2015-12-09T08:03:43-06:00 2015-03-31 390859910 BAKER TILLY VIRCHOW KRAUSE LLP 2609 KEISER BOULEVARD WYOMISSING PA 196103338 990 2014-04-01 231392700 HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION HAWK 6107566961 1700 HAWK MOUNTAIN ROAD KEMPTON PA 19529 JERRY REGAN PRESIDENT 6107566961 2015-12-02 1 CHARLES A BEZLER P00193859 6109274910 2014 2016-04-25 22:37:26Z X JERRY REGAN 1700 HAWK MOUNTAIN ROAD KEMPTON PA 19529 3091664 0 X WWW.HAWKMOUNTAIN.ORG X 1938 PA TO CONSERVE BIRDS OF PREY WORLDWIDE BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN RAPTOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND EDUCATION, AND BY MAINTAINING HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY AS A MODEL OBSERVATION, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FACILITY. 23 23 39 213 0 0 2053823 1438481 726318 749603 432028 437377 102223 98226 3314392 2723687 0 0 0 0 1152600 1347181 0 0 355544 1266155 1581303 2418755 2928484 895637 -204797 16662855 16718938 796676 890296 15866179 15828642 X HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO CONSERVE BIRDS OF PREY WORLDWIDE BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN RAPTOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND EDUCATION, AND BY MAINTAINING HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY AS A MODEL OBSERVATION, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FACILITY. 0 0 2275475 847829 SEE ATTACHED FOOTNOTE - ORGANIZATION SUMMARY 2275475 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 39 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 23 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 PA X SHELLEY DAVENPORT 6107566961 1700 HAWK MOUNTAIN RD KEMPTON PA 19529 PETER E BENNETT TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 FREDERICK J BESTE III VICE-CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 DR WILLIAM M ANDERSON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOSEPH S MALLORY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 WENDY MCLEAN CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 FERDINAND THUN ASSISTANT SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 DR STEPHEN EDGE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 PAMELA A KRAUSER VARGAS SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 THOMAS J KERR DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT J BARKANIC DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DEBORAH EDGE MD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 BARBARA ALTMAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LEWIS CYR DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 HOUSTON STEBBINS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 RICHARD CROSSLEY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SOLOMON LAUSCH DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DANIEL RUBENSTEIN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SCOTT WEIDENSAUL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MINTURN T WRIGHT III DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DICK BUS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHRISTINA CLAYTON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CARL ROE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 BILL SANDS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JERRY REGAN PRESIDENT 40.00 X 125000 0 25721 125000 0 25721 1 0 1 0 BANK OF AMERICA P O BOX 15796 WILMINGTON DE 19886 MERCHANT SERVICES 257538 1 23679 1414802 1438481 MEMBERSHIP DUES 900099 398748 398748 ADMISSIONS 900099 350855 350855 749603 322544 322544 372660 257827 114833 114833 