| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A |
SANDOWAY PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORICAL SCIENCES DEALING WITH NATIVE COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTS, AS WELL AS PROMOTES CONSERVATION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, BEACHES, AND PLANT LIFE. IN 2020, SANDOWAY WAS OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK (CLOSED FROM MARCH 17TH- MAY 17TH DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS) AND HAD OVER 12,000 VISITORS LEARN ABOUT CONSERVATION, PRESERVATION, AND HABITAT DESTRUCTION. OVER HALF OF THOSE VISITORS ATTENDED OUR DAILY EDUCATIONAL SHARK FEEDINGS WHICH TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING OUR OCEANS' TOP PREDATOR. SANDOWAY HAS EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS, ANIMAL EXHIBITS AND AQUARIUMS INTENDED FOR GUESTS OF ALL AGES TO LEARN ABOUT THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. ALL SANDOWAY'S ANIMALS HAVE BEEN DONATED AS UNWANTED PETS, WERE INJURED, OR REHABILITATED BUT UNABLE TO BE RELEASED TO THE WILD. THEY ARE USED DAILY FOR EDUCATIONAL CLASSES THAT GIVE VISITORS AND STUDENTS A CHANCE FOR AN INTERACTIVE AND INFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE MANY CHALLENGES IN 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE MADE SURE TO CONTINUE TEACHING OUR MISSION THROUGH BROADENED, SOCIALLY DISTANCED PUBLIC PROGRAMMING WHICH REQUIRED STAFF TO INTERACT WITH VISITORS THROUGH SMALLER, MORE FREQUENT CLASSES. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B |
SANDOWAY OFFERS A VIBRANT GATEWAY TO SOUTH FLORIDA'S FRAGILE MARINE LIFE AND FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. RECOGNIZING THE LIMITED ACCESS TO AND DEEP NEED FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY'S CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND CRUCIAL S.T.E.M (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH) CONCEPTS, AND BE ABLE TO RELATE THEM IN A MEANINGFUL WAY TO THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM, WE DEVELOPED OUR JUNIOR NATURALIST PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS HANDS-ON, ACTIVITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR GRADES K-12. THIS PROGRAM IS COMPATIBLE WITH NEXT GENERATION SUNSHINE STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS, AND PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE APPROVED OUR JUNIOR NATURALIST PROGRAM CURRICULUM. WE ARE FOCUSING WHERE OUR HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT IS NEEDED MOST, ON PALM BEACH COUNTY'S TITLE ONE SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE, AND THOSE FROM LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND MINORITY POPULATIONS. IN 2020, OVER 2,200 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND CAMPS LOOKING TO EXPLORE SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA'S NATIVE NATURAL HABITAT. THE JUNIOR NATURALIST PROGRAM WAS ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH INCREASED SAFETY STANDARDS AS WELL AS NEW METHODOLOGIES TO FULFILL OUR MISSION. STAFF TAUGHT INTERACTIVE, LIVE-ANIMAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING WITHIN SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES. WE ALSO ADJUSTED OUR PROGRAM TO INCLUDE VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS, OUTREACH PROGRAMS (LOCAL CAMPS AND FAMILIES TO OFFER PROGRAMING AT THEIR FACILITY OR HOME, ALLEVIATING THE NEED FOR TRAVEL AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ISSUES) AND EXPANDED CURRICULUM THAT TEACHERS CAN USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 4 |
THE 2020 UPDATE TO THE THE FRIENDS OF SANDOWAY HOUSE NATURE CENTER, INC. (HEREIN "SANDOWAY") BYLAWS PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO THE TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THE 2015 VERSION OF SANDOWAY'S BYLAWS. THE UPDATE DELETED REDUNDANCIES, REVISED THE MANNER OF ADMISSION FOR DIRECTORS SERVING THE SANDOWAY BOARD, AND REVISED THE GENERAL TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR BOARD MEMBERS. THE 2020 UPDATE ELIMINATED STANDING BOARD COMMITTEES, AND ALLOWS BOARD MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MEETING VIRTUALLY. BOARD MEMBERS NOW ARE REQUIRED TO ANNUALLY REAPPLY TO MAINTAIN THEIR BOARD SEAT AND THE BYLAWS PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR REMOVING BOARD MEMBERS IF NEEDED. THE 2020 UPDATE ALSO PROVIDES FOR A "POLICY HANDBOOK" WHICH NOW HOUSES SANDOWAY'S DOCUMENT RETENTION AND DESTRUCTION POLICY, GIFT POLICY, AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY WHICH HAVE LARGELY REMAINED THE SAME FROM THE 2015 SANDOWAY BYLAWS. THE 2020 UPDATE TO THE SANDOWAY BYLAWS WAS VOTED AND APPROVED BY THE SANDOWAY BOARD ON FEBRUARY 10, 2020. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B |
THE FORM 990 IS E-MAILED TO THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR REVIEW AND THE FORM IS REVIEWED AT THE BOARD MEETING PRIOR TO FILING. CONCERNS AND ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED AND THE FORM IS SIGNED BY AN OFFICER OF THE BOARD. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C |
POLICY IS DISCUSSED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WITH NEW BOARD MEMBERS AT THE TIME THEY JOIN THE BOARD. CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY ALSO DISCUSSED AND SIGNED BY BOARD MEMBERS. POLICY IS REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED BY BOARD MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES AND ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICTS THAT ARISE ARE REQUIRED TO BE DISCLOSED. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE PRESIDENT REVIEW THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORMS. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A |
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS CHARGED WITH SETTING COMPENSATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE REVIEWED BY THE BOARD. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 |
RECORDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST BY U.S. MAIL. |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.