A Summer with PEACE Inc.

July 8th-August 1st, 2024 | Syracuse, NY, United States

In the summer of 2024, forty children participating in the Let Me Be Great program went hiking in the Verona Beach State Park in upstate New York. They were initially apprehensive about the prospect of an outdoor experience because many of them had never been to a forest. But, after being provided with binoculars from the New York State Parks Association and taught how to identify native bird species using the Celebrate Urban Birds toolkit, they began to feel differently. They saw birds such as the Red-headed Woodpecker, Mallards, and the American Goldfinch. According to the organizers of the Let Me Be Great program, the best outcome of this event was witnessing the children’s growing enthusiasm and curiosity about birds and wildlife. They asked questions about the different sounds that each bird made and why the male birds tended to be more colorful compared to female birds. The children were even inspired to utilize their birding skills afterward – during events that did not center on birding. When they went kayaking later in the summer at Green Lakes, they used their new knowledge of birds and observational skills to point out different species they saw! They also painted native birds they saw during their trip to Chittenango Falls after an inspiring nature walk. 

The children learned how to use tools to build birdhouses and then painted them during their trip to the Bachars Nature Preserve in Skaneateles. There, they engaged in conversations about conservation and habitat improvement. In addition to previously learning about birds native to the forests of Upstate New York, children learned how to identify birds that live in the city. As a result, this built a stronger connection between nature and the urban areas in which they live. Afterward, the children took their painted birdhouses home, thus, bringing nature and conservation to an urban setting and into their community. All of these fantastic events during the “Let Me Be Great” helped build the children’s interest and excitement in nature by combining education, exploration, and creativity while also teaching them that they can be a part of conservation efforts now and in the future. 

The Viola G. Chisholm Eastside Family Resource Center hosts this wonderful summer program for youth, grades 5 through 8, based in the Syracuse area. This program provides children with activities, opportunities, and experiences that they may have limited access to. Parents of the participants expressed their excitement about the learning experiences and field trips that the children embark on – as many have not had these experiences themselves. The children did the Maiden of the Mist boat tour when they went to Niagara Falls! Experiences typically range from visiting colleges and state parks to learning archery and African drumming, to fostering their financial literacy in order to broaden their horizons and visions of possible futures that are open to them. The Let Me Be Great summer program also hopes that these experiences will not only grant them fond, fun-filled childhood memories but also build up participants’ life and soft skills that can be utilized and advantageous to them later in life.   

Photos courtesy of PEACE Inc.

Written by Caroline Pontaoe