Nearly 200 guests attended Pickering Creek Audubon Center's annual Tour Toast and Taste fundraiser on Saturday, June 13th.
The event featured a tour of Peter Stifel's Hope House, which was built in 1740. Guests toured seven first floor rooms decorated with both colonial and contemporary furniture, art and unique surprises, including Ward Bros Decoys and a radio aerial from the Hindenburg Zeppelin.
At the conclusion of the tour, guests moved to the spacious green behind the home overlooking Hope Cove and the site of previous owner Mrs. Starr’s gardens to enjoy cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres by Ken’s Creative Kitchen.
During the evening’s auction, which boasted exclusive dinners and events at a wide variety of special locales held throughout the year, attendees learned about Pickering Creek’s new relationship with Head Start in Easton. Pickering Creek’s Head Start Through Nature Program provides vulnerable preschool children ages 3-5 and their families with hands on science experiences to help them be ready for school.
“Our lessons help them with school readiness - they learn to try new things, to look at their backyard differently, new vocabulary and the confidence to explore outside," says Krysta Hougen, program coordinator. "It allows us to start relationships with low-income families that are currently less connected with the outdoors.”
The evening’s proceeds support Pickering Creek's outstanding environmental education programs.
"No other organization offers the breadth and depth of outdoor science education experiences Pickering Creek does,” says Mark Scallion, Director of the center. “The center works with students at nearly every grade level as well as a variety of programs for adults and families too."
Save the date for next year's event: June 11th, 2016.
Photos by Gerry Volatile
