Connecting education and stewardship

Hey, my name is Camille Hartley! I am an environmental studies/agroecology major and education minor at UCSC, which means when I’m not teaching Bird School with Kevin, Darrow, and the BSP team, I am in class deconstructing education reformation and environmental issues. As with many college majors, my two studies each seem to be centered around one big question. For environmental studies, this question is: “How can we save the planet?” Well, arguably the first step is to educate people about the earth and what is going wrong. For education, at least in the US, the question might be, “What is the purpose of education and how do we reform our current struggling system to achieve this purpose?” Thus, on top of also being connected to my experience as an outdoor guide, my internship with the Bird School Project has offered the perfect connection between my two realms of study. If we, as a country, wish to redefine education in a way that reconnects students to the planet so as to best take care of it, two things must happen. First, an alternative form of education must be tested, and second, students must be taught outside of the traditional classroom (aka in the outdoors!). It’s pretty neat to realize that Bird School is doing both of these things, and collecting new insight and curriculum throughout it all.

Needless to say, my experience with BSP has been awesome so far. It has given me the opportunity to put all of these bigger academic thoughts into a real situation, while is also giving me the chance to see my strengths and weaknesses as a teacher. From the first lesson to now, part way into the second unit of lessons, my confidence and knowledge on teaching the BSP curriculum has grown in a huge way. Though I came into the internship with very little knowledge on bird identification, the teaching skills that Darrow and Kevin shared have given me everything I need to achieve student learning even if I don’t immediately know what bird we are looking at as a group. As it is endemic to American education that content knowledge is unevenly emphasized over pedagogical skill, this is a hugely important and refreshing aspect of BSP.

For example, one of our most successful lessons is a workshop where students get to look at feathers, hold bird wings in front of fans, and talk in groups about how various structural differences in birds can affect how they interact with nature. Had we decided to teach this lesson lecture-style, I am positive that the students would be falling asleep on their desks--it’s having the opportunity to actually hold bird wings, and see how a wing glances off of each one different, that makes the lesson exciting enough to remember. It is easy to see students retaining information and staying engaged for longer with our hands-on, outdoor lessons in comparison to the average lecture-style class. During this lesson, I saw many of the students who hadn’t participated much before open up and engage with the activity alongside their peers.

Although this lesson accomplishes much of what Darrow and Kevin want it to, we still took the time to discuss which pieces could have been made even stronger. The flexibility of the Bird School Project curriculum inspires me (as an education student), as teacher autonomy is the key to good teaching. Because of this, the Bird School Project curriculum will continue to change with every new pedagogical discovery that Darrow and Kevin can incorporate into their lessons. It has been very eye-opening and exciting to be part of such a relevant educational project, and I’m looking forward to seeing where BSP will go as it gains more momentum and support!

Springtime for Bird School!

Students solving the mystery

Springtime is here, and Bird School is well underway! Fluttering into classrooms and schools all over Santa Cruz and Soquel, we have begun training a new cohort of bird ninjas, ranging from 4th grade all the way up to high school. We began, like any good natural historian, with observation skills, and particular aspects of our avian friends that help us to ID them and so begin to ask more serious questions. And just like the new little birds hopping up out of the nests all over town, the questions have flown at us. Curiosity, once fueled by a little bit of good ol' taxidermied bird specimen, is hard to stop.

Double-crested Cormorant

The beautiful BSP spring interns!

At Soquel elementary, we work with two classes, and are fortunate to have Soquel creek running along in a gentle curve around the campus; prime habitat for our sojourns outside with the students. Already, we have found a Black Phoebe nest built onto a portable classroom, and a couple of other nests closer to the creek! After reviewing a bit about the importance of field journaling and getting in a little practice drawing birds and taking notes, the students began their first forays into the world of natural history. Every gasped "Oh! I see it!" is accompanied by a flurry of pencils to paper, quick little sketches, and an explosion of questions. Too many questions to answer, but perhaps that's the point: wonder never ceases.

Black Phoebe

An elegant student journal entry

This is how we are getting to ALL of our spring classes

Eyes following pointing fingers; widening eyes; lying flat on the ground, binoculars glued to the face, tracking a chickadee through low foliage; smiles, laughter, and excited exclamations; these are the sights and sounds of Bird School. Watching little "A-ha" moments occur is part of the joy of outdoor education, and it is remarkable to watch it happen so quickly. It goes to show how important a little bit of vitamin G(reenspace) can be for people, especially young students. 

Armed with binoculars and journals, the students of Soquel Elementary are eager to learn and explore. Looking forward to several more weeks of learning and exploring alongside them. How does that old proverb go again?

