Annual
Report
2 14
Transformation through Collaboration
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We all know the saying “two heads are better than
one.” Or how about “many hands make light work?” At
the EcoTarium, working together as a team is essential
to everything we do. During popular events like Great
Pumpkin Fest, Earth Day, or Free Fun Friday when more
than 5,000 visitors can be on campus, we couldn’t do it
without the help of every single member of our staff and a
great many volunteers. Working together, we make great
things happen.
Collaboration is even more important at the organizational
level. As a mid-sized science and nature museum, the
EcoTarium’s resources are limited. We are just one of many
similarly sized cultural sites, competing for audience,
funds, and recognition in a world rich with entertainment
and educational possibilities. And by collaborating with
local, national, and internationally-renowned organizations
we are able to make wonderful things happen.
2014 at the EcoTarium was a year of transformation
through collaboration. It was about bringing together
new partnerships and building on old alliances to
increase the museum’s capacity to serve our community.
It was about setting new standards so that we can reach
new heights, working with incredible organizations
like National Geographic, WGBH, and the Arbor Day
Foundation to provide national-level quality experiences
in Central Massachusetts. And about deepening existing
partnerships with key community assets including
Worcester Public Schools, Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
the Greater Worcester Land Trust, and many local
businesses and corporations. It was a year when we saw
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E C OTA R I U M A NNUAL REPO RT 2014
our work as lead organization on two federal grants with
the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and as a
partner site on two National Science Foundation grants,
bear fruit, paving the way to improving how we serve our
diverse audiences.
It is our hope that when the stewards of the EcoTarium
of tomorrow look back on 2014 and all that we have
accomplished through collaboration, they will see it
as a turning point, the pivotal moment at which this
iconic Worcester treasure transformed to become an
indispensible national asset, securing the strongest of
futures as we rapidly approach our 200th anniversary
in 2025.
Joe Cox, Ray Quinlan, President Chair, Board of Trustees
”Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so much.”
– Helen Keller
The EcoTarium Fun Facts
In 2014 the
EcoTarium welcomed
144,756
guests, the highest
in recent history
As a leader in informal
science and nature
education, the
EcoTarium welcomed
25,145
guests
as part of an educational
group in 2014
In 2014 the EcoTarium
memberships totaled
2,202
As of May 2015, over
9,500
EcoTarium fans are
now following us on
Facebook. Check us
out on Pinterest and
YouTube, too
Kudos!
In April, we were once again awarded Worcester
Magazine’s “Best Family Fun Destination” in their annual
Best of Worcester competition. Thanks for voting for us!
In May, the EcoTarium was awarded the Association of
Children’s Museums (ACM) and MetLife Foundation’s
2014 Promising Practice Award Reimagined for
Countdown to Kindergarten, our celebratory event
designed to help kindergarten-bound children and
their families prepare to successfully transition into the
Worcester Public School system.
A special thank you goes to...
The Yawkey Foundations for featuring the
EcoTarium on the front cover and inside their
2014 Grants Report. The Yawkey Foundation
has generously supported our SCOPE program
(Special Community Outreach Programs of the
EcoTarium) for many years. SCOPE improves
accessibility to the museum for those members
of our community who otherwise might find it
difficult to visit with us.
World-renowned artist Stephen Knapp for
providing a private tour of his studio for our 1825
Society members. Mr. Knapp is best known as
the creator of lightpaintings, and has had solo
exhibitions of his art at sites around the country
including the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Baker
Museum, and the Butler Institute of American
Art. For information about joining our prestigious
1825 Society, please see the Membership page
on our website ecotarium.org.
Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department
of Early Education and Care, Thomas L. Weber,
who visited with us on June 25 as part of the
state’s Brain Building in Progress initiative.
Commissioner Weber proved he was an old hand
at reading children’s stories and entertaining an
eager crowd of kids!
In August, Worcester Living Magazine recognized the
EcoTarium for being the “Best Place to Take the Kids.”
Thank you to all our fans!
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Transformation Through Collaboration
National Geographic Partnership
When you’re a mid-sized museum of science and nature,
it’s a good idea to partner with organizations and academic
institutions that can help you bring cutting-edge research
and events to your audience. It’s an incredibly fantastic
idea to partner with what could arguably be the most wellknown and renowned non-profit scientific and educational
institution in the world: National Geographic. On October
1, 2014, the EcoTarium was beyond thrilled to announce
that we were one of only a limited number of museums
around the country invited to become a partner. Benefits
include special access to one of the world’s largest and
most diverse libraries of award-winning science, nature
and adventure films, as well as educational materials
and promotional opportunities for the museum, our
educational visitors, and our members! It also brings us
one step closer to enacting the EcoTarium’s vision of
becoming a national leader in engaging communities with
science and nature.
In honor of our new partnership,
the EcoTarium and the George
I. Alden Trust were delighted to
rename our planetarium as the
Alden Digital Planetarium: A
National Geographic Theater.
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WGBH’s Plum Landing Alights
at the EcoTarium
We were delighted to meet Plum, the
cute purple alien star of WGBH’s Plum
Landing online educational series, when
the EcoTarium became the national museum outreach
partner for the PBS Kids Plum Landing initiative. As a
space traveler from the planet Blorb, Plum leads kids ages
6-9 through an indoor/outdoor exploration of space and
planet Earth. Using a specially developed digital curriculum
available through videos, animated games and even an
app, Plum’s curiosity gets kids excited about discovering
the world around them. The EcoTarium is helping to bring
Plum Landing to the museum community nationwide.
TM
1825 + National Geographic =
A Red Carpet Premiere Event
Members of the EcoTarium’s
prestigious 1825 Society and
generous donors to the museum
celebrated in style on October 8 as
we welcomed National Geographic
as a museum partner. With special
guest Mark Katz, president of
distribution for National Geographic
Studios and featuring the New
England premiere of the spectacular
movie Mysteries of the Unseen
World, it was a beyond-this-world
first class event.
Debut of the EcoTarium’s
Nationally-Certified
Nature Explore® Outdoor Exhibit
One of the most visible transformations of 2014 was the
area previously known as the Freedman Playground. In
its natural wooded setting, the Playground had been a
popular destination since it opened in 2004. But for many
children, particularly those who live in more urban areas,
playing and learning in nature does not come naturally;
being outside feels unfamiliar, maybe even a little scary.
The future wellbeing of our environment requires that we
help these children not just become more familiar with
the outdoors, but that they enjoy it and value it. Nature
Explore® is a concept collaboratively developed by the
Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational
Thank you to
Joan and Rif Freedman
The August 20, 2014 grand
opening of Nature Explore®
proved to be a beautiful event
on a beautiful day. What made
the event particularly meaningful
was the presence and delight
of Joan and Rif Freedman,
who so generously supported
the creation of the original
Freedman Playground. We
thank them for their continuing
support and kindness.
