The Toyota USA Foundation announced the award earlier this month.

The AVES Project draws upon the natural intrigue and widespread familiarity of birds to teach, model and practice science in both the indoor and outdoor classroom.

Tracy Aviary's education department opted to conduct multiple indoor and outdoor classroom visits with more than 1,900 students and their teachers.

After two years of pilot-testing and field-testing the project with teachers and students in Salt Lake and Granite school districts, Aviary staff are proud of their AVES project.

"There is a significant amount of national competition for the Toyota USA Foundation grant money, so being selected for the award is really positive in a number of ways," said Tracy Aviary Executive Director Tim Brown.

"Education and the environment have always been priorities for us, and we are thrilled to be a part of this project, which combines both of these important elements," said Patricia Pineda, Group Vice President, National Philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation. The AVES Project's goal is to build interest and engagement through the school year using lessons, experts in the classroom, field-trip investigations, detailed lesson plans and a colorful student workbook. The project culminates with students designing schoolyard experiments guided by important stages in the scientific process.

Tracy Aviary, which is the largest aviary in the United States, is located in Salt Lake City's Liberty Park at 700 East and 900 South. Tracy Aviary is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with bird shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Toyota USA Foundation is a $100 million charitable endowment created to support education programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade students and their teachers in the United States, with an emphasis on mathematics, science and environmental science.