Photo ©
Chloe Lam
Thanks to support from Thomas Cade Funds, on April 4th and 5th, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology hosted a group of youth and their chaperones from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Minnesota for our Careers and Conservation Workshop. During the workshop the students participated in activities focused on bird banding, the Macaulay Library, bioacoustics, conservation science, citizen science, eBird, arts and design, the Museum of Vertebrates, and much more. The also walked on Sapsucker Woods’ trails and visited the Cornell Campus.
A highlight of the trip was a night walk in silence through the trails of the sanctuary. Most participants had never seen snow before!
The workshop brought innumerable, unforgettable experiences for all the participants. The chaperones, who were mostly environmental educators, were also inspired to promote more bird conservation projects and stewardship programs in their communities. It exposed students to new fields of study, and encouraged them to get more involved in conservation projects in their communities back home.
“Learning first hand about Lab resources, science, and the human side of all the people who work at the Lab inspired me to continue my own conservation efforts.” -Participant
“First flight, first Ivy League visit, and first workshop and experiences that opened my students’ eyes to many new worlds of opportunity. I really appreciate all you do to connect with our students, empower them and encourage them on their journeys.” – Chaperone
“I loved the program, not just because of the great variety of information that I learned, but also because it was really fun. I had a great time and I met new people. My favorite part was everything, but especially when we listened to the sounds of nature.” -Participant
“My interaction with nature permitted me to be more sensitized to the conservation of birds; learning about them and understanding more about their behavior, and their importance on our planet. The new information I was absorbing every day ignited a desire to continue learning about these animals. It was encouraging to know that there are people out there who are concerned about birds’ well-being and are fighting to conserve their habitats and populations.” – Participant
Article by student intern Laura Pineda-Bermúdez
Illustration on top by Bartels Science Illustration Intern Chloe Lam
Photography by Marilú López Fretts
Celebrate Urban Birds Youth Workshop April 2016 from Marilu Fretts on Vimeo.