Research Foundation in partnership with organizations
such as Keep America Beautiful, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Designed to help children learn to play and learn in
nature, the EcoTarium’s Nature Explore® Outdoor Exhibit
incorporates the original Freedman Playground, and uses
the natural beauty of the land to craft distinct areas that
support children’s interactions with the natural world.
Whether it’s building objects out of twigs in the Messy
Materials Area, acting out stories or making up songs in
the Music and Movement Area, or getting dirty in the Dirt
Digging Area, we’ve seen children spend hours outside
without needing any encouragement. Fortunately, we
included lots of places for their parents to sit while they
do. Thank you to all of our generous supporters for making
this happen.
Brick Pavers
Want to make a lasting
impression in Nature
Explore®? How about
purchasing one of our
personalized Brick Pavers!
Celebrate a special birthday,
graduation, or how much you
love your dog. For details
please visit ecotarium.org.
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Starting School Right with
Countdown to Kindergarten
Starting kindergarten is a big deal – for young children
and their families or caregivers. New faces, new
experiences, new expectations, it can be overwhelming!
On Tuesday, August 26, the EcoTarium and Worcester
Public Schools jointly presented Worcester’s first
Countdown to Kindergarten, a free event designed
to prepare Worcester Public Schools’ incoming
kindergartners and their families for the transition to
kindergarten. Over 300 children (along with their siblings,
parents, and caregivers – more than 1,000 visitors in all)
learned important skills such as how to climb aboard
a school bus, cross the street safely, visit with a school
nurse, and write their name on their lunch bag.
Story book readings were provided by Worcester
Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Melinda Boone;
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and
Care Commissioner, Thomas Weber; and Worcester’s
Mayor, Joseph Petty. Modeled on the popular Boston
Children’s Museum event of the same name, Countdown
to Kindergarten is designed to calm children’s fears,
ease the transition into school, and get everyone off to
the best start possible in this next stage in their lives.
Thanks to a host of community supporters, including the
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences,
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., Worcester Public Library,
Durham School Services, and Quinsigamond Community
College, the event was a huge hit!
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The Association of Children’s
Museums (ACM) and
MetLife Foundation jointly
recognized the EcoTarium’s
Countdown to Kindergarten
event for adding special
features to support families
who experience physical
or mental challenges and
learning or social difficulties.
EcoTarium Land Preservation
As a museum of both science and nature, the EcoTarium is
committed to using our blend of landscaped and natural
grounds to help our visitors become more aware of the
beauty and diversity of New England’s flora and fauna,
the importance of ecological balance, and the role they
can play in preserving our environment. In June of 2014,
we got to play a more active part in land preservation.
In partnership with the State of Massachusetts, City of
Worcester, and Greater Worcester Land Trust, we were
able to preserve for all time nearly 20 acres of land that
is part of the EcoTarium’s campus. The Ancient Black Oak
Savannah habitat, home to the Orange Sallow Moth – a
designated species of special concern in Massachusetts
– will be safe for generations to come thanks to these
efforts. The EcoTarium will continue to use the land for
educational purposes and for parking during our busy
events, in selected areas.
From the Lab to the Neighborhood
Learning at the EcoTarium is designed to be fun! But can
our museum exhibits also be designed to positively impact
how visitors think about their urban neighborhoods?
Maybe even help our communities become greener,
safer, and better places to live? In the second year of
a National Science Foundation funded collaborative
project with the University of Massachusetts Amherst,
Clark University, and Loyola Marymount University in Los
Angeles, we invited curious and fun-loving people of all
ages – in the community and at the museum – to help us
explore the idea. After testing new interactive exhibits
that delved into a range of urban design issues – including
how housing developments can impact local wildlife, and
how adding parks and trees can keep cities cooler and
healthier in the summer – visitors were invited to design
their ideal neighborhoods and compare their efforts with
other people’s designs. Their results allow us see whether
learning about urban ecology in a fun and hands-on way
helps our visitors to think “green.” What a great way to
inspire a passion for science and nature!
Partnering with the Regional
Environmental Council (REC)
With a little help from our friends at REC’s Youth Grow
program, the EcoTarium was able to turn a patch of
scrubby bushes by our sunny outdoor cafe into a beautiful
raised vegetable garden. It looked beautiful, inspired
our visitors to grow their own vegetables, and provided
a delicious source of organic greens for our staff and
volunteers.
Helping to Make STEM Education
a Regional Priority
EcoTarium President Joe Cox was invited to participate
in regional efforts to develop a STEM-focused (science,
technology, engineering, math) strategic plan for schools
as a panelist at Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s STEM
Education Center. The EcoTarium has partnered with
schools and teachers for many years to design and
provide unique hands-on science programming that fits
with today’s STEM curricula. The year-long program,
titled STEM Integration for District Leaders, will help
K-12 teachers and schools explore their best options for
excellence in STEM education.
Worcester: The City that Reads:
A City-Wide Literacy Venture
On October 3, the EcoTarium celebrated citywide efforts
to make Worcester: The City That Reads. This expansive
partnership of local schools, colleges, universities, and
organizations aims to raise awareness of the importance
of literacy in the community. At the EcoTarium we gave
books away to families attending our regular Preschool
and Toddler Wednesdays, and to those who joined us
outside in our Nature Explore® Outdoor Exhibit for an
interactive story and acting program. To encourage
early reading efforts, children could also borrow some
of our favorite story books to read to one of our indoor
feathered, furry, or scaly friends.
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January 16:
January 31:
March 22:
Elmo and Cookie Monster
make a visit
Boys Night Out:
Astronomy Adventure
18th Annual
Women in Science
January 18:
February 18 – 21:
March 29:
Planetarium Show Premiere:
Back to the Moon for Good
School Vacation:
“Maker” Week
6th Annual Men
in STEM
January 18 & 19:
March 1:
April 22 – 25:
Members’ Weekend
Brownies “Take a Hike”
January 25:
March 13:
School Vacation:
“Close Encounters
of the Wild Kind”
Exhibit Opening:
Animals Without Passports
Worcester Public
Schools Science Fair
Rain or shine, summer or winter, there’s always something
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July 6, 20 & Aug. 3, 17:
August 12:
September 27:
Birds of Prey programs
A visit by Caterpillar Lab
July 7 – August 15:
August 20:
Siegfried’s 50th Birthday
and Smithsonian Day
2014 Summer
Discovery Camp
Nature Explore®
Outdoor Exhibit opens
July 18 & Aug. 15:
August 26:
Keeper Caper programs
Countdown to Kindergarten
July 25 & Aug. 22:
August 29:
Bubble Bubble Pop
programs
Free Fun Friday
(sponsored by Highland
Street Foundation)
October 1:
Renamed Alden Digital
Planetarium: A National
Geographic Theater
in honor of our new
partnership
October 3:
Worcester: The City
that Reads day at
the EcoTarium
April 25:
May 17:
June 7:
25th Annual
Earth Day Celebration
3rd Annual A Night at
the Museum fundraiser
May 10:
May 24:
Exhibit Opening:
Run! Jump! Fly! and
YMCA 150th Anniversary
Celebration Family Fun Day
Worcester Incubator for
Innovation: Community
Transportation Day
Tree Canopy Walkway
opens for the season
June 15:
May 11:
May 24:
Father’s Day
(free admission for Dad)
Exhibit Opening:
Play on the Plaza
Mother’s Day
(free admission for Mom)
July 1 – August 19:
Movers & Shakers
every Tuesday
fun for the whole family to discover at the EcoTarium
October 4:
October 11 & 12:
November:
Exhibit Opening:
KEVA: Build It Up!