"Show a kid a bird and you entertain her for a day,

Teach a kid to bird, and you entertain her for a lifetime"

- Bird Ninja Master 

Written by BSP spring intern Spencer Klinefelter

As the winter goes by

Dear friends of The Bird School Project,

It was an exciting start to Bird School Project’s winter units at San Lorenzo Valley Middle School and Bradley Elementary, where we got an inside look as to what birds do in the rain.  Some of our students suspected that the answer to that question was, “Nothing,” that is until they got to witness Dark-eyed Juncos in action during a particularly stormy day!  

No, the rain has not kept us from getting out into the field and watching science and life in action through birds.  From sneaking ninja-like out of the classroom door and observing juncos under the awning while the rain came down, to checking out scrub jays through binoculars as the foggy grey morning turned into a sunny day, students have been getting outside and seeing that the natural world is close by.  It is an exciting realization that the scientific processes and patterns they have been studying in the classroom are happening all around them.  

Taking notes and taking notice, and then taking notice and taking notes; this is the strategy students have been utilizing to build a deeper and more connected understanding of birds.  Throughout each class period we have gotten students spinning the wheel and asking questions that lead to deeper questions.   This allows them to be fully inquisitive and also to make educated guesses.  An awesome tool that has aided in students’ ability to record their questions and observations has been the new Bird School Project field journals.  The field journals are a space for students to write down what we are teaching, helping them to retain information that then can better be carried on through the five weeks that we work at the school.  

Bird School Project’s curriculum has grown as well.  We have been finding ways to work in and with the rain, which has meant doing a few more indoor activities.  Using museum specimens from the Norris Center at UC Santa Cruz has provided a great opportunity for kids to learn inside the classroom.  One such activity had kids in groups using their four bird ninja steps to thoroughly observe and ID the bird specimen they were presented with.  Each group then shared their findings with the class.  

The field journals have also presented the opportunity for a lesson focused on field journaling.  In week two we taught students to make quick sketches of birds they see, highlighting posture, bill type, and other general size/shape details, then labeling other qualitative data they noticed.  Learning how to keep a field journal that can house the species you see, the questions you have, and the observations you make, is an important skill in life sciences.  I checked off their homework entries and sketches and was blown away.  The care with which they approached their at-home field journaling shows the excitement that they have for experiential learning through bird watching.

The field journals have also presented the opportunity for a lesson focused on field journaling.  In week two we taught students to make quick sketches of birds they see, highlighting posture, bill type, and other general size/shape details, then labeling other qualitative data they noticed.  Learning how to keep a field journal that can house the species you see, the questions you have, and the observations you make, is an important skill in life sciences.  I checked off their homework entries and sketches and was blown away.  The care with which they approached their at-home field journaling shows the excitement that they have for experiential learning through bird watching.

In the spirit of feathers and the freedom to learn,

Hannah Mae Miller

I am a new bird school intern and a sophomore studying Feminist Studies and Sustainability at UC Santa Cruz.  I am passionate about the outdoors, but as a native to Wisconsin, the natural history of California is more foreign to me.  Before coming to work with The Bird School Project I knew little about birds, so as the students learn about how to best observe and identify species of birds, I do as well.  Students are able to view me as both a resource and as someone who is willing and excited to learn from them as well.

Triumphs, Gratitudes, and Updates

Digging the birding experience

When we at the Bird School Project set out five weeks ago to pilot our brand new life science unit for schools in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, we hardly knew what we were about to achieve. For us, we simply get excited to share the wonder and curiosity about birds with young people. But in the last five weeks, we accomplished much more.

I must admit, we didn't keep all of you lovely supporters updated with our weekly successes because to be honest, we were just too darn busy teaching all of the time! But here it is, written especially for you--a special blog update about what we've been up to.

On October 5th, we unveiled our five-week life science unit and brought the Bird School Project back to life after a ten-month hiatus. We partnered with four schools, five interns, and almost 600 students and employed a brand new curriculum complete with outdoor experiential activities and a guided journey into the scientific process of natural history. We were warmly received by every school we worked with and have already been asked back...by all of them!!!

Taking field notes on some common yard species

This marks a major triumph for us as a fledgling organization. It has been made clear to us that the experiences we provide are desired and appreciated by teachers and students at large. This success has showed us how important our work is and how important it is that we continue it.

In addition to giving ourselves a pat on the back, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to our affiliated teachers. All of these teachers believed in us and allowed us to pilot brand new lessons with their students. For those non-teachers out there, it takes an impressive amount of trust, respect, and initiative to allow such a new program to take over your class for five weeks. These teachers not only allowed us to come in and teach, they also advocated for us to get some funding from their respective school boards and succeeded! It has been a humbling experience to work with such inspiring educational professionals and we couldn't be more thankful for their willingness to give us a shot and show what we can do.

