In the arid region of northern Chile, youth of Canela and Huentelauquén are enjoying a series of year-round activities supported by the Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC), CanelaEduca, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and various other local organizations. Through contests, school projects, community events, and national conferences, children are exploring environmental science and conservation.

Community-based citizen science has been very important to each activity planned by theROC. Beginning in April, students collected and submitted observations of local birds to the Cornell Lab’s eBird, an online platform that helps participants and scientists from any country, track sightings of birds.

In July, the Celebrate Birds drawing contest yielded beautiful entries depicting environmental conservation efforts and birds native to the region. The entries were so fantástic that organizers and participating youth created a fun and educational book with the drawings. The book includes information about birds, their relationship with the environment, and conservation. To view, the group e-book made by the students click here!

Throughout the year gardening activities brought the students together to make their community a more beautiful and bird-friendly environment. A group of students also presented at a regional Science and Technology meeting, and were chosen to advance to the National Science Conference in late November! They presented about the history and conservation of local species.

Visit the full article to read more about the series of extraordinary events planned and executed by Chilean youth and members of the ROC.

Blog by Brigid Lucey