Wildlife Umbrella, Inc.
Melody Newcombe founded Wildlife Umbrella, Inc. as a result of the hundreds of calls about injured and orphaned wildlife she received at the Eliot Pratt Education Center in New Milford, Ct where she served as Environmental Educator and Public Relations Director. It became clear that there was a need for a wildlife rehabilitation and education center where people could bring wildlife for rehabilitation and release; and where people could find answers to wildlife questions and issues.
She began the center by developing a board of directors which consisted of numerous veterinarians and other supportive individuals and by raising $101,000 from foundations and individuals to build the center on the John and Nell Dorr Property in Washington, CT. The Dorr property also housed the John Dorr Nature Laboratory, an outdoor education center affiliated with Horace Mann School, Bronx, NY where Melody Newcombe had also worked years earlier as an Outdoor Education Specialist.
Wildlife Umbrella, Inc. operated for many years under State of Connecticut and U.S. Federal Wildlife Permits which allowed for the care and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned birds of prey, song birds, water fowl, and mammals including deer. Melody Newcombe acted as Executive Director with a staff of 70 volunteers she trained to care for about 385 animals per year on a 24/7 basis. Wildlife Umbrella also had an educational arm called Project Spellbinder which offered on and off site educational programs about wildlife and the environment to school children, families and other organizations; and published a newsletter 'The Gander' about wildlife and nature.
She began the center by developing a board of directors which consisted of numerous veterinarians and other supportive individuals and by raising $101,000 from foundations and individuals to build the center on the John and Nell Dorr Property in Washington, CT. The Dorr property also housed the John Dorr Nature Laboratory, an outdoor education center affiliated with Horace Mann School, Bronx, NY where Melody Newcombe had also worked years earlier as an Outdoor Education Specialist.
Wildlife Umbrella, Inc. operated for many years under State of Connecticut and U.S. Federal Wildlife Permits which allowed for the care and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned birds of prey, song birds, water fowl, and mammals including deer. Melody Newcombe acted as Executive Director with a staff of 70 volunteers she trained to care for about 385 animals per year on a 24/7 basis. Wildlife Umbrella also had an educational arm called Project Spellbinder which offered on and off site educational programs about wildlife and the environment to school children, families and other organizations; and published a newsletter 'The Gander' about wildlife and nature.