114833 208376 110150 98226 98226 2723687 847829 0 437377 1258677 1029307 68734 160636 88504 72184 3969 12351 44514 44514 41471 23956 10723 6792 186983 128829 22996 35158 81939 74092 3787 4060 125847 102736 20497 2614 11377 11377 268234 238236 16551 13447 73714 73714 OUTSIDE SERVICES 363165 257179 47695 58291 EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES 86484 76582 9237 665 COMPUTER 83448 57139 12968 13341 PRINTING AND PUBLICATIO 73951 31260 2730 39961 140176 110261 21687 8228 2928484 2275475 297465 355544 84207 21141 112058 212058 5000 20622 45900 50316 34376 18814 10626683 3574973 7108618 7051710 8471002 8702167 801694 642110 16662855 16718938 67930 95860 38973 41655 554240 262480 135533 490301 796676 890296 X 8443724 8077449 2148149 2318742 5274306 5432451 15866179 15828642 16662855 16718938 X -204797 167260 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1201754 1593745 1835522 2467264 1837229 8935514 481532 439148 468770 526944 559231 2475625 1683286 2032893 2304292 2994208 2396460 11411139 291289 932069 592886 129440 189201 2134885 0 291289 932069 592886 129440 189201 2134885 9276254 162377 214243 258763 622876 695204 1953463 162377 214243 258763 622876 695204 1953463 1845663 2247136 2563055 3617084 3091664 13364602 0.69410 0.71050 0.14620 0.11730 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 8733864 158145 349231 372660 8868580 8079485 10030 985028 340679 8733864 7626409 125528 665131 337583 8079485 7616711 188571 304614 483487 7626409 7112067 36000 835712 367068 7616711 0.21000 0.61000 0.18000 0 0 2242459 2242459 8384224 3574973 4809251 0 7051710 RETIREMENT LIABILITY 34058 DEFERRED REVENUE 456243 490301 2872227 148540 148540 2723687 0 2723687 2928484 0 2928484 0 2928484 PART V, LINE 4: THE DIFFERENT ENDOWMENT FUNDS HELP TO FUND THE INTERN AND TRAINEE PROGRAM, LIBRARY, & ARCHIVES, AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACOPIAN CENTER. ALL FUNDS ARE USED TOWARD EDUCATION AND GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES. X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JERRY REGAN PRESIDENT 125000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25721 0 150721 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART 1, LINE 3 AND PART VI, LINES 1A AND 1B AN AMENDED RETURN IS BEING PREPARED TO CORRECT THE NUMBER OF VOTING MEMBERS. THE CORRECT NUMBER OF VOTING MEMBERS IS 23 AND NOT 24 AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BACKGROUND HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY WAS FOUNDED IN 1934 BY PIONEER CONSERVATIONIST ROSALIE EDGE AS THE WORLD'S FIRST REFUGE FOR BIRDS OF PREY. THE SANCTUARY'S FOUNDING WAS A TURNING POINT IN REVERSING THEIR WIDESPREAD PERSECUTION. TODAY THE ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED IN 1938, CONTINUES ITS PIONEERING WORK TO PROTECT BIRDS OF PREY THROUGH EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MONITORING OF RAPTOR AND OTHER MIGRANT POPULATIONS, CONDUCTING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND THROUGH INFORMATION SHARING AND PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATION TRAINING. SEVEN BIOLOGISTS AND EDUCATORS SERVE ON ITS PROGRAM STAFF, INCLUDING THREE PH.D.