The Nature Museum Wish List: Updated Summer 2025

Want to contribute an item or in-kind gift to The Nature Museum?  Do you have unused items that need a new home?

There are many ways you can support our mission! 

Take a look at our wish list below and get in touch with ideas or questions.  Depending on staff scheduling, we may be able to pick up items at your home at your convenience. Please contact Executive Director Nik Katrick at nikolas@nature-museum.org to learn more.

Are you interested in making a significant in-kind contribution of over $1000? 

We have several projects and naming opportunities both within the museum and our outdoor expansion project.

Gifts $500 or more

• Larger transportable projector screen

• Roll laminating machine

  Gifts $250-500

• Portable “Backjack” Chairs for Campers, x24

• Outdoor Benches for the Meadow and Playscape

• Used Thinkpad Laptop for staff (replacement for older machines)

• T490 or T590 or later (2019)

• Makita battery leaf blower (w/ batteries, XBU02PT)

• Makita battery string trimmer (XUX01ZM5)

• Makita battery pole saw attachment (EY402MP)

• 1-2 heavy duty wagons (Example)

• Ergonomic Computer Desk for staff

• Above-ground Fire Pit, transportable

Gifts $100-250

• Solid braid, white, polyester rope (for playscape, ½”), any amount

• Pond Exploration D-nets (several)

• Fixed focus magnifiers for aquatic macro and terrestrial insect specimens

Gifts under $100

• Acrylic Craft Paint

• Pressure Treated 2x4s or 2x6s, any length (for playscape)

• Rubbermaid “Roughneck” Bins for program storage (18gal, or any other size, with lid)

• Kincaid Plant Signs (for Pollinator Garden education, link), any amount

• Label Maker (for Pollinator Garden education)

• Digging/Rock Bar

• Sandbox shovels 

• Headlamps for night programs

• Sports balls for camp (soccer balls, footballs, kickballs)

• Books (see below)

• Kahtoola Microspikes for kids and adults

• Pond/Stream Exploration Equipment

• Small collection nets (eventually, 40 needed)

• Water collection vials (20 needed)

• Mini-observation terrariums for aquatic and terrestrial specimens (20 needed)

• Quality field collection vials (24 needed)

• Rubber coated forceps

• Two 8” forceps

• Two 12” forceps

• Waterproof small journals

Variable

• Replacement Education Pelts

• Deer, Red squirrel, snowshoe hare, chipmunk, moose, flying squirrel, opossum, etc.

• Broader categories:  Mustilids, Lagomorphs, Felidae, Canidae

• Mounted taxidermy also helpful!

Books

• Flowers Are Calling by Rita Gray

• Our Big Home: An Earth Poem by Linda Glaser

• Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer

• Grow: Secrets of our DNA by Nichola Davies

• What’s in the Pond? By Anne Hunter

• All About Turtles by Jim Arnosky

• Come out, Muskrats by Jim Arnosky

• Otters Under Water by Jim Arnosky

• Deer at the Brook by Jim Arnosky 

• Crinkleroots series by Jim Arnosky

• Guide to knowing animal habitats

• I was born in a tree and raised by bees

• Nature Almanac

• 25 birds every child should know 

• 25 mammals every child should know

• 25 fish every child should know

• 25 more animals every child should know

• The Mountain that Loved a Bird by Alice McLerran

• Animal Journeys: A Shine A Light Book by Carron Brown & Georgiana Tee

• What on Earth? Trees by Kevin Warwick & Paul Morgan

• If You Want to Be A Butterfly by Muon Thi Van & Andrea Armstrong

• Bug Hotel: a lift-the-flap book of discovery by Clover Robin

No cost (aside from time)

• FHF Building Materials

• FHF material sorting and storage

• Array of extra durable fairy house build examples that can be used for programs and informative displays.