Girl’s Night Out:
Science Adventure
Teacher Appreciation Month
October 4 & 5:
October 25:
Members’ Weekend
11th Annual Great
Pumpkin Fest
Monthly KEVA
Facebook Challenges!
October 8:
Planetarium Show Premiere
and special 1825 and
Donor Event: National
Geographic’s Mysteries
of the Unseen World
October 29:
Annual Preschool and
Toddler Halloween
Costume Party and
Corporator After Hours
November – April 2015:
Dec. 26 – January 4:
Holiday Vacation:
Days of the Unseen World!
December 31:
2nd Annual Noon Year’s
Eve Celebration
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EcoTarium Governing Body 2014 – 2015
Officers of the
Board of Trustees
Raymond L. Quinlan
Chair
Timothy Gray
Vice Chair
David P. McManus
Treasurer
Dr. Susan Nava-Whitehead
Clerk / Secretary
Trustees
Jeffrey Arnett
Whitney Beals
John D. Bennett
George F. Booth II
Todd E. Brodeur, Esq.
William C. Cavanagh
Dorothy Chen Courtin
Patricia Z. Eppinger
Allen W. Fletcher
Susan Foley
Michael T. Gorman
Gayle Holland
Tia Lotuff
Robert C. Macomber
John E. Mannila
Robert H. McLaren
Michael V. O’Brien
Sherri Greene Pitcher
Marco Rodrigues
Bonnie Scanlon
Honorary Trustees
Donald F. Berth
Paul E. Cohan
Mary H. Coolidge
Joan L. Freedman
Howard G. Freeman
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Mark W. Fuller
Richard Hardy
James H. Harrington
Dr. Mark Hirsh
Janet S. Jones
Paul S. Kennedy
William C. Kunkler
Janet K. Lankton
Stephen B. Loring
C. Jean McDonough
Dr. Ogretta V. McNeil
Mary H. Melville
Erwin H. Miller, Esq.
Dr. Arthur M. Pappas
Robert M. Siff
Dr. Shirley S. Siff
Sumner B. Tilton, Jr., Esq.
Corporators
Jo-Ann Alessandrini
Christina Andreoli
Leonard T. Antcil
Frances E. Arena
Dexter A. Bailey, Jr.
Thomas J. Bartholomew
Kay E. Bassett
John E. Bassick
Whitney Beals
Paul Belsito
Carolyn E. Berglund
Kathy Berube
Christienne K. Bik
Michael Bollus
Dr. Ramon Borges-Mendez
Carolyn E. Carpenter, CPA
Deborah Cary
Dr. Matilde Castiel
Ronald H. Chand
Catherine M. Colinvaux
J. Christopher Collins
David Connell
Mary H. Coolidge
Alfred J. Cotton
Dorothy Chen Courtin
Frederick G. Crocker, Jr.
David F. Dalton
Mary C. DeFeudis
Jeffrey L. Donaldson, Esq.
James S. Dymek
David B. Everitt
Heather N. Feland
Dr. Leslie Fish
Warner S. Fletcher, Esq.
Jack Foley
Joan L. Freedman
Mark W. Fuller
Jeff Glick
Janine Hughes Goldberg
David R. Grenon
Dr. Abraham W. Haddad
Thomas F. Halpin, III
Sheila M. Harrity
Dean J. Hickey
Frances F. Jacobson
Michelle Jones-Johnson
Alison C. Kenary
Janice H. Kervick
Jean King, Ph.D.
Lisa Kirby Gibbs
Dr. Deborah Kochevar
Robert Lachance
Robert J. Laut
Thuha Le
Christine Levenson
Timothy Loew
Robert S. Loring
Jennifer Luisa
Dr. Thomas J. Lynch, III
Michael T. Madulka
Heather Maykel
Lisa Hill McDonough
Kate McEvoy-Zdonczyk
Joseph J. McGowan, Jr.
David S. Milton
Gail M. Morgan
Erin M. Motameni
Christine M. Murray
Donald F. Nelson
Randi S. Nichols
David A. Nicholson
Beth O’Brien
Joseph O’Brien
Michael O’Brien
Andrew B. O’Donnell
Dr. Christopher Palatucci
Sherri Greene Pitcher
Stephen M. Pitcher
Edward Plotkin
Roger Plourde, Jr.
Dr. Phyllis Pollack
Seth Popinchalk
Sheela Pradhan
Jean Publicover
Hilda Ramirez
William W. Rawstron
Diane H. Robbins
Marco Rodrigues
Joan Sadowsky
Kimberly M. Salmon
Matt Salmon
Jane Siebels
Polly A. Tatum
Tamisha Thompson
Sumner B. Tilton, Jr., Esq.
Dr. Stephen E. Tosi
Dr. Florina S. Tseng
Michael P. Tsotsis
Maureen Umphrey
Carmen D. Vazquez
Charles Weiss
Meridith D. Wesby
Mark R. Wetzel
Todd H. Wetzel
Susan B. Woodbury
Phillip D. Zamore
Kelsa Zereski
EcoTarium Leadership
EcoTarium Staff
As of May 31, 2015
Mariselly Alvarez
Kate Banyas
Alyssa Barton
Robert Benedict
Don Biehl
Johanna Black
Danielle Cadarette
Chadyn Case
Christina Chappell
Elaine Constantine
Anna Crocker
Dianne Davis
Tracy Dill
Jennifer Dobson
Mary Domenichelli
Ashley Dupre
Natalie Dymerski
Linda Fitzgibbons
Joseph Cox
Patricia Crawford
Betsy Loring
Linda McGowan
Richard Godfrey
Dennis Grammont
Anne Harris
Shana Hawrylchak
Ashlie Jensen
Kathy Kennedy
Charlene Leith-Bushey
David McDonald
Mary McIntosh
President
Deputy Director
Director of Exhibits
Director of Institutional Advancement
Michael Mitzcavitch
Liz Nash
Pam Olson
Tobie Owens
Kaleigh Pare
Gene Peterson
Alice Promisel
Nancy Ramsey
Don Ricklin
Thomas Runstrom
Melissa Scannell
Helen Shore
Amy Warren
Tatumn White
James Whitman
Amber Wiersma
Kathy Wolchesky
Eric Zago
Thank you to the EcoTarium’s hardworking and creative staff!