-LEVEL SCIENTISTS. IN THE LAST DECADE, THE SANCTUARY HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF GLOBALLY IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS TO MONITOR RAPTOR POPULATIONS AND TO STUDY THE DYNAMICS OF RAPTOR MIGRATION AND ECOLOGY. ITS ACOPIAN CENTER FOR CONSERVATION LEARNING SERVES AS A HUB FOR GLOBAL RAPTOR INFORMATION, TRAINING AND STUDIES. PROGRAMS AREAS NATURE DISCOVERY WILDLIFE WATCHING, HIKING, ECO-TOURISM HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY IS A WORLD-CLASS OBSERVATION SITE FOR BIRDS OF PREY AND IS A FEDERALLY-DESIGNATED NATIONAL NATURAL LANDMARK. THE ANNUAL AUTUMN SPECTACLE OF THOUSANDS OF WILD HAWKS, EAGLES AND FALCONS IN FLIGHT, COMBINED WITH ITS SCENIC MOUNTAIN VIEWS, APPEAL TO A WIDE AUDIENCE. EACH YEAR HAWK MOUNTAIN HOSTS AN AVERAGE 70,000 VISITORS. FREE NATURE INTERPRETATION IS PRACTICED AT ITS LOOKOUTS DURING SPRING AND FALL MIGRATION. THE SANCTUARY VISITOR CENTER, WHICH IS OPEN DAILY AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC, HOUSES A MUSEUM ON BIRDS OF PREY AND NATURE BOOKSTORE. A "WINGS OF WONDER" GALLERY FEATURES 19 HAND-CARVED AND PAINTED, LIFE-SIZE MODELS OF RAPTORS IN FLIGHT. TRAILS ARE OPEN DAWN TO DUSK YEAR-ROUND. HAWK MOUNTAIN IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL AND OFFERS AT NO EXTRA CHARGE AN ALL-TERRAIN WHEELCHAIR FOR VISITOR USE. A CAPITAL PROJECT TO BUILD AN ACCESSIBLE TRAIL TO THE SOUTH LOOKOUT IS NOW UNDERWAY AND WILL OPEN ON JULY 26, 2015. PLANS ARE COMPLETE AND FUNDRAISING CONTINUES ON A CAPITAL PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT AND OPEN A FULLY-FUNCTIONING AND ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER AND CLASSROOM AS WELL AS AN ACCESSIBLE CONNECTOR TRAIL THAT LINKS ALL MAJOR VISITOR CENTER FACILITIES WITH THE TRAILHEAD. CONSERVATION EDUCATION SCHOOL AND GROUP PROGRAMS, PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, LIFE-LONG LEARNING PER ITS MISSION, BIRDS OF PREY ARE THE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR LEARNING IN HAWK MOUNTAIN EDUCATION PROGRAM. APPALACHIAN FOREST ECOLOGY IS INCORPORATED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY BY USING OUTSIDE EXPERTS AND BY ENCOURAGING SPONTANEOUS DISCOVERY BASED ON THE CHANGING SEASONS. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS RANGE FROM PRE-SCHOOL TO COLLEGE LEVEL. AN EXTENSIVE ON-SITE EDUCATION PROGRAM INCLUDES MORE THAN 500 FREE INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UP TO A DOZEN SPECIAL-FOCUS WORKSHOPS FOR NOMINAL FEES, AND FOUR FULLY ACCREDITED COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSES THROUGH CEDAR CREST COLLEGE. TYPES OF PROGRAMS INCLUDE PUBLIC PROGRAMS, TEACHER WORKSHOPS, COLLEGE COURSES, AND THREE-MONTH RESIDENTIAL INTERNSHIPS. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO (1) BE SCIENCE AND INQUIRY-BASED, (2) OFFER CONTENT AND SKILLS TO EMPOWER VISITORS TO OBSERVE AND LEARN ABOUT NATURE AFTER THEIR VISIT, AND (3) PROVIDE MEANINGFUL, SITE-SPECIFIC CONTENT THAT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. FACILITIES INCLUDE AN OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER AND NEWLY EXPANDED, ADA-COMPLIANT EDUCATION BUILDING, AS WELL AS THE "WINGS OF WONDER GALLERY" IN THE VISITOR CENTER FOR PUBLIC LECTURES. SANCTUARY TRAILS LEAD TO EIGHT SCENIC LOOKOUTS THAT PROVIDE A BACKDROP FOR MOST EDUCATION EXPERIENCES AT HAWK MOUNTAIN. DURING AUTUMN, UP TO A DOZEN PERSONNEL SPOT BIRDS AND INTERPRET THE MIGRATION FOR VISITORS AT TWO PRIMARY LOOKOUTS. HAWK MOUNTAIN ALSO HAS AN ACTIVE PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM, INCLUDING A DOZEN BOOKLETS, FLYERS AND BOOKS AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE OF MATERIALS PROVIDED FREE VIA ITS WEBSITE. