Thousand Islands Arts Center Receives Robert F. Schumann Foundation Grant for “Nesting Change” Project
CLAYTON – The Thousand Islands Arts Center is thrilled to announce it has received a grant
from the Robert F. Schumann Foundation in support of its innovative “Nesting Change” project.
This unique initiative directly aligns with the Foundation’s core grantmaking priorities,
encompassing environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and enhancing quality of life through
arts and cultural engagement.
Earlier this spring, community members and students from Lyme Central School learned about
the habitat and migratory patterns of the federally protected Cliff Swallow while crafting clay
birdhouses intended to encourage the relocation of the birds during their seasonal habitat in the
region. This collaborative project emerged from a pressing local need. A popular picnic pavilion
at the state park has become unusable due to nesting Cliff Swallows. Lauren Eggleston,
Regional Education Coordinator for the New York State Office of Parks, reached out to the Arts
Center to develop a creative solution: the construction of custom birdhouses to safely relocate
the swallows.
“The Nesting Change program provided an exceptional opportunity for our community to
connect with nature through art, embodying Mr. Schumann’s enduring legacy.” Said Sarah
Riddoch, the Arts Center’s Executive Director. “We are incredibly grateful to the Robert F.
Schumann Foundation for their vision and support of the program.”
“Nesting Change” supports the Schumann Foundation’s dedication to improving the planet
through environmental education and supporting artistic institutions that benefit local
communities.
The project is a collaborative project with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation at Thousand Islands Long Point State Park. Later this year, Parks staff and
conservation experts will strategically install the Arts Center-provided birdhouses to encourage
the birds to relocate within an acceptable distance from the picnic pavilion.