EcoTarium Volunteers
In many great sporting events there’s an award for the
most valuable player, the MVP – that one person whose
efforts, talent, and dedication saved the day and made
the team exponentially better than it otherwise had
the capacity to be. At the EcoTarium, our list of MVPs
is extensive. We call them Volunteers. Every single one
of them – whether an individual volunteer or part of a
corporate or organizational crew - has helped us become
a better team in the service of our mission than we would
otherwise have the capacity to be. For every time they’ve
herded preschoolers, cleaned an exhibit, entered data,
provided a welcoming smile to our visitors, or done any of
the thousand other needed tasks large and small, we thank
them. They’re awesome!
Corporate and organizational volunteer list:
AKUITY Technologies, Assabet Valley Collaborative,
Bancroft School Senior Cooperative, Becker College
CAB Executive Board, Center of Hope Foundation,
Credit Suisse Group USA, Hanover Insurance Group,
Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at
WPI, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health
Sciences University, Mercy Centre, North High School,
Quinsigamond Community College, Retired Senior
Volunteer Program, University of Massachusetts Graduate
School of Biomedical Sciences, United Parcel Service,
Worcester County Sheriff’s Department Community Service
Program, Worcester Public Schools Transitions Program,
Worcester Technical High School, YouthBuild USA
Together in 2014, 182 individuals contributed a total of
14,196 hours of service. Thank you!
Together, our corporate and organizational volunteers
provided 5,097 hours of service. Thank you all!
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EcoTarium Members
We think of our EcoTarium members as a pretty special
group of folks. First of all, they’re financially savvy! Taking
out a membership is a great way to save money, with year
round free admission, money-saving offers on our special
events (including Great Pumpkin Fest), discounts at up
to 500 other science and children’s museums across the
country, and many other great benefits.
Best of all, our Members love us! How can we tell? They
keep coming back. And then they tell their families about
us, then their neighbors, their friends, their colleagues,
and sometimes even the person they stood next to at
the grocery store checkout (sorry about that!). They buy
gift memberships, they like us on Facebook, they Tweet
about us, they send us emails telling us what a great time
they had, and stop us on the museum floor to comment
on a new exhibit or ask about one of our wildlife
inhabitants. Some go on to become donors, or pass their
love of the museum onto new generations. Our members
are our ambassadors to the community.
If you’re an EcoTarium
member, stop by our
Fuller Welcome Center
for your complimentary
WOO card, while
supplies last.
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Did you know that our special
Members’ Weekends allow
our members to bring in four
additional guests for free?
Check ecotarium.org for other
free or discounted programs
and deals during these special
days, such as free admission to
our planetarium, extra discounts
in our Museum Shop, and
reduced prices for renewing
your membership. What a deal!
Here are some of the things we did to thank our
members in 2014:
In January we joined with the Hanover Theater and
Worcester Art Museum to provide an extra special
benefit to all our members: a complimentary WOO
card! WOO cards provide discounts and special offers at
over 70 area arts and cultural destinations, restaurants,
retailers, hotels, and transportation providers throughout
Worcester County!
During our January 18 & 19 Winter Members’ Weekend
we celebrated the opening of our Back to the Moon
for Good planetarium show, with special shows and
discounts for our members as well as a visit by the
Aldrich Astronomical Society.
In the fall, our October 4 & 5 Members’ Weekend
celebrated the opening of our KEVA: Build It Up! exhibit.
With fun-filled individual and team challenges, and the
coolest giveaways we have ever been able to hand out –
mini KEVA kits – it was a sure-fire hit.
®
Your Name Here
If you’ve ever been stuck when it
comes time to giving the perfect
gift, how about an EcoTarium
Membership? It’s great for
families, for grandparents who
need somewhere to take the
kids, or for anyone who likes year
round science and nature fun.
Visit ecotarium.org for more
information on the many great
membership packages we offer.
EcoTarium Donors
The names listed on the following pages recognize those who, through their generous and thoughtful gifts, have
strengthened the EcoTarium in 2014. To each of them, the museum extends its most sincere appreciation.
EXPLORERS
The EcoTarium’s Explorers are
individuals whose total lifetime
giving to the museum totals more
than $50,000. They are honored for
their support in the museum’s
Lower Courtyard.
Anonymous
George I. Alden*
Dr. Robert E. and Rosamond R.
Bennett*
Donald F. Berth
Howard M. and Barbara A. Booth*
Robert W. Booth*
Mary M. Coes*
Mary H. Coolidge and Family
Catherine Colinvaux and
Phillip Zamore
Jeanne Y. Curtis*
Melvin S. Cutler
F. Harold and Eleanor G. Daniels*
Fred H. and Sarah L. Daniels*
Rosemary Davis*
Warren A. and Ruth H. Ellsworth*
The Eppinger Family
Allen W. Fletcher
Paris and Marion S. Fletcher*
Warner S. and Mary F. Fletcher
Joan and Richard “Rif” Freedman
Howard G. and Esther Freeman
George F. and Sybil H. Fuller*
Richard and Sarah Hardy
Raymond P. Harold*
Francis A. Harrington, Jr.
Francis A. & Jacquelyn H.
Harrington*
James H. Harrington
Phyllis Harrington
Bradley C. Higgins*
Harriet P. Hight*
Dr. Mark and Jane C. Hirsh
Frances and Howard Jacobson
Raymond and Louise Kalil*
B. Anthony and Judith S. King
Kenneth H. Knight*
Janet K. and Gordon B. Lankton
Stephen B. and Valerie S. Loring
Rachel L. Lowe*
C. Jean and Myles* McDonough
George A. and Mildred H. McEvoy*
Mary and Don Melville
Linda and John* Nelson
Carleen and John O’Brien
Dr. Arthur M. and Martha R. Pappas
Stephen and Cynthia Pitcher
Ann and Richard* Prouty
Albert W. and Mary G. Rice*
Ted and Linda Robbins
Edith Rockwell*
Lester and Joan Sadowsky
Robert M. and Shirley S. Siff
Harry G. and Janett W. Stoddard*
Robert W. and Helen E. Stoddard*
Tony and Martha Tilton
Mark and Barb Wetzel
Alice M. Wright*
* Deceased
MEMBERS OF THE 1825 SOCIETY
December 2014
The 1825 Society is the EcoTarium’s
leadership level giving society
composed of people with a passion
for science and nature whose
membership gift is $750 or above.
