Re: [MDOsprey] birding with kids

tjharten@concentric.net
Thu, 10 Jun 1999 21:53:34 -0400 

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Andy,

I teach environmental education in Calvert County and several of our =
programs involve taking groups out to do some birding.
I think folks have mentioned some good pointers for making the walk go =
well-keep the birding to about an hour or so; establish a few ground =
rules for a safe and successful walk-with some discussion before hand =
you could let the students determine the rules for the day-they know =
what they should and shouldn't do even by kindergarten.

I've also found that it helps to let students know that there can be =
value in the information that they collect.  We keep a record of the =
birds that each of our second grade classes observe during their bird =
field trip.  We use this data to a create simple bar graph and the =
students use this to determine the likelihood of seeing particular =
species (just like a frequency of occurence aspect of a bird checklist). =
=20

I'm not suggesting anything this elaborate for your walk-but it can be =
helpful to let the kids know that their findings are useful and =
interesting to others-ie. why not post the results of their walk to =
MDOsprey?=20

Of course it varies from group to group, but in general, I've found that =
as long as there are birds around-no matter how common-
the kids are natural birdwatchers and will enjoy themselves.  When =
things get slow, well, I can't count the number of times the day was =
saved by a nice squadron of TVs (the feathered ones) drifting over =
horizon.

Best of luck!

Tom Harten
Bowie



-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Rabin <andyrab@wam.umd.edu>
To: mdo <mdosprey@ARI.Net>
Date: Thursday, June 10, 1999 2:06 PM
Subject: [MDOsprey] birding with kids


       In a couple of weeks I will be leading a bird walk for a group of =
about 15 kids aged 7-11.  This will be the first time I've led a walk =
for kids.   I was wondering if anybody else has any experience(s) they'd =
like to share.  The thing I'm most afraid of is boring them- a lot of =
birdwatching can be a bunch of standing around and waiting. That's fine =
for adults who are already interested in finding birds, but this will =
probably be the first time most of these kids have gone birding.  I'd =
like to make it a positive experience for them, not an experience akin =
to getting your driver's license at the MVA.  I figure I could go to a =
place with a lot of large, easy to spot birds (herons, etc.) and find =
some nests with eggs or young.   Does anyone have any other ideas?=20
    =20
    Thanks for sharing,
    =20
    Andy Rabin
    Gaithersburg, MD
    andyrab@wam.umd.edu

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Andy,
 
I teach environmental education in Calvert County = and several=20 of our programs involve taking groups out to do some = birding.
I think folks have mentioned some good pointers for = making the=20 walk go well-keep the birding to about an hour or so; establish a few = ground=20 rules for a safe and successful walk-with some discussion before hand = you could=20 let the students determine the rules for the day-they know what they = should and=20 shouldn't do even by kindergarten.
 
I've also found that it helps to let students know = that there=20 can be value in the information that they collect.  We keep a = record of the=20 birds that each of our second grade classes observe during their bird = field=20 trip.  We use this data to a create simple bar graph and the = students use=20 this to determine the likelihood of seeing particular species (just like = a=20 frequency of occurence aspect of a bird checklist). 
 
I'm not suggesting anything this elaborate for your = walk-but=20 it can be helpful to let the kids know that their findings are useful = and=20 interesting to others-ie. why not post the results of their walk to = MDOsprey?=20
 
Of course it varies from group to group, but in = general, I've=20 found that as long as there are birds around-no matter how = common-
the kids are natural birdwatchers and will enjoy=20 themselves.  When things get slow, well, I can't count the number = of times=20 the day was saved by a nice squadron of TVs (the feathered ones) = drifting over=20 horizon.
 
Best of luck!
 
Tom Harten
Bowie
 
 
 
-----Original=20 Message-----
From: Andy Rabin <andyrab@wam.umd.edu>
To:= mdo=20 <mdosprey@ARI.Net>
Date:=20 Thursday, June 10, 1999 2:06 PM
Subject: [MDOsprey] = birding with=20 kids

   In a couple of weeks I will = be leading=20 a bird walk for a group of about 15 kids aged 7-11.  This will = be the=20 first time I've led a walk for kids.   I was wondering if = anybody=20 else has any experience(s) they'd like to share.  The thing I'm = most=20 afraid of is boring them- a lot of birdwatching can be a bunch of = standing=20 around and waiting. That's fine for adults who are already = interested in=20 finding birds, but this will probably be the first time most of = these kids=20 have gone birding.  I'd like to make it a positive experience = for them,=20 not an experience akin to getting your driver's license at the = MVA.  I=20 figure I could go to a place with a lot of large, easy to spot birds = (herons, etc.) and find some nests with eggs or young.   = Does=20 anyone have any other ideas?
 
Thanks for sharing,
 
Andy Rabin
Gaithersburg, MD
andyrab@wam.umd.edu
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