Our teachers! Clockwise from top left: Mr. Stauffer and Ms. Steisslinger from Gavilan View Middle School, Mr. Cutter, Mr. Webb, and Ms. Wayte from New Brighton Middle School, Mrs. Lowe from Main Street Elementary, and Ms. Gorin and Ms. Colleen from La Joya Elementary

Getting to watch a pair of
Red-tailed Hawks--the school mascot!

Our life science unit included five lessons, each focused on a different aspect of bird studies and naturalist skills.

During the first week, we focused on bird identification, journaling, and honing our observation skills. We worked in the classroom and discussed the various characteristics to look for in birds, how to journal about our observations, and then we went outside and put our skills to work! We had a great time exploring the various schoolyards and looking up birds in our field guides.

Getting inspired by a hunting
White-tailed Kite hunting!

Watching sparrows in the school garden

Which birds did we see out there?

What's making that sound up there?

During the second week, we focused on bird sounds and bird language. We got to hear some stories about bird language and how it relates to finding cool predators on the landscape and we learned about birds' branched vocal chord called a "syrinx" and showed students how it worked using Cornell's interactive Bird Academy program. After our classroom portion, we got to go outside and listen for real life examples of bird sounds.

Getting to check out the high-speed wings!

During week three, we dove deep into feathers, flight, and adaptations. We were able to borrow loads of wing and feather specimens from the Ken Norris Center for Natural History and brought them into class for some hands-on learning. Students got to observe, touch, and flap various wings and feathers and learned about the different uses of feathers with regards to flight, insulation, and color. We even brought in a big fan and students had the chance to feel what lift feels like first hand!

During week four, we learned first hand what it is like to migrate across the country. Students learned about the phenomenal journeys that birds take and the various hazards that affect them on their respective journeys. We played a huge game of migration tag where students had to avoid hazards, find habitat, eat food, and move as a flock up and down the Pacific Flyway. We finished up this lesson by having a practical discussion about what hazards to birds are out there and what we can do to help.

Feeling flight first-hand

Birding in the yard with Kevin

Finally, for week five, we put all of newly acquired skills to the test and had a Big Day of birding! We noted our observations, counted birds, and then uploaded our observations to the citizen science website eBird.org. All of our observations went straight to scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will be used to help track bird populations and make more informed policy decisions about bird conservation. We then used the newest citizen science website YardMap.org to get a bird's eye view of the schoolyard. This website uses GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to map out  yards and help citizens create better habitat in their yards. During this lesson, students really got to see how their work as observant naturalists can be applied to the real world. 

Broad wings taking flight with Devin!

Taking notes on the high-aspect ratio
wings of gulls

The migration game

Good to see Kevin back on the saddle

Did we mention we're back on our bikes? For the schools that are close enough, we have been riding our bikes with our trusty binocular trailer and it feels great! The original vision of biking to schools is still alive with us. Here is a shot of Kevin riding with his mended arm in the pursuit of providing bird education to the local kids. Go Kev!

Thanks so much for reading. We hope to keep you more informed as we continue our journey of growth. Be on the lookout for some updates about our upcoming fundraiser!

The Flock Grows...

The Bird School Project is growing rapidly. We are in week two of teaching our first 5-week units, we are working with over 500 students, and we are working feverishly to acquire fiscal sponsorship so that we can start our large-scale fundraising campaign. But amidst all of the development, one of the most exciting advances has been the creation of our internship and volunteer opportunities.

We have assembled a team of five enthusiastic, skilled, magical, environmental education superheroes to help us in achieving our goal of providing quality experiential outdoor education for the students we serve. We are so excited about all of them that we wanted to introduce each of them to you.

Emma Wheeler was born in the rolling hills of Marin, amidst the trill of a yellow warbler and a flute song. She was drawn to the wild ways of the outdoors and all it's secrets--searching for answers as far as the Cordillera of Argentina, and as close as UC Santa Cruz Arboretum. Emma has scooped ice cream, she's managed garden beds, practiced yoga in the depths of redwood groves, and influenced hundreds of young minds.   The Bird School Project is hooting with excitement to have such a talented and experienced educator as an intern this year...plus look at those dimples!!!

Nik Madsen is a rock-climbing, bluegrass pickin', wave-riding bird nerd. He is studying Biology at UCSC and works as a trip leader for the UCSC recreation department. This past summer, Nik worked for the Ventana Wildlife Society teaching young students about California Condor conservation and coastal natural history. Nik is one of the current organizers of the UCSC natural history club and spends his time playing outside and inspiring young naturalists. We are thrilled to have this positive role model on our team of superheroes.