President’s Circle
$5,000 and above
Anonymous
Catherine Colinvaux and
Phillip Zamore
Frederick and Patty Eppinger
Richard and Sarah Hardy
Judy and Tony King
Lisa Kirby Gibbs and Peter Gibbs
Stephen and Valerie S. Loring
C. Jean McDonough
Benefactor $2,500 - $4,999
Jack and Susan Bassick
George F. Booth, II
Allen W. Fletcher
Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Robbins
Mark and Barb Wetzel
Patron $1,000 - $2,499
H. Paul and Sally Buckingham
Dorothy Chen-Courtin and
Patrick Courtin
Mel Cutler
Mr. and Mrs. Warner S. Fletcher
Susan and Jay Foley
Richard and Joan Freedman
Mark and Jan Fuller
Dr. Abraham and Linda Haddad
Christina T. Hobbs
Gayle Holland
Robert and Patricia Laut
Bob and Debbie Macomber
Mr. and Mrs. David P. McManus
Gail M. Morgan and
Bernard Lempicki
Martha and Arthur Pappas, M.D.
Marlene and David Persky
Stephen and Cynthia Pitcher
Mr. and Mrs. Roger P. Plourde
Phyllis Pollack and Peter Metz
Raymond L. Quinlan and
Jane B. Morgan
William and Diane H. Robbins
Joan and Lester Sadowsky
Robert M. and Shirley S. Siff
Martha A. and Sumner B. Tilton, Jr.
Meridith D. Wesby
Susan and David Woodbury
Sponsor $750 - $999
JoAnn and Bernardino
Alessandrini
Thomas J. and Lynora S.
Bartholomew
Whitney Beals and Pamela Esty
Rosamond L. Bennett
Janet Marie Bessette and
Peter Ivaska
Mr. and Mrs. Todd E. Brodeur
Bill and Teri Cavanagh
Mary H. Coolidge
Al Cotton
Joseph P. Cox
Mr. and Mrs. David F. Dalton
Mr. Andrew Freedman and
Dr. Paula Bellin
Dr. Wayne B. and Laura Glazier
Tim and Cynthia Gray
Drs. Ivan and Noreen Green
Dr. Jerry Gurwitz and
Dr. Leslie Fish
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Halpin
Joy and Ralph Hall
Janice and Robert Kervick
Drs. Deborah and John Kochevar
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lotuff
Michael Madulka
Laura and Doug Marcotte
Joseph and Linda McGowan
Robert and Penny McLaren
William and Ann Rawstron
Patrick and Bonnie Scanlon
Ashley and Tony Shirley
Drs. Patricia and Greenfield Sluder
Tina and William C. Sullivan, Jr.
Herb and Jean Varnum
Todd Wetzel
Dr. Susan M. Nava-Whitehead
and Richard G. Whitehead
If your name has been inadvertently
omitted or is incorrect, please accept
our apologies and contact Tracy Dill,
Manager of Major Gifts
at tdill@ecotarium.org or
508.929.2715.
TR A NSFOR M ATI ON TH R OU G H CO L L A B O R AT I O N
12
EcoTarium Donors
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
To the Annual Fund
Restricted gifts appear in
Designated Support.
Over $25,000
Anonymous
$1,000 - $9,999
Kevin & Katie Baker, Baker Family
Charitable Fund of Fidelity Charitable
Mr. Jeremiah Bianculli
Fred and Patty Eppinger
Gayle M. Holland
Steven and Jane Rodgers
$500 - $999
Anonymous
Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Bennett
Jacki and Pete Chechile
Mary C. DeFeudis
Mr. and Mrs. David R. Grenon
Phyllis Harrington
Frances and Howard Jacobson
Elizabeth Loring
Brian Primeau and Brenda J. Roder
$250 - $499
Jeffrey Arnett and Lene Jensen
Kay and John Bassett
Suzanne and Patrick Clisham
Laurie and Phil Davis
Sebastian Dill
Joel P. Greene and Ann T. Lisi
Christopher Haas and Judith Cusick
Mr. Eugene F. Hayward and
Miss Ann Amatucci
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Kunkler
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan L. Merten
Mr. and Mrs. Barrett Morgan
Serra May and Roger Plourde, Jr.
Alexea and Eric Portner
Heather and Mark Selvitelli
Emily V. Wade
Up to $250
Mr. Ronald P. Abraham
Anonymous
Rebecca Arenson
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Armstrong
Mrs. Elaine W. Beals
Donald F. Berth
Mr. Edward W. Bettke
Mr. Jeff Burk and Mr. Dale Lepage
Mark Burke
Dayna Casey
Susanne and Jonathan Choate
Henry J. Ciborowski
Leonard and Juliann Ciuffredo
David Connell
Joseph Cox
June Davenport
Glenn C. DeMallie
John Doherty, Jr.
Robert S. Fairbrother
Barbara E. Fargo
Douglas and Julieane Frost
George and Mary Gerrior
Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Godfrey
Lisa and Allen Greenman
13
E C O TA R I UM A NNUAL REPO RT 2014
continued
Laurieann Grenier
David Gully
David P. Hallock
Alison C. Kenary
Joyce and Steven Kressler
Clara LaBoy
Mr. and Mrs. Warren C. Lane
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Lastella
Timothy Loew and Alison Alaimo
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Lynch, III
Carolyn and Joe MacLeod
Meredith MacNeill
Paul and Catherine Masterson
Dr. Ogretta V. McNeil
Dorothy G. Millard
Mr. and Mrs. Erwin H. Miller
Gail Morgan and Bernie Lempicki
Don and Mickie Nelson
David and Susan Nicholson
Pamela J. Osborn and
Harry Der Harootunian
Cynthia and Stephen Pitcher
Dr. Phyllis Pollack and
Dr. W. Peter Metz
Mrs. Beverly Ragsdale and
Ms. Kim Kennedy
Ricarda Rausse
Julie Reitter
Reid and Sue Roberts
Don Ross and Karen Czaplicki
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Rotman
Mr. and Mrs. James Russell
Johanna Sagarin and Philip Villars
Brenda and Michael Shore
Troy and Jane Siebels
Mark Silverman
Joyce Southworth
Marjorie J. Spidle
Mary E. and Gordon Stewart
Josephine Stone and Angela Hurd
Dolly Vazquez
William and Sally Williams
Janet M. Wornham
COUNTDOWN TO
KINDERGARTEN
A Program with Worcester Public
Schools and Worcester Child
Development Head Start
In Kind and Volunteers Support
Screen Actors Guild BookPals
Durham School Services
Edward M. Kennedy Community ‘
Health Center
MCPHS University, School of
Optometry
Massachusetts Department of Early
Education & Care
Massachusetts Farm to School
NEADS
Quinsigamond Community College,
Dental Hygiene Program
RSVP Worcester Area Volunteers
Wegmans Food Markets Inc.