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS INCLUDE A 92-PAGE TEACHER GUIDE WITH ANNUAL LESSON PLAN UPDATES BASED ON NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS, SEVERAL DOWNLOADABLE POWERPOINT'S FOR CLASSROOM USE, AND NUMEROUS ONLINE RESOURCES ON RAPTORS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD, ALSO AT NO COST. STAFF AND BOARD APPROVED IN 2012 A FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR EDUCATION WHICH MEASURABLE GOALS AND A STRONG FOCUS ON OUTCOME BASED EVALUATION. FOLLOWING THE PLAN, IN 2014, HAWK MOUNTAIN HIRED ERIN BROWN AS ITS FIRST DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION IN MORE THAN A DECADE TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY. UNDER HER DIRECTION, A NEW EDUCATION INTERNSHIP THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2011 AND 2012 HAS EXPANDED AND IS LINKED TO THE CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAM AT HAWK MOUNTAIN. BROWN AND HER TEAM ALSO HAVE DEDICATED CONSIDERABLE TIME IN BUILDING NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH REGIONAL SCHOOLS AND THEIR EDUCATORS, PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AT THE SANCTUARY, AND CREATING NEW CURRICULA AND EXPORTABLE TOOLS, TEACHING AIDS, AND LESSONS. THIS WORK IS STRATEGIC AND WILL SET HAWK MOUNTAIN APART AS A LEADER IN RAPTOR EDUCATION. CONSERVATION SCIENCE LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND MENTORING, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY, ANALYSIS AND PUBLICATION. THE FOUR-MEMBER CONSERVATION SCIENCE TEAM AT HAWK MOUNTAIN (INCLUDING THREE PH.D.-LEVEL SCIENTISTS) IS LED BY A GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON BIRDS OF PREY, DR. KEITH BILDSTEIN, THE SARKIS ACOPIAN DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND AUTHOR OF MIGRATING RAPTORS OF THE WORLD: THEIR ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION (PUBLISHED 2006) AND CO-AUTHOR OF HAWK MOUNTAIN: A CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY (2014). HAWK MOUNTAIN CONSERVATION SCIENCE FOCUSES ON DETERMINING RAPTOR POPULATION TRENDS AND UNDERLYING CAUSES, AND GAINING NEW INSIGHT INTO THE PROCESS AND PATTERNS OF RAPTOR MOVEMENT ECOLOGY. SANCTUARY PERSONNEL RECORD AND MAINTAIN COUNTS OF MIGRATING RAPTORS EACH AUTUMN, CONDUCT PUBLIC-EDUCATION PROGRAMS, LEAD PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, AND HELP CONDUCT AND ANALYZE COUNTS OF BOTH SPRING AND AUTUMN MIGRANTS. THE SANCTUARY'S LONG-TERM (1934-2012) DATABASE OF AUTUMN COUNTS SERVES AS A CRITICAL INDICATOR OF THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF RAPTOR POPULATIONS IN NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. THE DATASET REPRESENTS THE LONGEST AND MOST DETAILED RECORD OF RAPTOR MIGRATION DATA IN THE WORLD AND IS PROVIDED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL AS TO SCIENTISTS FOR LEARNING, GENERAL INTEREST OR ANALYSIS. OTHER LOCAL TO GLOBAL RESEARCH PROJECTS INCLUDE STUDIES OF THE AMERICAN KESTREL IN PENNSYLVANIA, A LONG-TERM STUDY OF NEW WORLD VULTURES, RESEARCH ON THE GLOBALLY-THREATENED STRIATED CARACARA, A NEW STUDY ON HOODED VULTURES IN AFRICA, A SPRING 2014 LONG-TERM STUDY ON THE LONG-DISTANCE OF MOVEMENTS OF THE BROAD-WINGED HAWK, AND RESEARCH ON ARCTIC RAPTORS, AMONG OTHER STUDIES WHERE HAWK MOUNTAIN SERVES IN A MENTOR, PARTNER OR IN AN ADVISORY ROLE. CONSERVATION SCIENCE FACILITIES INCLUDE THE HAWK MOUNTAIN ACOPIAN CENTER FOR CONSERVATION LEARNING CENTER, A THREE-BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL, OFFICE, LAB AND WORK CENTER COMPLETE WITH A LIBRARY THAT SERVES AS A GLOBAL INFORMATION CENTER FOR RAPTOR MIGRATION SCIENCE. THE ACOPIAN CENTER LIBRARY IS A WORLD-CLASS RESOURCE ITSELF BOASTING 3,500-VOLUMES AND 168 SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS. THE LIBRARY IS OPEN BY