Organizations Filed Purposes:
We connect children and adults to nature through education, conservation, arts, and Blueway Trail initiatives at an exquisite greenspace promoting youth development, health and wellness, environmental stewardship, land conservation, and community development.
Our organization creates personal experiences with nature through innovative education programs, conservation projects, and art installations at a wondrous greenspace that we manage, enhance, and love.
Conservation: Commitment to conserve precious acreage in Atlanta for public use motivated a local educator and impassioned community leaders to establish our nonprofit organization in 2000. Twenty years later, passion to conserve this land continues to propel our major initiatives. A National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant funded critical improvements to the Eidson Mill Trailhead, enhancements to halt ground cover runoff into the street, educational signage, and landscaping to beautify this popular entry to our Blueway Trail. Volunteers donated 200 hours for social distancing trail cleanups and removal of invasive plants. A trailblazing beaver dam project located at our City of Atlanta nature preserve reflects our passion to enhance environmental health and educational opportunities at the Preserve and to reinforce our goals of innovation and civic leadership.
Education: Blue Heron Nature Preserve educators remained resolute and resourceful in fostering discovery, exploration, and appreciation about nature through our programs in 2020. Despite the difficult decision to cancel in-person summer camp, our organization engaged 2,600 students and families with in-person and virtual education programs rooted in Reggio Emilia curriculum. First quarter 2020 school break camps, field trips, nature-themed birthday parties, and after school programs were complimented with Facebook live events, Grab N Go activity bags for home and off-site instruction, and the development of the Youth Conservation Leaders program for teens. Diversity in our educational offerings ensures our impact with children of diverse backgrounds and aspirations.
Public Art: Art programs at Blue Heron Nature Preserve advanced our goal of providing free access for all to great art in a great setting. With seven nature-themed works by local and regional artists on display at the Blueway Trail, our six-week Art of Nature outdoor exhibition, curated by a yearly Artist in Residence, attracted art lovers across the Atlanta region. Two Blue Heron Indoor Gallery exhibits by local artists spurred additional public interest and visits for the Preserve. We are setting the groundwork for a successful 2021 with our arts programs as outdoor enthusiasts and arts lovers seek Blue Heron for relief, relaxation, and reflection.
Executives Listed on Filing
Total Salary includes financial earnings, benefits, and all related organization earnings listed on tax filing
| Name | Title | Hours Per Week | Total Salary |
|---|
| Melody Harclerode | Executive Director | 40 | $48,461 |
| Steve Mcinaney | Director | 1 | $0 |
| Robert Threlkeld | Director | 4 | $0 |
| Jennifer Patrick | Secretary | 3 | $0 |
| Mark Wills | Director | 2 | $0 |
| Krysta Cannon | Treasurer | 4 | $0 |
| Robert Cook | Vice President | 4 | $0 |
| Norris Broyles | President | 7 | $0 |
| Lindsay Johnson | Director | 2 | $0 |
| Betsy Lane | Director | 2 | $0 |
| Margaret Gonzales | Director | 3 | $0 |
| Kitsie Riggall | Director | 2 | $0 |
Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (
public 990 form dataset) from:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202121349349304392_public.xml