WGBH and the Krueger Charitable
Foundation
WIC
Worcester Family Partnership
Worcester Public Library
Worcester Public Schools
NATURE EXPLORE 2013-2014
Anonymous
William & Teri Cavanagh
Centene Charitable Foundation
Joseph P. Cox
Patricia Crawford and Gerry Quam
The Eppinger Family
Susan and Jay Foley
Joan and Richard Freedman
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
The Kressler Family
Elizabeth Loring
Robert & Penny McLaren
Raymond Quinlan and Jane Morgan
Ted and Linda Robbins
Saint-Gobain
UniBank
The Nathaniel Wheeler Trust
DESIGNATED SUPPORT
Care of the Wildlife
Rosamond R. Bennett Fox Annual
Physical Endowment Fund
Myrna Garber
Honorary Owl Guardian EcoTarium
Endowment Fund in memory of
Florence B. Sternfeld
Educational Programs and
Field Trip Scholarships
Educational programs and
professional development at the
EcoTarium are organized through
the Arthur M. Pappas Center for
School Programs and the C. Jean
McDonough Center for School
Partnerships. Scholarships for field
trips are a component of the Special
Community Outreach Programs of the
EcoTarium (SCOPE).
Booth Family Educational EcoTarium
Endowment Fund
The Ruth H. & Warren A.
Ellsworth Foundation
Greater Worcester Community
Foundation, Rosemary Davis
Memorial Fund
Hyde/Dexter-Russell
Charitable Foundation
The MathWorks, Inc.
Lester and Joan Sadowsky Scholarship
EcoTarium Endowment Fund
Unum
Patty and Daniel Walton
Mark and Barbara Wetzel Scholarship
EcoTarium Endowment Fund
Women’s Initiative of United Way
of Central Massachusetts
Worcester Educational Development
Foundation, Inc.
Summer Discovery
Camp Scholarships
Dr. Leslie Fish and Dr. Jerry Gurwitz
The George F. & Sybil H.
Fuller Foundation
Harriet P. Hight Camp Scholarship
EcoTarium Endowment Fund
Hoche-Scofield Foundation
United Bank
HONOR AND MEMORIAL GIFTS
In Memory of Gerard D. Bowman
Central Mass Safety Council
Timothy J. Cooney, Jr.
Catherine M. Kershaw
Anthony A. Meola
Brian Rota
In Honor of Mary McIntosh
John Lindner
In Memory of Thomas R. Mountain
J. Irving England and Jane L.
England Charitable Trust
GIFTS FROM CORPORATIONS,
FOUNDATIONS AND AGENCIES
$100,000 and above
Robert W. Booth Fund in Memory of
George F. Booth of Greater
Worcester Community Foundation
Institute of Museum and Library
Services
Massachusetts Cultural Council
$10,000 - $49,999
Arnold Worldwide LLC
Centene Charitable Foundation
Mary M. Coes Charitable Trust
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
The Ruth H. & Warren A.
Ellsworth Foundation
The George F. & Sybil H.
Fuller Foundation
Greater Worcester Community
Foundation, Rosemary Davis
Memorial Fund
The Hanover Insurance Group
Hermann Foundation, Inc.
Highland Street Foundation
Hyde/Dexter-Russell
Charitable Foundation
Morgan Worcester, Inc.
National Grid
UniBank
Unum
Worcester State University
Yawkey Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
George I. Alden Trust
Association of Children’s Museums
J. Irving England and Jane L. England
Charitable Trust
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Foundation
Judy and Tony King Foundation
Kirby Foundation Fund of Greater
Worcester Community Foundation
(GWCF)
Saint-Gobain
The Nathaniel Wheeler Trust
Worcester Educational Development
Foundation, Inc.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
$2,500 - $4,999
Builders Systems, Inc.
Clif Bar & Company
Fallon Health
Fletcher Tilton PC
Foley Marine & Industrial Engines
Hoche-Scofield Foundation
Massachusetts State Historical
Records Advisory Board and the
National Historical Publications and
Records Commission
Nypro, Inc.
Paine Charitable Trust U/A
$1,000 - $2,499
Alexander, Aronson, Finning CPAs
American Institute of Architects
Central MA
Melvin S. Cutler
Charitable Foundation
Fiduciary Investment Advisors, LLC
Good Shepherd Ghana
Methodist Church
Highland Power
Interstate Battery of Auburn
Augusta H. Kressler, M.D.
Fund of GWCF
The MathWorks, Inc.
Mercier Electric Company, Inc.
Ruth and Peter Metz
Family Foundation
The Plourde Family Charitable Trust
Reliant Medical Group
Sullivan Group
Hester N. Wetherell Trust
The Mark and Barbara Wetzel
Family Fund
Wyman-Gordon Foundation
Up to $1,000
Elkanah B. Atkinson Community &
Education Fund of GWCF
Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Inc
Friends of the Oxbow
David R. & Rosalie A. Grenon Fund
of GWCF
International Ceramic Engineering
Magical Designs
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
Struck Catering
United Bank
United Way of Webster & Dudley, Inc.
/ MAPFRE Insurance
Worcester Public Library Foundation
Corporate Members
AbbVie
Curtis Industries
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
Nypro, Inc.
Struck Catering
Unum
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Matching Gift Companies
Bank of America
Liberty Mutual Foundation
IBM Corporation
Morgan Worcester, Inc.
Unum
IN-KIND DONORS 2014
146 Supply
Timothy Baird
Baystate Parent
Bird House Spy Cam
Anya Bogdanovich
Bollus Lynch LLP
Durham School Services
Fletcher Tilton PC
Framingham Department of
Public Works
GMS Automotive, Inc.
Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects
Shana Hawrylchak
MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Saint-Gobain
Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Sposato, Jr.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Meg Trau
Worcester Bravehearts
Worcester County Sheriff’s Inmate
Agricultural Training Program
Worcester Regional Transit Authority
(WRTA)
Worcester Technical High School
WSRS Radio / iHeart Media
A Night at the Museum
May 17, 2014 was the EcoTarium’s
A Night at the Museum fundraising
event. Proceeds from the evening
were used to support educational
programs at the EcoTarium. We
extend a heartfelt thank you to
everyone who sponsored, donated,
bid and volunteered many hours to
make it a success.
Jo-Ann and Bernie Alessandrini
Alexander Aronson Finning CPA’s
Janet and Tony Amorello
Marie and Mike Angelini
Arcuri Moda
Armsby Abbey / Alec Lopez
Artworks
Thomas Barthel and Marci Jones
Jack and Susan Bassick
Liz Beals
Beechwood Hotel
Paul Belsito
Michael and Jenny Benadon
Rosamond L. Bennett
Margareta G. Berg
Herbert E. Berg Florist, Inc.
Christienne K. Bik
Kate Blehar
Bloomers Florist
Boynton Restaurant
Mr. and Mrs. Todd E. Brodeur
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Budd
Nancy Buffone
Builders Systems, Inc.