APPOINTMENT AT NO COST TO ANYONE WITH AN INTEREST IN STUDYING RAPTORS OR CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON CONSERVATION ISSUES. THE ACOPIAN CENTER HELPS TO FOSTER THE RESEARCH, BOTH ON- AND OFF-SITE, BY SANCTUARY SCIENTISTS AND ITS COLLABORATORS GLOBALLY AND PROVIDES A HEADQUARTERS AND MEETING PLACE FOR OTHER CONSERVATION GROUPS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION. IT ALSO FUNCTIONS AS THE CENTER FOR HAWK MOUNTAIN'S INTERNATIONAL TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM, WHICH WELCOMES A SPRING AND AN AUTUMN CLASS OF UP TO EIGHT INDIVIDUALS FOR LONG-TERM, RESIDENTIAL TRAINING. IN SEPTEMBER 2012, HAWK MOUNTAIN CELEBRATED THE FIRST 10 YEARS AT THIS WORLD-CLASS FACILITY, WHICH ENABLED THE SANCTUARY TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF TRAINEES, AND TO EXPAND ALL RESEARCH PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 40 HAWK MOUNTAIN RESEARCH ASSOCIATES NOW INCLUDE SCIENTISTS FROM CORNELL AND PRINCETON UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS SCIENTISTS FROM ELSEWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE, AFRICA AND ASIA. SINCE 1935, HAWK MOUNTAIN'S RESEARCH STAFF AND ITS COLLABORATORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 240 TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS, REVIEWS, THESES AND DISSERTATIONS TO THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. THE SANCTUARY IS A LEAD PARTNER IN THE RAPTOR POPULATION INDEX (RPI) PROJECT, WORKING WITH HAWKWATCH INTERNATIONAL, BIRDLIFE CANADA AND THE HAWK MIGRATION ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA (HMANA) TO ASSESS THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF NORTH AMERICAN RAPTORS. THE RPI GOAL IS TO MONITOR RAPTOR POPULATIONS ON A CONTINENTAL BASIS, BASED ON MIGRATION COUNTS AND OTHER DATA. HAWK MOUNTAIN OFFERS ITS EXPERTISE AT NO CHARGE AND CONDUCTS DATA ANALYSIS FOR THE PROJECT, THUS PROVIDING A LARGE SNAPSHOT ON THE STATUS OF RAPTORS ACROSS THE CONTINENT. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A CONSERVATION TRAINING SINCE 1976, HAWK MOUNTAIN'S CONSERVATION SCIENCE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 380 YOUNG CONSERVATIONISTS FROM 79 COUNTRIES ON SIX CONTINENTS. UPON THEIR RETURN HOME, TRAINEES CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US AS PARTNERS AND HELP TO MOVE FORWARD HAWK MOUNTAIN'S MISSION TO CONSERVE BIRDS OF PREY WORLDWIDE. PARTIALLY THROUGH ENDOWMENT BUT ALSO FUNDED IN PART BY GENERAL OPERATIONS, THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST YOUNG CONSERVATIONISTS COME TO HAWK MOUNTAIN AT ABSOLUTELY NO COST. TRAINEES ARE SELECTED EXCLUSIVELY UPON PERSONAL MERIT AND THE CONSERVATION NEED IN THEIR AREA-NEVER ON INDIVIDUAL ABILITY TO PAY. TO INCREASE LONG-TERM STABILITY, THE SANCTUARY HAS WORKED TO RAISE AN ADDITIONAL $300,000 TO ITS CURRENT TRAINEE ENDOWMENT IN ORDER TO FULLY FUND THE PROGRAM AT ITS NOW-EXPANDED CAPACITY. THE SANCTUARY ALSO ACTIVELY SUPPORTS ALUMNI WORK, INCLUDING RAISING FUNDS AND OFFERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE PROVIDING TOOLS TO HELP START MIGRATION COUNTS, HELPING TO LAUNCH CRITICALLY NEEDED RESEARCH PROJECTS OR BY HELPED TO FUND WORKSHOPS IN THE PLACES WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED. TRAINING ALSO IS OFFERED AS SUMMER FIELD EXPERIENCES FOR NORTH AMERICAN UNDERGRADUATES, AND LEADERSHIP-LEVEL INTERNSHIPS ARE DESIGNED FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF A PROMISING CONSERVATION CAREER. ALL INTERNSHIPS AT HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. RECENTLY HAWK MOUNTAIN HAS STARTED TO OFFER POSITIONS FOR ITS TRAINEE GRADUATES THROUGH ITS GRADUATE STUDENT PROGRAM, IN WHICH HAWK MOUNTAIN SERVES AS AN ADVISOR TO A YOUNG CONSERVATIONIST WHO SEEKS A DOCTORAL DEGREE. