Happy New Year!
Pascagoula River Audubon Center
Moss Point, MS
book mark
Call for Support
As a premiere national Audubon designated center along the Central Gulf Coast, the Pascagoula River Audubon Center serves as a hub for conservation and environmentally-minded people of all ages. It is through the support of local residents, businesses and industry that the Center can provide conservation and nature-based educational opportunities for children, evening events for adults, and family-friendly activities on the weekends.  PRAC is also a perfect venue for celebrations of all kinds. 

Join the flock of supporters who help PRAC soar. Click HERE.


 
BOF
Birds of a Feather Stay Together
As the signs of spring begin to pop along Rhodes Bayou, members of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center Flock are invited to gather with other members of the flock and to bring along new friends.

Birds of a Feather will feature live entertainment, small bites from local chefs, and a signature cocktail developed by 401 of Ocean Springs, amidst the backdrop of Rhodes Bayou in the springtime. Attendees enjoy socializing beneath the stars while also seeing the many ways our center touches the wildlife and people of our treasured Mississippi coast. Funds raised support the programming and operations of Moss Point’s hidden gem … the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.


This year’s event, scheduled for March 10, 2023, will be the fourth annual fundraiser, but the format is very different as we seek more opportunities to spotlight our supporters. We have a variety of sponsorship options so that you may find what best suits your level of commitment.  Specific information and benefits of the various sponsorship levels are listed below. All sponsorships include logos on all marketing materials, social media advertising, and event tent cards.

Sponsorship Levels
Presenting Sponsor $10,000 (only one available)
Reserved tall cafe table for 12 guests, complimentary nature-inspired centerpiece, two bottles of wine, 12 souvenir high-ball glasses, VIP Parking and logo on invitation and lead recognition on all prominent signage and banners
Premiere Heron Sponsorship $5,000
Reserved tall cafe table for 8 guests, complimentary nature-inspired centerpiece, two bottles of wine, 8 souvenir high-ball glasses, VIP Parking and logo on invitation and all prominent signage and banners

Egret Sponsorship Level $2,500
Reserved tall cafe table for 6 guests, 6 souvenir high-ball glasses

Pelican Sponsorship Level $1,000
Reserved bistro table for 4 guests, 4 high-ball glasses


Individual tickets will also be available beginning February 6 at $75 per person or $125 for a couple.


To be included on promotional materials, confirmation of sponsorships is needed by January 15, 2023. Actual transfer of funds can be made before March 10, 2023, however, to have this gift apply to your 2022 tax documents, sponsorship payments are welcome at any time.

To sponsor the Birds of a Feather fundraiser, click HERE or give us a call at the center.
glassware
Create Your Own Drinkware for Carnival Season
Glassblowing Artist Solange Ledweth is returning to PRAC for one of her most popular art sessions...drinkware glasses just in time for Carnival Season!

Choose your 20-minute time slot to create your own tumbler or stemless glass featuring your favorite combination of colors.  The session is $65, and each participant will receive his or her original glassware. Click HERE to reserve your spot for February 10, 11 or 12.Choose a time slot to work and come prepared in your most stylish closed-toed shoes. You will be designing the color, shaping the glass with heat and your own breath while working with professional glass worker, Solange Ledwith with Swamp Girl Glass Blowing. Each time slot is for one person.  If friends and family would like to make a piece together, you will want to reserve time slots that are back to back.  Any other friends and family are welcome to come and hang out, watch and take pictures.

THIS IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.  We work with ages 8 and up! Younger students sometimes require more assistance, ( usually we ask the parents to jump in), otherwise the class is heavily facilitated by our professional glass working team.  Glass pieces can be picked up either the next day or a time specified at the time of the class.

Swamp Girl Glass Blowing LLC is a professional glass blowing studio that offers classes all along the Gulf Coast. With 19 years of professional experience, you are guaranteed to have a safe, educational, and exciting time. For more information about private parties and/or classes, please contact Solange Ledwith directly at: solange@swampgirlglassllc.com
photo contest
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...and maybe a little Cash
Attention Photographers:  The 2023 Outdoor and Nature Photography Contest is open for entries!  The Pascagoula River Audubon Center is looking forward to some excellent photography as usual.

The Pascagoula River Audubon Center (PRAC) will be accepting photo entries between March 1 and March 31, 2023.  Photographers may submit up to 5 photos with an entry fee of $5 per photo. Photography that depicts the local area is preferred; however, the contest is open any photography.

