Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium Receives Bank of America Donation

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium receives significant donation from Bank of America

$250,000 grant to support conservation education programs

Springfield, Mo. – The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has awarded Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium a $250,000 grant as part of its broader initiative to aid environmental programs in Missouri. The grant will provide support for the not-for-profit museum and aquarium’s ongoing conservation education programs, including substantial programs for youth of all ages and backgrounds.

“We are very grateful to the Bank of America Charitable Foundation for this generous gift in support of our conservation education programs,” said noted conservationist Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops and Wonders of Wildlife. “Thanks to ongoing support from partners like Bank of America, Wonders of Wildlife will continue to inspire the next generation of conservationists by providing innovative hands-on learning programs that help introduce more kids to nature and the outdoors.”

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium serves as a national model for conservation education through hands-on learning adventures that engage visitors of all ages. At a time when recess is being scaled back and society is increasingly disconnected from the great outdoors, Wonders of Wildlife provides an inspirational tour around the world’s most incredible wildlife and habitat. Voted as “America’s Best New Attraction” and “America’s Best Aquarium” by USA TODAY readers, the museum and aquarium is part of noted conservationist Johnny Morris’ vision to connect people – especially youth and families – to nature. Key education programs include:

·The Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility (WOLF) School

The WOLF School is a comprehensive outdoor learning school operated in partnership with Springfield (Mo.) Public Schools, Wonders of Wildlife and Bass Pro Shops. The school inspires and educates thenext generation of conservation leaders by offering fifth grade students a complete curriculum rooted in conservation. Students spend a significant amount of time in nature, learning through hands-on exploration. When in the classroom, the John A. and Genny Morris Conservation Education Center provides state-of-the-art facilities to further learning through technology and an outdoor learning lab.

·Field Trips and School Programs

Field trips at Wonders of Wildlife are designed to engage students in the importance of conservation. Student groups participate in a customized curriculum program based on state standards for science while experiencing the immersive museum and aquarium at a significantly discounted admission rate.

·WOW School

WOW National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Schools are weekend programs that take place across the state of Missouri designed to teach families how to enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation activities while practicing personal safety and outdoor responsibility.

·EdVenture Camps

Wonders of Wildlife Edventure Camps offer children from preschool through high school opportunities to learn new skills and connect with the outdoors each summer. Sessions are held in WOLF School classrooms, outdoor learning space at the John A. and Genny Morris Conservation Education Center and the Conservation and Education center at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. Camps are guided by expert conservation educators teaching campers how to interact with live animals, conduct in-depth experiments, create masterpieces and learn new skills in a safe and positive environment

·Dogwood Canyon Nature Park

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a one-of-a-kind experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers of all ages. Covering 10,000 acres of pristine Ozark Mountain landscape, the not-for-profit nature park has miles of crystal clear trout streams, towering bluffs, waterfalls, hand-crafted bridges and wildlife such as bison, elk and Texas Longhorn cattle. Dogwood Canyon’s Conservation and Education Center offers programs that teach the importance of protecting, conserving and preserving the great outdoors by taking the cause into the classrooms.

More than a dozen Bank of America leaders helped deliver the grant including Geena Mayback, U.S. Trust Managing Director and Market Executive for St. Louis and Kansas City, and John Beardslee, Senior Vice President and Market Executive at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, St. Louis.

Wonders of Wildlife is a gift to the sportsmen and women of America from noted conservationist, angler and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. Johnny endeavored to create a world-class not-for-profit conservation attraction located in his hometown, Springfield, Missouri, next to Bass Pro Shops’ flagship headquarters store– where half the nation’s population lives within a day’s drive.

About Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium

Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium consists of an all-new 1.5-million-gallon Aquarium Adventure showcasing 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and immersive Wildlife Galleries that bring visitors eye-to-eye with the greatest collection of record-setting game animals ever assembled. Created by noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO Johnny Morris, the 350,000- square-foot experience celebrates those who hunt, fish, and act as stewards of the land and water. Located next to Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri the campus is a centerpiece of America’s Conservation Capital in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. Wonders of Wildlife has been voted “Best New Attraction in America” and “America’s Best Aquarium” by the readers of USA TODAY. For more information, visit www.wondersofwildlife.org.

About Bank of America’s Environmental, Social and Governance Focus

At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter at @BofA_News.

Media Contact:            press@wondersofwildlife.org

417-225-1189