arboretum: Nonprofit native-plant arboretum on Maryland's Eastern Shore offering school programs, public nature programs, and trails — closest geographic and programmatic peer for outdoor education on the Mid-Shore.
• Irvine Nature Center: Maryland-based environmental education nonprofit with K-12 school programs, summer camps, public programs, and a comparable mission — overlapping programmatic portfolio and donor/funder base.
• Howard County Conservancy: Maryland land trust and environmental education center offering school field trips, summer camps, and volunteer-driven conservation — comparable nonprofit structure and K-12 outreach model.
• Oregon Ridge Nature Center: Baltimore County nature center delivering nature preschool, summer camps, school field trips, and public programs on a comparable acreage scale — strong analog for programming mix and audience.
• Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary: Operates a 1,700+ acre wetland sanctuary in Lothian, Maryland delivering K-12 environmental education, public programs, and citizen science — directly comparable scope, mission, and Maryland-based operating footprint to Pickering Creek.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pickeringcreek
• Facebookfacebook.com/pickeringcreek
• Instagraminstagram.com/pickeringcreek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pickering-creek-audubon-ctr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pickering Creek Audubon Center