What Is Mass Audubon?

Updated

Mass Audubon is a Massachusetts-based nature conservation organization with more than 160,000 members and supporters. It protects over 41,000 acres of land across the state, manages 114 wildlife sanctuaries, engages about 50,000 students a year through school programs, and mobilizes roughly 10,000 grassroots advocates for wildlife and nature. Its stated mission is to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife and to make nature accessible to all.

What Mass Audubon Does

The organization's work falls into four practical areas:

  • Land protection. It stewards more than 41,000 acres and operates 114 wildlife sanctuaries, from the Berkshires to Cape Cod.
  • Education. School programs reach around 50,000 students annually, and sanctuaries host programs and events for all ages.
  • Advocacy. About 10,000 grassroots advocates speak up on wildlife and nature issues. Current campaigns include support for dedicating as much as $100 million annually to land conservation, clean water, outdoor recreation, and climate resiliency.
  • Public access. Sanctuaries are presented as places for anyone to get outdoors, with a sanctuary finder on the website to locate one by name or location.

How to Use the Organization

If you want to visit, volunteer, enroll a child in a program, or follow conservation issues, the website is organized around those paths:

  1. Find a place to explore. Use the sanctuary finder to search by name or location, or browse all sanctuaries statewide.
  2. Check upcoming programs and events. The events section lists seasonal offerings, such as fall festivals, Halloween happenings, guided walks, and local conservation conferences.
  3. Join or get involved. Membership is offered on the site, and advocacy participation is presented as an open channel for supporters.

What to Expect from the Website

The homepage highlights current campaigns and seasonal events rather than a single service. Recent examples include a yearlong wildlife celebration focused on beavers, a feature on five tree pests that threaten forest health, and a partnership effort to acquire 18 acres of waterfront property in Chelsea for a climate-resilient park with mixed-income housing and community amenities. There is also an online shop carrying nature-related products.

The site does not publish pricing for membership or programs in the material reviewed, so check individual program or membership pages for current costs and any registration requirements before planning a visit or enrollment.