Audubon International

Green Neighborhoods™
The Green Neighborhoods™ program engages community groups in projects that protect and enhance the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. The benefits of the program are numerous, including the creation of a sense of community within your group; enhancement of natural areas for neighborhood residents and wildlife; and the conservation and protection of valuable local resources.

Do something good for the environment...

“Audubon International and Crescent Resources are working hand-in-hand to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources, while creating a quality living experience for residents in our neighborhood communities. This partnership benefits not only the natural environment, but also the people who live in them.” Allen Harrington Vice President Crescent Resources, LLC

Green Neighborhoods™ Members include:
Community Associations Homeowner Associations Informal Neighborhood Associations	Planned Communities Property Owner Associations Residential Communities

For more information or to join the program, please contact:

Green Neighborhoods™

46 Rarick Road
Selkirk, NY 12158

518.767.9051
Extension 114

Green Neighborhoods™
Green Neighborhoods™ members make a commitment to complete at least one environmental improvement project each year and report their results. Projects are selected from five environmental tracks: wildlife; water; outreach and education; resource management; and community awareness. All projects are designed to be fun and engaging, with a range from beginner to more advanced. Currently Green Neighborhoods™ members are planting gardens for wildlife, cleaning up streams, and recycling.

After joining the program, Green Neighborhoods™ members receive educational resources and guidance from Audubon International staff to help them complete their projects. Each completed project is recognized by Audubon International with an Audubon Project Award. The Environmental Stewardship Award is given to neighborhoods that complete three or more projects within one year. Green Neighborhoods™ members that establish a Neighborhood Audubon Committee and complete the Neighborhood Assessment and Environmental Plan, in addition to completing at least one project in each of the five environmental tracks are eligible for a Neighborhood for Nature Award, the highest Audubon International honor for existing neighborhoods.

Get Involved, Get Results, Improve the Environment.

	US	Outside the US
Annual Membership Fee	$250	$300

Green Neighborhoods™

46 Rarick Road
Selkirk, NY 12158

518.767.9051
Extension 114

Benefits of Green Neighborhoods™
Protecting and sustaining the natural environment in and around the places where you live is not only the right thing to do, members of the Green Neighborhoods™ program also see value in their participation in the program in the following ways:

Building a “sense of community” among residents.
Assisting in improving the aesthetic quality of the community or neighborhood in a way that is also positive for the environmentl.
Saving money—learning to reduce excess waste, energy, and reduce resource-use costs.
Improving image and reputation from people adjacent to your community.
Gaining a marketing advantage and attracting new homeowners to your community.

Green Neighborhoods™

46 Rarick Road
Selkirk, NY 12158

518.767.9051
Extension 114

Neighborhood For Nature Profiles

Oldfield

Oldfield Community
Okatie, SC

Oldfield Community, in Okatie, SC, has propelled the entire 550-home residential community to take on environmental education and stewardship projects as part of their participation in Audubon International’s Green Neighborhoods™ program. Now, residents of Oldfield take pride in being the first community to receive a Neighborhood for Nature Award.

Marvin Bouknight, Oldfield’s staff naturalist, has led the effort through the creation of a resident-driven Neighborhood Audubon Committee that conducted an environmental assessment of the 860-acre community and offered fun and educational programs to get residents involved. From “how to” programs on butterfly gardening, composting, and saving water, to nature awareness and recreation programs on outdoor photography, star gazing, and fishing, Oldfield achieves its desired result of fostering a community that cares about its environment.

Selected accomplishments through the Green Neighborhoods™ program include:

Native species of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses are used in landscaping and a list is provided to homeowners to encourage them to do the same.
New home construction must meet standards for protecting trees, controlling sediment, and minimizing environmental impacts. An Architectural Review Board reviews construction plans and enforces guidelines.
A bird feeding area and butterfly and hummingbird garden show homeowners possibilities for their own yards.
Nature awareness and recreational programs educate residents about the local environment, many of whom moved to Oldfield from other areas of the country.
Outreach activities include nature classes and field trips for schools and speaking with community organizations.