Café Manzi’s
Val Callahan
Carolina Wine & Spirits
Christine Cassidy
Jim and Jenny Catapano
CC Lowell Art Supply
Chase Graphics
Cheri and Steve Couture
Joseph Cox
Patricia Crawford and Gerry Quam
Rick Crocker
Curry Printing
Sarah Day
Tracy and Jeff Dill
Dino’s Ristorante Italiano
Pam and William Earle
Ed Hyders Mediterranean
Marketplace
The Eppinger Family
Fallon Health
Frank and Elenda Fetchner
Fiduciary Investment Advisors, LLC
Mary and Warner Fletcher
Allen W. Fletcher
Fletcher Tilton PC
FLEXcon
Floral Elegance
Susan and Jay Foley
Foley Industrial Engines
Framed in Tatnuck
Frank Nash Training Systems
Richard and Joan Freedman
French Twist Boutique
Douglas and Julieane Frost
Ellen Fugatt
Furniture by Dovetail
Ted and Jodi Gallagher
Tim and Cynthia Gray
Ann Lisi and Joel Greene
Lisa and Allen Greenman
Barbara and John Guertin
Dr. Abraham and Linda Haddad
The Hanover Insurance Group
The Hanover Theatre for the
Performing Arts
Sarah and Richard Hardy
Harleysville Insurance
Cilsy and Steve Harris
Sean and Betty Hauver
The Hay-Adams
Helen Herold Interiors
Dr. Pablo Hernandez and Dr. Olga
Ceron Hernandez
Highland Power
James E. Hogan, III
Gayle M. Holland
Bess Holland Agnitti
Ken and Geraldine Joseph
Pam Kates
Robert and Janice Kervick
La Jolie Fleur
Amy Langlois Photography
Thuha Le
Lisa and Michael Letendre
Christine and Dana Levenson
Rob and Annette Loring
Patricia and Joseph Lotuff
Lotuff Leather
Jennifer and Christopher Luisa
Robert and Deborah Macomber
Laura and Doug Marcotte
Mass Liquors, Inc.
Mrs. C. Jean McDonough
Chris McGovern and Timothy Corrinet
Office of Congressman
James McGovern
Joe and Linda McGowan
Robert and Penny McLaren
Dr. Ogretta V. McNeil
Mercier Electric Company, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. David S. Milton
Alexandra Montgomery
Morgan Worcester, Inc.
Mugford’s Flower Shoppe
Music Worcester
New England Patriots
Charitable Foundation
Niche Hospitality Group
Beth and Michael O’Brien
Michelle Paretti
Ron Cino and Nathalie Perez-Cino
Perro’s Flowers
Peterman’s Boards & Bowls
Cynthia and Stephen Pitcher
Sherri and David Pitcher
Acupuncture office of
Serra May Plourde
Mr. and Mrs. Seth Popinchalk
Professional Limousine
Profilo Spa
Jane B. Morgan and
Raymond L. Quinlan
Christopher Rapp
Revelation Productions
Ted and Linda Robbins
Mary Frances Rozock
Saint-Gobain
Salon 4D
Bonnie and Patrick Scanlon
Seed to Stem
Sharfman’s
Brenda and Michael Shore
Troy and Jane Siebels
Greenfield “Kip” Sluder
Chris and Richard Small
Spice Merchants, Mashpee Commons
John Spillane
Mark Spuria
Sterling National Country Club
William and Donna Stock
Struck Catering
Tina and Bill Sullivan
Sullivan Group
The Capital Grille - Naples, FL and
Washington, D.C.
Tommy Bahama Natick
Jennifer and Bob Tonning
Tower Hill Botanic Garden
UBS – The Gray Group
Herb and Jean Varnum
Wagner Auto Group
The Wagner Family
Mr. William Wallace
The Wetzel Group at Morgan Stanley
Regie Wolff
Sue and David Woodbury
Worcester Bravehearts
Worcester Center for Crafts
Worcester Historical Museum
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Restaurant Group
Worcester Telegram and Gazette
If your name has been inadvertently
omitted or is incorrect, please accept
our apologies and contact
Linda McGowan, Director of
Institutional Advancement at
lmcgowan@ecotarium.org or
508.929.2718.
TR A NSFOR M ATI ON TH R OU G H CO L L A B O R AT I O N
14
Outreach Did You See Us? The EcoTarium Out and About
Because not everyone is able to visit the museum, and
we are a bit of a “hidden gem,” our team of staff and
volunteers take the show on the road. 2014’s outreach
efforts included:
Vet Tech and eagle expert Dianne Davis, along with
Jello, our red-tailed hawk, appeared on the Hank Stolz
Experience on local cable Channel 3
Departing Wildlife Manager, and now Early Childhood
Museum Educator, Kathy Kennedy (aka Miss Kathy to
her many preschool friends) also appeared on Channel 3
talking about how we take care of our wildlife during the
super cold seasons
The EcoTarium was an official exhibitor at the
Massachusetts Environmental Education Society Annual
Conference at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester
The EcoTarium presented at Worcester Polytechnic
Institute’s and NASA’s TouchTomorrow – A Festival of
Science, Technology and Robots
We helped with the City of Worcester’s Wheels to Water &
Beyond Program encouraging kids to have fun with science
We were busy helping visitors to the Clinton Olde Home
Day, in Clinton, MA, make glow-in-the-dark bracelets
At Canal Fest, in the Blackstone Canal District, we
examined the science of sinking and floating
15
E C O TA R I UM A NNUAL REPO RT 2014
Along with our radio partner WSRS, the EcoTarium ran a
booth at the DCU Business Expo in Worcester
We were a sponsor of the 11th Annual Mass STEM
Summit, also held at the DCU, where EcoTarium
President Joe Cox and Museum Educator Kathy Kennedy
spoke at the closing ceremony (along with Jello, our
red-tailed hawk, and Red, our screech owl – who both
stole the show!)
We were featured in the girl-power inspired Geek is Glam
STEM Expo at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Did You See Siegfried?
2014 was Siegfried the Stegosaurus’ 50th birthday!
Though he might seem kind of young for a dinosaur
(after all, they did live millions of years ago), Siegfried is
a venerable work of art dating back to the World’s Fair of
1964 (he was cast from the same mold and in the same
year as the original stegosaurus that appeared in the
show). To mark the occasion, we decided to host a sixstop Pop-Up Siegfried Tour around Worcester so everyone
could help us celebrate. Thanks to the generosity of the
Worcester Arts Council, June through September saw
our museum educators and local artist Jen Swan leading
excited children and families in dinosaur-themed art and
science sessions at the following locations and events:
• Worcester Historical Museum
• Asian Festival
• Worcester Art Museum • Worcester Public Library
• EcoTarium
• stART on the Street
Cultivating History: Tending to the EcoTarium’s Historic Collections
As the second oldest natural history society in the
country, the EcoTarium has a lot of history behind it.
We also have a lot of history in storage: our historic
collections. While the museum’s signature style is to
incorporate items from our historic collections - wherever
possible - into our exhibits, it has been many years
since we have had staff with the expertise, experience,
and time to dedicate to cataloging and preserving our
collections in a systematic and rigorous manner.
