About the Audubon Center at Debs Park

In its holistic, people-focused approach to conservation work, the Audubon Center at Debs Park serves as a community hub for environmental justice and advocacy work in Los Angeles and across the Audubon network. 

Habitat restoration is one of the Center's core tenets as it not only provides habitat for birds, but also increases green spaces for urban communities that may not otherwise experience California native flora and fauna. Through the efforts of staff and volunteers, one can see how these conservation efforts have restored the landscape of Debs Park, bringing with it fresh scents and experiences.

In addition to restoring habitat for bird and other wildlife at Debs Park and along the L.A. River, the Center’s primary goal is restoring the connection between people and the land in Los Angeles. As the first center that the National Audubon Society built within an urban environment to specifically engage the Latino community, the Audubon Center at Debs Park has played an important role in building a more diverse and inclusive conservation movement here in Los Angeles and beyond. Whether it is watching a movie outdoors underneath the Los Angeles night sky or beginner birders taking their first hike up the hills with rented binoculars in tow, the Center's belief is that everyone has not only just the right to be in nature, but to know that they belong. 

One of the other pillars of the Center is community engagement, connecting birds, plants, and people together. Numerous events are held at a weekly-basis, ranging from community habitat restorations to festivals celebrating winter. The Center is honored to collaborate with the many wonderful community-based organizations and individuals in Northeast LA and to share their vision in green access and equity through community events and more.

Not only is the Center supported by volunteers and community partners, but it is also bolstered through interns and program participants. In fostering the next generation of environmental stewards, the Center runs the Audubon Youth Leaders program, where high school students learn habitat restoration, environmental advocacy, and community engagement. The Center also hosts numerous interns from other organizations and programs, such as HIRE LA and California's College for All Corps. In their time at the Center, they will learn workplace skills, conservation skills, engagement skills, and more to help them be eco-conscious and confident in the ever-changing world.

Both interns and volunteers also assist in the Center's ongoing community science efforts, such as participating in the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project and hosting NestBoxes that can be found around the Center and the Park. It is due to their effort that the Center is able to continue in such great capacity in collecting data, monitoring wildlife activity, and using science to steer the Center's course in conservation and to tell a compelling story to the community.

Additionally, as the first LEED Platinum certified building in the country at the time of its construction in 2003, the Audubon Center at Debs Park prioritizes sustainability. The building serves as a valuable tool to educate and engage the community about sustainable buildings and green infrastructure.

The Audubon Center at Debs park is truly a remarkable place and the Center staff hopes that you will be able to come visit and partake in experiencing, understanding, and caring for the local natural world with us.