Atlanta Audubon Society Executive Director Receives
TogetherGreen Fellowship

Catharine Brockman Kuchar, AAS’ Executive Director, is one of 40 individuals nationwide selected as a 2009 TogetherGreen Fellow. The TogetherGreen Fellowship offers specialized training in conservation planning and execution, the chance to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and assistance with project outreach and evaluation. Each Fellow receives $10,000 towards a community-focused project to engage local residents in conserving land, water and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.

For her fellowship, Kuchar will bring together her love of nature with her love of art through “Restoration and Reflections,” a program to encourage young people in underserved communities to express themselves through journaling or nature-inspired artwork. Activities will include developing curriculum on journaling/drawing with young people, designing a nature journal, creating train-the-trainer sessions for teachers, and conducting hands-on restoration projects that connect their journaling work into habitat restoration.

“Catharine is the kind of person who can make a real difference in the health of our environment and the quality of our future,” said Audubon President John Flicker. “Each of our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they represent the talented and diverse leadership the environmental community will need to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us now and in the years to come.”

“My love of nature is the foundation for making a difference for the natural world and making conservation a central focus of my work. The TogetherGreen fellowship program is an amazing opportunity to make an impact for others and to develop my own sense of stewardship. One big obstacle we have today is getting more young people out from behind their computers and into nature. You have to get out into nature to appreciate it,” said Kuchar. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to conduct a conservation project that connects children to the environment through art, especially for those with limited opportunities to indulge in the joys of nature.”

Kuchar has been affiliated with Atlanta Audubon Society since 2006. Half of the TogetherGreen Fellows come from within Audubon’s far-reaching national network; half channel their environmental efforts through other organizations.

A distinguished advisory committee composed of conservation professionals and experts in environmental education, communications, outreach, and conservation planning selected the fellowship beneficiaries from a competitive pool of scores of highly qualified individuals. Qualified applicants must have at least six years of experience in conservation, environmental education, policy, or environmental issues, as demonstrated through current and past work experience, academic studies related to conservation, and/or volunteer work.

More information on the TogetherGreen fellows can be found at: http://www.togethergreen.org/default.aspx