Category Archives: Wildlife Sanctuaries

Feeling Ducky?

Posted on August 8, 2012 by

If you could have an all-expense paid dinner for two anywhere in the world, where would you go? That’s the question that the winner of Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary’s 9th annual Duck Derby will need to wrestle with in less than two weeks.

On August 17th at 6 p.m., approximately 5,500 numbered rubber ducks are expected to be released en masse on the incoming tide between Buzzards Bay and Allens Pond.

The first duck to float across the finish line will award it’s owner dinner for two, air travel, and two night’s accommodations anywhere in the world. Runner ups have a chance at as many as 49 other prizes. Even the last duck across the finish line—dubbed the “slacker quacker”—earns its owner a free entry to the 2013 Duck Derby and a chance to try again.

Want in on the action? All you have to do is “adopt” one or more little yellow rubber duckies to enter the race. One duck will cost you $10 (five for 40; 13 for $100 … you get the drift), with the funds supporting Mass Audubon’s work at Allens Pond in South Dartmouth.

Prize winners will be announced at the Duck Derby Festival, which takes place at Allens Pond on Saturday August 18 and features a “Ducky Dash 5K” at 8 am, followed by a “Kids Totally Quackers” Obstable Course at 9:15. From 10am-2 pm, participants can enjoy a variety of food, exhibits, games, live music, a plant auction, and a silent action.

Good luck! And may the luckiest duck win!

Welcoming the Governor

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Hillary T.

Tuesday, July 17 was no ordinary day for the campers at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick. When they arrived at camp, they were told there would be a special visitor and the crew quickly sprang into action creating welcome banners. Who was the visitor? None other than Governor Deval Patrick.

Governor Patrick was at Broadmoor to join Anita Walker of Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), Marty Jones of MassDevelopment, State Representative David Linsky, and State Senator Karen Spilka to award cultural nonprofits (including Broadmoor) grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF).

Broadmoor, specifically, will receive $185,000 from CFF to put toward upgrading and expanding the Saltonstall Nature Center, one of the state’s pioneering green buildings. All of the speakers echoed Governor Patrick in noting how important cultural institutions including Mass Audubon, the Danforth Art Museum in Framingham, and the deCordova Museum in Lincoln are for the state of Massachusetts and its residents.

“Our investments in our cultural life is about completing us. It’s about completing us as community, as human beings, and completing us economically as well,” he said.

Governor Patrick and Senator Spilka enjoyed the opportunity to tour the current nature center as well as to take a brief walk on Broadmoor’s universally accessible All Person’s Trail. Mass Audubon is so thankful to Massachusetts Cultural Council, MassDevelopment, and the Governor for honoring us not only with their visit but with the funds to make Broadmoor’s project a reality.