Support Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary


Support Our Work

Donate Now

Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary has been protecting critical habitat in the Pioneer Valley since 1944. But we could not accomplish all that we do without the generous support of our members, donors, volunteers, and program participants.

Make a Donation

Every little bit helps us accomplish our mission. While many of our programs require fees, those fees don't cover the full cost of running the programs, maintaining the facilities, and managing the sanctuaries.

You can give to our . . .

  • Fund for Nature, which provides direct support for the sanctuary, education programs, habitat management, and conservation science.
  • Camp Enrichment Fund to help enhance the summer camp experience for all of our campers
  • Kids to Camp Fund, which helps defray the cost of summer camp for families who cannot afford it

Become a Leadership Friend

Leadership Friends gifts are particularly important to Arcadia because they give us the security we need in order to plan and provide the best possible natural history education experience for our many constituents. Please consider joining our:

→ Founder’s Circle with a gift of $2,500+
→ President’s Circle with a gift of $1,500+
→ Guardian level with a gift of $1,000+

Volunteer

We are always looking for helping hands for:

  • Visitor services
  • Education
  • Property stewardship

Browse our list of current volunteer opportunities!


Why Support Arcadia?

Critical Habitat & More

Arcadia protects more than 750 acres consisting of diverse and important habitat. We use the wildlife sanctuary as an educational and recreational resource for people of all ages and abilities.

  • Arcadia contains three natural communities listed as rare in Massachusetts.
  • Arcadia is home to 33 rare species or species of special concern.
  • We maintain over 250 acres of open habitat including grasslands, shrublands, and agricultural lands. Open cover type is essential for protecting many bird species which rely on this habitat.
  • We are always looking to protect more land with high conservation value.
  • Community members of all ages come out to our programs held year-round at Arcadia and other conservation lands throughout the Valley. See all upcoming programs >
  • Arcadia’s sensory trail provides an opportunity for people with visual impairment or mobility limitations to explore the natural world.
  • Arcadia-based staff also manage other sanctuaries—Laughing Brook, Graves Farm, and Lynes Woods—collectively with Arcadia known as the Connecticut River Valley Sanctuaries.

School Work

Natural science comes alive for students through field trips and school visits.

  • We host school field trips at Arcadia and explore the field, pond, and forest habitats with students from Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties.
  • Our educators and volunteers lead programs in classrooms and schoolyards, connecting students to nature in unlikely places and ways.
Family in a canoe exploring a pond at Mass Audubon's Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary

Summer Camp & Nature Preschool

Arcadia Nature Day Camp and Arcadia Nature Preschool have been connecting kids to nature for decades. Both are certified by the ACA and ECC, respectively.

  • Over 400 kids attend camp each summer to learn and have fun. They canoe on the Mill River, investigate the forest, learn nature photography, and much more.
  • Arcadia’s preschool was one of the first nature preschools in the country. Every day kids are outside, developing a connection with nature that will last their entire lives.
  • Campers and preschoolers both use the amazing Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary as their classroom.

Expanded Reach

There is a strong need to build people’s connection with the natural world. We are always working to expand the reach of our environmental education programming to new and underserved population, such as urban youth, veterans, and seniors. Support from donors and volunteers makes increased programming possible.