In January of 2014 we welcomed Shana Hawrylchak
as Manager of Exhibits and Collections, who with
Collections Specialist Kaleigh Pare, form our new and
formidable Collections team. Along with a band of trusty
volunteers, they have taken on the task of inventorying
the entire 55,000 items in our collections as a first step
to better preserving and utilizing them, as well as making
them available to researchers for study.
Just how important are
the EcoTarium’s historic
collections? Holy Cross
biology professor Robert
Bertin used our herbarium
(collection of dried plants) to
identify 56 species previously
unknown to have existed in
the Central Massachusetts
area. Collected between
1876 and 1938, our plant
collection helped Professor
Bertin to document the loss
of plant species within the
last 150 years.
Here are a few things they’ve accomplished:
Received a grant from the Massachusetts State Historical
Records Advisory Board and the National Historical
Publications and Records Commission to participate in
their Roving Archivist Program, providing a professional
archivist to kick-start the inventorying process
Developed an innovative way to have EcoTarium
volunteers assist in the inventorying process,
considerably increasing the speed of inventorying
Improved our Curator’s Workshop experience, including
providing new training for our volunteer Interpreters
Relocated many specimen’s from our fantastic Henry W.
Goddard mineral collection to the beautiful hand-painted
dome on the museum’s Middle Level, where they easily
catch the eye
Oversaw the loan of our magnificent Siberian tiger to the
nearby Museum of Russian Icons
TR A NSFOR M ATI ON TH R OU G H CO L L A B O R AT I O N
16
Wildlife Update: Feathers, Fur, and Fun
In August we welcomed new wildlife member and cuteness
ambassador, Harper the opossum
Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon, she has extensive
experience in animal husbandry and training
On August 12, as part of our 2014 Summer Discovery Camp,
we enjoyed a visit from Caterpillar Lab and a few of their
favorite northeastern caterpillars
Luna and Lola, our charming rats, helped with prototyping for
our upcoming City Science exhibit, which will show off rats’
ultrasonic hearing and how intelligent rats are
In October, Eduardo, our behind the scenes mallard duck,
packed his bags and left us for a new home where he could
swim with other ducks in a beautiful duck-friendly sanctuary
(he’s too fond of humans to be released to the wild)
Why does the EcoTarium
have outdoor Critter Cams?
As part of our upcoming
City Science exhibit, an
exploration of the hidden
science stories of urban
environments, we’re taking
a peek at City Animals and
the tools used by urban
ecologists to study them.
Stay tuned for more on this
exciting new exhibit!
In October, when reviewing hours (and hours!) of video
footage caught on our outdoor Critter Cams, we were
shocked to find two bucks dueling it out
In December Johanna Black joined the EcoTarium as our
new Wildlife Manager. Arriving from the west coast’s Oregon
Collaborating to Connect to the Electrical Grid
When the EcoTarium campus was developed in 1971,
sufficient power was not available on Harrington Way.
Building a power plant to support the campus was the
only solution. Cutting-edge in its day (it was part of an
exhibit!), the now 43 year old cogeneration plant has
become worn and unreliable, with much of the equipment
expensive and difficult to replace. Thanks to generous
support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the
Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund, and the Robert W.
Booth Fund in Memory of George F. Booth of Greater
Worcester Community Foundation and collaboration with
partners, in 2014 the EcoTarium completed the work to
connect to the electrical grid which was made possible
following renovations to adjacent North High School. As
we undertake Part Two of the Grid Connection Project,
17
E C O TA RI UM A NNUAL REPO RT 2014
which will replace the museum’s heating and cooling
systems to ones compatible to the electrical grid, we
are thrilled to be investing in technologies that will have
us ready for our third century of operation, providing
a power source that is efficient, economical, and
environmentally friendly to run.
As part of our Grid
Connection Project, the
EcoTarium got to talking
with National Grid. Not
only were they helpful in
coordinating connection
efforts, they also generously
contributed $25,000 toward
our upcoming City Science
exhibit! Thanks for the
support!
EcoTeasers: Here’s What’s Coming Up in 2015!
Our annual A Night at the Museum fundraiser on May 16,
where the museum comes to life and everyone gets to be a
kid for the evening!
For Worcester Public School kids new to school,
Countdown to Kindergarten is on August 25, hosted in
collaboration with Worcester Public Schools
Trek through the treetops when our Tree Canopy Walkway
reopens for the season on May 23
Thanks again to Highland Street Foundation for helping us
host our sixth annual Free Fun Friday on August 28
Experience one of our biggest summer exhibits ever when
Wild Music: Experience the Songs and Sounds of Life
opens on two floors of the museum on May 30
Get your cool on when our popular Cool Moves exhibit
makes a return visit on September 22
Book your kids into a summer of fun for the start of the
EcoTarium 2015 Summer Discovery Camp, opening July 6
Fall for everybody’s family favorite Halloween celebration on
October 24, when the Great Pumpkin Fest makes its 12th
annual appearance
For wee party-goers, join us for our Noon Years Eve end of
year mid-day celebration on December 31
2014 Financial Results
Support & Revenue (000’s) *, **
Expenses (000’s) *, ***
Educational Programs,
Exhibits / Events & Services
$1,451.6 / 41.5%
Contributions, Gifts & Grants
$1,431.1 / 34.1%
Endowment Support
$875.0 / 20.9%
* Includes donated goods and services valued at $42,081
** Includes support for special projects *** Excludes depreciation
.9
%
g
Marketin
7.2%
/
.8
2
5
2
$
Total
$4,193.4
%
Admissions
$538.5 / 12.8%
Administration
$523.3 / 14.9%
Wild
l
$231 ife
.5 /
6.6
Educational
Programs & Events
$466.6 / 11.1%
Shop
%
eum
Mus 9.0 / 3.1
t
$10
en
pm 6.3%
o
l
ve 3 /
De 22.
$2
Ut
$1 iliti
70 es
.9
/4
M
$1 use
57 um
.8
/ 3 Sho
Me
.8 p
mb
%
$20
e
3.4 rship
/ 4.
9%
Other
$521.0 / 12.4%
Maintenance
$508.9 / 14.5%
Total
$3,506.7
TR A NSFOR M ATI ON TH R OU G H CO L L A B O R AT I O N
18
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
®
222 Harrington Way | Worcester, MA 01604
508.929.2700
ecotarium.org
Our Mission
To inspire a passion for science and nature
Our Vision
To be a national leader in engaging communities with science and nature
Photography by Nicole Auger, Kate Blehar: Blehar Design, Mary Domenichelli, Scott Erb: Erb Photography, Sarah L. Hamby, Charlene Leith-Bushey,
Andrea Seward: Habakkuk Media Services, Troy Thompson, Jocelyn Willis, and Courtesy Photos | Report Design by Kate Blehar: Blehar Design
0515MP1.2M