“Night With the Wild” Fundraising Gala to be Held on June 17
(Darlington, MD) – Help build a place for the wild – where the unique wildlife of the region can find safe haven, and visitors can enjoy a hike, learn about local wildlife conservation issues, and become involved in its efforts. Such a place – the Susquehannock Wildlife Center, a first-of-its kind hub for wildlife education, research, and rehabilitation in northern Maryland – is already under construction, but is in need of additional support.
A “Night With the Wild,” a charity event to benefit the nonprofit Susquehannock Wildlife Society, aims to raise awareness and financial assistance for the creation of this facility. This evening of wildlife-themed food, drinks, music, and a few feathered, furry, and scaled special guests is open to those 21 and older and will be held Friday, June 17 from 7 pm to midnight at Deer Creek Overlook in Rocks State Park.
The Susquehannock Wildlife Center, currently under construction and renovation, is located on the 20-acre Hopkins Branch Wildlife Management Area property in Darlington.
Once complete, the wildlife center will educate and entertain visitors with museum-quality displays, hands-on activities, and live-animal education ambassadors. In the lower level of the facility, Susquehannock Wildlife Society will conduct conservation research and will expand its already successful wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts in a laboratory setting. An indoor classroom will allow students and visitors to watch and participate in the activities, as appropriate. On the upper level of the facility, the organization will maintain its corporate offices, meeting space, and an environmental library.
Once open to the public, visitors will also be able to hike more than a mile of trails along a creek, past a pond, and through meadow and woodland; offering excellent wildlife-watching opportunities and scenic views of the historic village of Darlington and rolling countryside of the Deer Creek valley. Some of the future projects visitors can look forward to include:
Scenic Overlook/Stargazing Platform – By day, visitors will be able to look down into the rolling countryside of the Deer Creek valley and watch an extraordinary congregation of birds and butterflies flutter through acres of wildflower meadow. By night, visitors will have the rare opportunity to turn their gaze upward and stare upon a dark sky, unpolluted by unnatural light, for an unprecedented view of the starfield and its array of constellations, planets, and other celestial bodies.
Outdoor Amphitheatre – A natural hollow beside the wildlife center provides the perfect setting for stadium-style seating in an outdoor setting. By day, visitors will be able to participate in educational programs and presentations with wind in their hair and grass beneath their feet. By night, visitors will have a chance to watch wildlife-themed movies on our big screen while still enjoying the outdoors with the moon and stars above them.
Campfire Classroom – An outdoor experience just isn’t complete without a good chat around the campfire. Susquehannock Wildlife Society takes the traditional campfire a step further with a custom-built campfire ring and outdoor classroom. Thanks to a soon-to-be Eagle Scout from Harford County Boy Scout Troop 973, visitors will be able to sit comfortably around the crackling campfire enjoying the ambiance of the flickering flames and babbling of the nearby creek, or participating in an environmental lesson in an outdoor classroom setting.
Other projects – including a Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly restoration area, native fruit orchard, honeybee apiary, bat colony, and owl nesting area – are also planned for the site. But none of this will be possible without the support and funding of those interested and motivated by the Susquehannock Wildlife Society’s vision.
The most immediate and effective way to support this vision is to contribute, donate, or consider buying tickets to Susquehannock Wildlife Society’s upcoming “Night With the Wild” gala on June 17 at Deer Creek Overlook. At the gala, guests will enjoy fine food, wine, craft beers, open bar, bourbon lounge, Tito’s Vodka Signature Drink station, live and silent auctions, rare and exquisite jewelry raffles, Big Stakes Gaming Wheel, 50/50 rescue raffle, music to stir your inner animal moves, and a very special visit and photo opportunity with some wild guests of honor. Black tie is optional, but wear your gala gowns with your favorite cowboy boots. The title and trophy for 2016 Ultimate Ambassador for Wildlife will also be awarded during the evening.
Tickets for this one-of-a-kind event are on sale until June 3 and can be purchased for $80 each at http://www.
Sponsorships opportunities are still available. For more information, please contact events@suskywildlife.org. Sponsors to date include Harford County Government, Tito’s handmade vodka, Weyerbacher, Wilson’s Farm Market, LaGrange Farm, Laughing Mantis Studio, Sonipak Design and Marketing, Stem Graphics Print Shop, Ronnie’s Beverage Warehouse, Harford’s Heart Magazine, River Breeze Services, Ecotone, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society, TapSnap, Sappari Solutions, Coffee Coffee, The Wright Fit, Fox & Fern, Artfully Rustic, STREETWISE, and The Arena Club.