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT TRAINEES HAVE A LEADING EDGE AND ARE EQUIPPED TO EFFECT CHANGE AT A LEADERSHIP LEVEL. HAWK MOUNTAIN CURRENTLY IS GROWING A GRADUATE STUDENT PROGRAM AND RAISING ENDOWMENT DOLLARS TO COVER THIS COST WHICH HELPS TO FURTHER INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ON RAPTORS BY THE NEXT GENERATION WHILE HELPING TO FURTHER HAWK MOUNTAIN'S OWN SCIENTIFIC STUDIES. LAND AND FACILITIES BUILDING USE AND MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS LAND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES OPERATION OF HAWK MOUNTAIN'S PHYSICAL PLANT OF 2,500 ACRES AND SIX BUILDINGS DEPENDS UPON A STAFF OF THREE AND MANY VOLUNTEERS. WITH VISITOR SAFETY AND SATISFACTION BEING THE HIGHEST PRIORITY, STAFF MUST PROVIDE CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE ON THE 8-MILE TRAIL SYSTEM INCLUDING MONITORING STORM WATER RUNOFF AND INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL, ADDING NEW HAND OR SAFETY RAILING WHERE NECESSARY, AND RE-GRADING ROADWAYS AND TRAILS AS NEEDED. FACILITIES INCLUDE THE VISITOR CENTER (PUBLIC), THE ACOPIAN CENTER FOR CONSERVATION LEARNING (SCIENCE AND TRAINING), THE EDUCATION BUILDING (EDUCATION), A MAINTENANCE SHED AND RAPTOR ENCLOSURES, TWO THREE-SIDED ADIRONDACK SHELTERS AND AN EIGHT-SITE TENT-ONLY CAMPGROUND, AND THREE STAFF RESIDENCES. FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, AT LEAST ONE STAFF MEMBER IS ON SITE AND ON-CALL AT ALL TIMES, 365 DAYS A YEAR. HAWK MOUNTAIN FACILITIES STAFF IN 2014 LAUNCHED THE FIRST OF A FIVE-YEAR PROJECT TO REMOVE AND ULTIMATELY TO CONTROL INVASIVE PLANTS ON THE SANCTUARY. THIS WORK IS FUNDED THROUGH THE USDA AND INCLUDES USE OF HAND-PULLING, WEED WHACKING, GRAZING BY ANIMALS AND HERBICIDE SPRAY ALONG WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION COMPONENTS. CAPITAL PROJECTS FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET HAWK MOUNTAIN'S FOUR-PHASE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN CALLS FOR A $10 MILLION FUNDING GOAL WHICH AIMS TO IMPROVE UPON THE SANCTUARY'S CURRENT ASSETS. THE FIRST PHASE-THE EXPANSION OF THE COMMON ROOM INTO A NEWLY EXPANDED AND IMPROVED EDUCATION BUILDING IS COMPLETE AND NOW FEATURES FULL ADA ACCESSIBILITY, SAFE SCHOOL BUS TURNAROUND, AN EXPANDED OUTDOOR PATIO, HIGH SPEED INTERNET AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND AN INTERPRETIVE TRAIL THAT LINKS THE PARKING AREA TO THE BUILDING. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A THE SECOND PHASE WILL BE CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESSIBLE TRAILS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WILL OPEN IN JULY 2015 AND WILL LEAD TO THE SOUTH LOOKOUT. THE EXTENSION WILL PROVIDE A CONNECTOR TRAIL THAT LINKS THE TRAILHEAD ENTRANCE, VISITOR CENTER, AND AMPHITHEATER WITH THE PARKING AREA. CONSTRUCTION OF A PROPER OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER, ALREADY SUPPORTED WITH A LEAD GIFT OF $250,000 FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION AND OTHERS, IS FULLY PLANNED AND WILL PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY, A COVERED STONE AND TIMBER STAGE AREA WITH SOUND AND LIGHTING, AND MOISTURE RESISTANT SEATING. THE THIRD PHASE WILL FOCUS ON THE SCENIC GATEWAY AND CREATING A PROPER APPROACH TO THE SANCTUARY, AND IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A