The Sacramento Audubon Society believes that educating our community about birds and backyard habitats is an important first step to reaching a working understanding of all environmental issues.
Great Backyard Bird Count for everyone! Join us the weekend of February 15-18, 2008 for the Great Backyard Bird Count! This fun "Citizen Science" activity for beginners to advanced birders involves observing and counting birds right from your own backyard, or another favorite location, and reporting them online. In January and February Audubon volunteers will give brief talks at Public libraries about the GBBC and concept of citizen-science, as well as offer presentations about common birds of Sacramento. We need volunteers to give the talks or help us distribute the brochures. If you know of any groups that might be interested in receiving a presentation or in participating in the GBBC, or you would like to help in any way, please e-mail us .
Just for Teachers For teachers looking for a class service project, the Sacramento Audubon Society has developed supporting materials for a unit culminating in an Environmental Improvement Fair for the school's neighboring community. Using Audubon at Home ideas as a focus, students will explore the native and introduced plants, insects, birds and animals of the Sacramento area, and create ways to improve habitat in their own schoolyards and backyards. Please e-mail us for details.
Just for Kids In March 2007, the Sacramento Audubon Society’s Education Committee and the Rancho Cordova Park and Recreation District teamed up successfully to bring the joy of birding to children! Birding for Fun was an inter-generational hands-on workshop for children ages 6-16, accompanied by a parent, grandparent or other special adult. Content of the workshop varies and may cover some of the following: birding in the Sacramento Area with special emphasis on audio and visual bird identification; where to go exploring; backyard and wild habitat conservation. Look for seasonal dates and sign up information at the Cordova Park and Recreation District. Next workshop details.
The Education Committee is working very hard on new programs that will reach as many young people as possible in our area. This of course, requires availability of dedicated volunteers. If you live in the general Sacramento region and have any interest in assisting us, please e-mail us for more information.
Last Child in the Woods Nationally acclaimed futurist author, Richard Louv, was in Sacramento February 7, 2008, to discuss the ideas in his book,Last Child in the Woods. The book has stimulated a national conversation about the future relationship between children and nature.He contends that today's children suffer from a profound disconnect with nature.At lunch, Louv met with some of the big name developers to discuss what they could do to insure that families have neighborhood access to appropriate natural spaces.In the early afternoon, Mayor Heather Fargo sponsored a special meeting in Council Chambers with Louv and community groups interested in connecting children and nature; Julie Serences represented SAS at this event.After discussing some of the dire effects on children of growing up without access or experience in the natural world, Louv focused on the complex issue ofhow we can build communities that support more outdoor activities and opportunities. Later that night at the Crest Theater, Mr. Louv repeated these themes at a public event attended by over 300 people, sponsored by the Sacramento Tree Foundation.The Education Committee of the Sacramento Audubon Society hosted a table at the event and we generated much interest in our efforts to provide programs that get families and kids outside and looking around!SAS also contributed to program printing costs.The meetings through the day generated a great deal of energy and hopefully will lead to some positive outcomes throughout the community.