This year a few things regarding the contest have changed; however, the basics of the contest will remain the same. All finalists will have their photographs on display in the PRAC River Room Photography Exhibit from May 20 until June 30.

There will be three (3) photo categories this year

Wildlife:  i.e., Wild Animals - Birds, Fish, Insects and Critters, etc.

Nature:  i.e., Vegetation - Plants, Flowers, Trees, Leaves, etc.

Landscape:  i.e., Natural Scenery - Marsh, Coastline, Rivers, Weather, Sunrise, etc.

 Eligibility: The Exhibition is open to all residents of the United States ages 5 and older. Entrants must submit a digital link via email of up to five (5) Photographs depicting wildlife or nature components on, in, or around Mississippi. Photographs must depict a nature or outdoor theme. Topics may include but are not limited to birds, other animals, spring migration, working on the river, new life, vegetation, and weather. We prefer photos taken recently.

Any form of photographic manipulation that alters the original intent of the image is not permitted. Standard optimization of images (cropping, elimination of dust spots, minor adjustments to color, contrast and sharpening) is allowed. The removal, or manipulation, of colors contained within the original image to enable the production of monochrome images is permitted.

How to Enter: To submit photographs, email a completed Entrance Form and your digital photographs to prac@audubon.org. No hard copies will be accepted.
book mark back
2023 Events Already Set
2023 will feature a top-notch list of new artists exhibiting in the Moss Point Fine Art Gallery along with the return of Loran Chavez who will bring along her equally as artistic family members.

The art receptions are always a great opportunity to meet artists and visit with other like-minded friends.  

As always, a spring and fall native plant sale are back on the calendar along with the standing, anchor events of the Hummingbird Festival and Holiday Marketplace.

Summer camps will take place during the month of June, and additional camps will be developed for the spring and fall breaks from school.

Stay tuned to Facebook for the most updated information and offerings at PRAC>
sponsor
Sponsor Spotlight: Jackson County Board of Supervisors
On behalf of all the members of the local Pascagoula River Audubon Center, I want to share with you information about one group of supporters who help to keep our doors open.

As a 501C(3) non-profit organization, PRAC depends on the donations and sponsors of individuals, business and industry for financial support.  This month we want to spotlight The Jackson County Board of Supervisors as one of our large donors.

Not only was the Jackson County Board of Supervisors instrumental in making the downtown Moss Point site of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center a reality, the group of elected officials have continued to support the PRAC with an annual contribution and visibility at events.

Without the support of business and industry like Jackson County, the current facility would not be successful.

You too can become a supporter of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.  Every dollar counts and remains at the local center for local programs and events.  Click here to donate.
AA
Audubon Academy and Nature Tots begin at end of January
The standing educational programs for toddlers and homeschool students will take a few weeks off but will be open at the end of January.

Nature Tots will kick off its spring semester on January 25. For a full calendar of the themes and dates for the spring, click HERE.

The January Audubon Academy sessions will kick off January 18. Both of these programs are very popular.  Parents are encouraged to register students ahead of time for proper planning.
sale
Ornament Sale
All remaining commemorative PRAC ornaments from 2021 and 2022 are now half price, while supplies last. Any other remaining holiday merchandise is also 10 percent off while supplies last.  Spring items will be arriving soon!
kiss
Save the Date!
What kinds of changes are ahead for 2023? A wedding, a shower, a reception or any kind of celebration? Consider the Pascagoula River Audubon Center as a venue for anything from engagement photos to the event of a lifetime.

The Pascagoula River Audubon Center, with its natural accents inside the interpretative center and its grounds featuring native plants throughout the year, has become one of the most popular and cost-effective venues around. The spring 2023 calendar is already booked with four weddings and multiple showers and other events, but dates are still available.

Rental fees vary based on the day of the week, the time of the event and the amount of people involved. All rentals also include the entire facility, a variety of tables and chairs, a catering kitchen and other event amenities.

To learn more about this beautiful facility, click HERE!

 
CONNECT WITH US
FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn
Pascagoula River Audubon Center
5107 Arthur St., Moss Point, MS 39563
(228) 475-0825 | pascagoula.audubon.org

© 2024 National Audubon Society, Inc.

Update your email address or unsubscribe