(WNY News Now) – Jamestown, N.Y. – Nature enthusiasts have a unique opportunity to dive into the wild with Rick Rupprecht on Friday, November 1, at the Audubon Community Nature Center’s First Friday event. From 11 a.m. to noon, Rupprecht will present “The Great Outdoors,” showcasing captivating stories and photographs from his decades spent exploring nature.
Through his adventures hunting, fishing and teaching others, Rupprecht has amassed insights into the wildlife, flowers, and unique natural phenomena of the region. In addition to entertaining, these stories can also inspire others to get outside and to learn about our diverse and fascinating natural world.
Rupprecht grew up hunting and fishing in north-central Pennsylvania and now lives in Ashville, N.Y. A mathematics teacher at Jamestown Community College for his professional career, his love of the outdoors eventually led him to volunteer at Audubon. He enjoys leading people of all ages, especially children, on nature walks. His previous presentations include talks about Bald Eagles, making maple syrup, and Pennsylvania Timber Rattlesnakes.
Rupprecht serves on the Board of Directors and is the treasurer for the Jamestown Skeet Club and the Lucile M. Wright Air Museum. He is also treasurer of AMBUCS, a group that provides adaptive tricycles to people with disabilities, and he volunteers at his church and enjoys skeet shooting. In 2018, he was presented the Volunteer Leader of the Year award by the Chautauqua Leadership Network in recognition of his volunteer work.
If you’d like to bring a packed lunch, you can visit with Rupprecht after the program.
Program fee is $8 or $6 for Nature Center members and children ages 9 to 15. Reservations are appreciated by calling (716) 569-2345 or online through Programs and Events at AudubonCNC.org. Walk-ins are welcome.
Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren, Pa. You can visit the nearly 600-acre nature preserve, check in on the live birds of prey, and hike over five miles of trails dawn until dusk daily for free.
The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 1 – 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members and SNAP/EBT cardholders have free building admission daily. Building admission is also free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members.
To learn more about Audubon and its many programs, call (716) 569-2345, find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook, or visit AudubonCNC.org. Check out AudubonCNC.org/about for a quick fly-by visit.
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