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Let
Me Share a Secret… |
The Audubon Center at Debs Park in Northeast Los Angeles is the second “urban Audubon Center” in the country. The hope is to outreach under-privileged kids and give them a taste of nature. The goal is one thousand such centers around the country by 2020. So far the result is stellar.
The Center is nestled on 17 acres just off the 110 freeway. It is surrounded by 282 acres of lush foliage, hiking trails and urban wilderness that the Audubon Society leases from the city. The site is home to 138 species of birds. Over half the park is covered in walnut-oak woodland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub. There is even a small lake where we viewed people fishing. Trails are easy to moderate and the views are spectacular.
The Audubon Center itself is the jewel. Architecturally stunning, it was funded mostly through private sponsors, the main benefactor being Toyota. Why is it that best facilities are privately funded? Look at the Peterson, the Getty, and the Gene Autry museum as examples of this.
The U.S. Green Building Council, the nation's leading authority on environmentally friendly building practices, has granted this center a Platinum rating; the first building in the country to receive such an honor. The Audubon Center, built entirely of recycled materials, installed an advanced water conservation system that uses 70% less water than a comparable building and treats all wastewater on the premises. It is fully self-sufficient from the power grid. All electrical needs i.e. computers, lights, air conditioning and hot water are handled through an array of solar panels. This is the first building in Los Angeles to run exclusively on solar power… but enough of the technical. |
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We parked and entered through the beautifully designed main gates. A docent approached us asking how she could be of assistance. It is of note that these volunteers are very enthusiastic. They were proud and eager to show us all that this center had to offer, and answer any question… making sure our experience was memorable. Led into the main reception room, we were asked to sign in, and the “hands-on” experience began.
Half of the room is devoted to equipment you can use. Bushnell binoculars, backpacks, tri-cycle jogging strollers, backpack infant carriers. If you forgot it, they have it…for free. Just leave a drivers license or keys.
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The best freebies were small nature packs. Each pack carried a different theme. One pack helps create a journal, another paint pictures, yet another helps construct leaf tracings. All implements (paper, pencils, etc.) are included. Off to the Children’s Woodland, a wonderful garden, geared towards kids, that is both beautiful and hands-on. Everything here has been well thought out, from a little stream to the vegetable garden. |
Once in the main courtyard our kids immediately shot for the little cabin. After about 20 minutes of entertainment, they decided they wanted to water the little vegetable garden. The Center provides watering cans but you must walk up a hill and hand pump the water to fill the bucket. Hands-on…gotta love it! Everything is planned, down to the best climbing trees around. The trees’ accessible limbs are very long but are only 2-3 feet off the ground. Great for climbing and if a kid falls, it’s only a two-foot fall padded with mulch.
Our kids loved the Children’s Woodland so much that we had to beg them to leave. What began as an afterthought became a two-hour funfest. However, we had come to hike… and hike we did!
| Through wonderful oak glens to sage
covered hillsides, the culmination was a view of the downtown skyline
that was spectacular. As my hiking partner said “this is a good
day”… Part of me wants to keep this little spot secret since it is unknown, untouched and unspoiled. My hope is that the last part (unspoiled) will remain. But for more centers like this to be created, they must be utilized… as such I am sharing my secret. This is an incredible, free resource that is there for all of us to use. Have fun. |
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Building Green: The Audubon Center at Debs Park
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