Annual Membership Fees & Benefits

Print out and mail in the Membership Form.

Donor Opportunities

Earthplace is a private non-profit organization exempt from taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  We are extremely fortunate to receive financial contributions from many different sources. Generous contributors have included individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations.  All gifts are tax-deductible, with gifts of money and securities being tax deductible as prescribed by law.  Please contact Earthplace and your financial advisor or your attorney regarding major contributions.

If you are interested in supporting Earthplace through a gift or financial contribution, please consider these options:

A Gift to the Annual Appeal – Our Annual Appeal provides us the ability to deal with the increasing expenses involved in maintaining our wildlife sanctuary and museum, caring for our animal collection, operating our wildlife rehabilitation program and Harbor Watch/River Watch water quality testing program, and presenting numerous public nature programs.  As we celebrate our 50^th year of environmental education, we recognize that the generosity of all has allowed us to achieve this particular milestone.  With your generosity today, we will begin our successful journey into our next 50 years of environmental education.

Gifts of Securities – We accept transfers of appreciated securities from you or your broker.  Please contact Earthplace for details on transferring these securities.

Memorial Gifts – Earthplace receives gifts from families and friends wishing to remember loved ones in a special way.

Special Gifts – Various items are needed to perform our day to day tasks and programs.  These needs range from simple household items needed for our Wildlife Rehabilitation program to specialized laboratory equipment for Harbor Watch / River Watch.  Please contact Earthplace to discuss these particular program needs.

Planned Gifts – A wonderful way to remember Earthplace and to create a legacy for future generations is to include us in your estate plans.  This can be as simple as making a specific gift of cash or property to Earthplace in your Will.  Another unique option is to plan for a Life Income Program.  With this plan you receive a charitable income tax deduction for the year in which the plan / gift was made.  At the end of the annuity period, the amount remaining in the plan (after your annual deductions) becomes the property of Earthplace.  This is a unique way to save on your taxes, plan for the future, and assist Earthplace. 

Our Endowment is managed by the Jewish Community Endowment Foundation, which can assist in creating a Life Income Program or any other planned gift programs.  

Membership/Visitor Gifts – Interested in purchasing a family membership for a relative or neighbor?  Friends visiting from out-of-town and interested in visiting Natureplace?  Contact Earthplace.  Purchasing a membership or visitors passes is simple.

To make a donation or discuss any of the above options, please contact 203-227-7253 or info@earthplace.org.
 

Sponsorship Opportunities

Earthplace hosts several exciting fundraisers and special events each year that offer opportunities for corporate/organizational sponsorship.  These events also offer opportunities for individuals and organizations.

Gala and Dinner Auction - A Gala and Dinner Auction is held each year.  Volunteers are needed to help with soliciting items, organizing publicity, setting up and decorating the auction areas, and helping during the evening of the event.  Corporate sponsors are recognized throughout the event and are offered opportunities to attend the gala.

Green Earth Festival - This fun, exciting and educational public event occurs each spring at Earthplace. This unique event offers the opportunity to explore products and services available that allow one to make a transition to “green” living possible.  Vendor and sponsor opportunities are available.  Volunteers are needed to help oversee the activity tables, answer questions, distribute tickets for any activities with limited seating, help with crowd control and distribute posters and signs.  View photos from previous Earth Day events in our Photo Gallery.

Yuck Day - Yuck Day is dedicated to presenting all natural things that are gross but great.  Display tables and activities focus on things in nature that are slimy, gooey, sticky, slithery, creepy and crawly.  Special guests bring in animals that some people might find "yucky" but are really important to our environment, such as bats and tarantulas.  View photos from previous Yuck Day events in our Photo Gallery.  Volunteers are needed to help with poster distribution, oversee craft tables and assist with crowd control.
 

Volunteer Opportunities

We can always use some good help!  There are many opportunities to assist with different ongoing and special activities:

Connecticut Wall of Nature

Adopt An Animal

Earthplace is home to a collection of over 30 live animals.  These animals include many birds and some reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Many of the animals have been injured and can no longer survive in the wild.  All of the animal residents help the Earthplace naturalists teach conservation ethics and instill an appreciation of nature in all individuals.

Every day these animals need food, shelter and daily care.  Sometimes they also need medical treatments.  It is costly to provide quality care, food, veterinary treatment and shelter.  By adopting one of the many Earthplace species ambassadors, you not only help provide care for the animals, you also help to support the increasingly important mission of Earthplace.

As a sponsor, you will receive:

Adoption fees cover one year and make great gifts!  Classes, clubs, scouts and teams can help provide care for an animal, learn about natural history and have a mascot!  On-site visits to view your adopted animal are encouraged.

Adoption Levels

$500	Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon
$300	Red-tail Hawk  Great Horned Owl Long Eared Owl
$150	Screech Owl Burmese Python
$100	American Kestrel Turkey Vulture Black Vulture
$50	Box Turtle Mockingbird Yellow-breasted Chat Northern Copperhead Snake

$25 Junior Adoption - A special offering for children aged 12 and under

For this special offering your one-year adoption fee includes:

Get an Animal Adoption Form by clicking here.
View photos of our resident animals.

Printer Cartridge & Cell Phone Recycling

Don't throw away your empty ink jet and laser printer cartridges or cell phones!  Bring them to Earthplace to help us raise funds to support our resident animals through the Cash for Critters program.  Empty ink jet and laser cartridges can be recycled and re-used. For each recyclable ink jet and laser cartridge you bring us, our organization will receive up to $4 for each ink jet and $1 - $12 for each laser cartridge.  It doesn't take long for that to add up, and best of all, it's good for the environment, too.  Ask your friends, relatives, and neighbors to save their empties for you to bring to Earthplace for this program.

Note: Not all cartridges are recyclable; at this time we do not accept any ink jet cartridges made by or for Epson printers or cartridges that have previously been recycled. Check the listing of cartridges that are NOT accepted (a PDF file).

Empty cartridges and cell phones can be dropped off at the Earthplace lobby.