VISITOR AND PARKING STUDY, WHILE THE FINAL PHASE WILL BE A RENOVATION OR REBUILD OF THE VISITOR CENTER OFFICES WITH A FOCUS ON IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND IMPROVING VISITOR SERVICES. HAWK MOUNTAIN IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A LONG-RANGE PLANNING PROCESS AND INTENDS TO BOOST LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY WHILE PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE HAWK MOUNTAIN MISSION. FREE SERVICES VISITOR CENTER OPEN DAILY AT NO CHARGE, 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. BIRD FEEDING AND WILDLIFE WATCHING WINDOWS INFORMAL INTERPRETATION AT SCENIC OVERLOOKS, SPRING AND AUTUMN RAPTOR MIGRATION COUNT DATABASE ONLINE Q&A FOR ANY RAPTOR QUESTION VIA EMAIL MENTORING FOR TRAINEE ALUMNI AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS CONSERVATION SCIENCE TRAINEESHIPS OFFERED TO ALL SELECTED AND WELL-QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AT NO CHARGE THROUGH ENDOWMENT AND GENERAL OPERATIONS VISITOR PARKING DIRECTIONAL SERVICES DURING BUSY AUTUMN WEEKENDS GREETER SERVICES AT THE TRAIL ENTRANCE BY VOLUNTEERS FREE TRAIL MAPS FOR ALL VISITORS FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ONLINE FREE SPANISH TRANSLATION OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, MANY ALREADY AVAILABLE ONLINE FREE USE OF LIBRARY BY ANY RESEARCHER OR MEMBER BY APPOINTMENT FREE INFORMATION ON NATIVE PLANTS AND THEIR BENEFIT TO WILDLIFE MORE THAN 500 FREE WEEKEND PROGRAMS DURING SPRING AND AUTUMN FREE REFERRAL SERVICES FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATION NUMEROUS RESOURCES AT NO CHARGE AVAILABLE AT WWW.HAWKMOUNTAIN.ORG, INCLUDING THE DAILY RAPTOR COUNT DURING SPRING AND AUTUMN WINGS OF WONDER RAPTOR GALLERY OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE EXHIBITS ON BIRDS OF PREY OPEN DAILY AT NO CHARGE SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS PUBLISHED BY HAWK MOUNTAIN AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE VIA PDF FREE IMAGE GALLERY AVAILABLE FOR ANY PUBLICITY OR EDUCATIONAL USE TO PROMOTE THE HAWK MOUNTAIN MISSION FREE PHOTOS AND UPDATES AVAILABLE VIA VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA AVENUES INCLUDING FACEBOOK AND FLICKR FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 STEPHEN EDGE AND DEBORAH EDGE ARE SIBLINGS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 THE ENTIRE BOARD IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE FORM 990 BEFORE IT IS FILED. A COPY OF THE FINAL 990 WILL THEN BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE ENTIRE BOARD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS CONSISTENTLY MONITORED AND POLICED THROUGH THE MANDATORY ANNUAL DISCLOSURE FORM. NEW DIRECTORS ALSO COMPLETE THE FORM WHEN THEY COME ON BOARD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE COMPENSATION REVIEW PROCESS FOR TOP OFFICIALS IS DETERMINED SUBSEQUENT TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE OVERALL ANNUAL FISCAL BUDGET. THE PRESIDENT ESTABLISHES THE OVERALL ANNUAL BUDGET, COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS ARE THEN DETERMINED BASED ON THE OVERALL BUDGET WITH SPECIFIC SALARIES APPROVED BY THE BOARD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 DISCLOSURE IS AVAILABLE VIA REQUEST AND IS ALSO POSTED ONLINE, AND IN THE PUBLISHED ANNUAL REPORT. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: CURRENT YEAR UNREALIZED GAINS ON INVESTMENTS 148,540. CHANGE IN ALLOWANCE FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE PLEDGES 18,720.