Rozy Bathrick spent her early years in Berkeley, with two wonderful siblings. She would often travel with her family to their farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where they would bike through  fairy tale-like Douglas Fir forests and listen to unseen warblers singing. She formed a close connection with the natural world at a young age, and now works to share this connection with others by leading numerous outdoor trips for UCSC students, helping people develop nature illustration and journaling skills, and by getting kids psyched about birds! Rozy has a magical knack for working with kids. She sparks meaningful discussion and inspires her students. If you are ever in Santa Cruz, head down to Westcliff Dr. and you will likely see Rozy birding on her roller skates...

Kati Sullivan grew up around the snowy peaks of Boulder, CO. She is the shining ray of light you wish you always had around. Kati works as a nature awareness instructor for the Riekes Center for Human Enhancement and spends many of her days getting muddy, building stick forts, and leading young people through the natural wonders of the UCSC campus. Kati is a survival skills ninja and has been known to carry out lengthy conversations with the local birds in her backyard. She is an ecstatic dancer and an incredibly rich source of positive energy.

Scott MacWilliam is as sweet as pumpkin pie in the heart of the fall season. Scott is an experienced educator, sea kayak guide, and a wonderful musician and singer. He works at the Riekes Center for Human Enhancement as a nature awareness instructor and can often be found telling riveting stories to kids around a campfire or in the redwoods. Scott is an adventurous backpacker, talented wildlife photographer, and has often been called "a really great guy." We wholeheartedly agree and couldn't be happier that he is on the team!









We are shaking our tail feathers with joy at these amazing dedicated instructors and are looking forward to incorporating their unique backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge into our program.

Round 2

At long last! Among the warblers, we've safely migrated to our wintering home in Santa Cruz, California. As light moves lower across the sky and a pending El Niño season mixes off shore, we at the Bird School Project are amidst the flux of major changes. But first, a message from our sponsors...

          The American Pika, Ochotona princeps

The National Union of Real Pika Experts (NURPLE) would like to thank Kevin and say, "Nice try, stick to birds!" Kevin worked hard this summer to account for every individual in the Western U.S. He may not have got 'em all, but his efforts were appreciated by an ecologist who is studying populations of the American Pika (Ochotona princeps).

              The Northern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina

The Glorified Owl Observational Global Litigation Entity (GOOGLE) would like to thank Darrow for five months of bushwhacking and sprinting through recently burned understory to look for Spotted Owls (Stryx occidentalis caurina) and Great Grey Owls (Strix nebulosa). If only he could fly...

Kevin from the redwoods in Santa Cruz

Darrow from the hills of Italy

After much deliberation, the Bird School Project is back for round 2. We have to make many decisions this summer about the path of this budding project and we are excited to keep our followers updated in the coming weeks. For now, just know that the Bird School Project is working hard to make this project a legitimate staple in the environmental education community!

This Fall we will be launching a new model for our lessons, teaching five week units to schools in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties (and beyond!). Though we are still offering our single day workshops, we are increasing our impact this year by revisiting students each week and diving deeper into the world of birds, nature, and most importantly our perception and analysis of the ecosystem around us. Teaching begins next week and we are jam packed with excitement. We will be working with four different schools for our first round of five weeks and are super excited to try out some new curriculum on conservation, adaptations, and migration!

Another new addition this Fall will be our inclusion of a few interns from the Ken Norris Center for Natural History at UC Santa Cruz. In line with our goal to continue building a network of educators, we will be working to develop an ongoing intern program with the Environmental Studies internship office. The Norris Center is a glowing resource for young student naturalists and we are excited and happy to support those who are interested in sharing their knowledge and skill!

What's more to share? Well, quite a bit actually. In the coming weeks this blog will tell tales of the hunt for fiscal sponsorship, meet the wonderful faces of our teachers and interns, and provide peace of mind that at the heart of it all, young minds are being immersed and soaked in the wonderful natural world around them. Be sure to keep up with our Instagram @birdschoolproject, and our Facebook page, as well as this blog! And, if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check out and share our new website: birdschoolproject.com

Gratitude

Two weeks ago, from the roof top at my parents house in La Jolla, California, Darrow and I sat talking about all that needed to be done to wrap up our autumn-long project. Perspective is always a tough chew. From an early stage in our trip, back when we were still pedaling our miles, folks were asking us if we planned on turning the Bird School into a full-time operation. Nearly two months later, after much more discussion and thought, we still hadn't a clear answer for ourselves. I looked past Darrow for a moment at an Osprey that had just landed, perched high on a streetlight in the middle of my parents neighborhood. They're everywhere down here, this time of year.

Our last week of teaching involved some of the best birding and best workshops we had done yet. On Monday, we made a last minute arrangement to visit a Waldorf charter school called The Journey School in Aliso Viejo, Orange County. We took two classes of 4th graders to the creek behind their school. The creek was actually flowing due to recent rains. This provided a great habitat for ducks, herons, egrets, and even a White-faced Ibis!

After visiting The Journey School, we hustled down to San Diego to teach a lesson at Gabby Sabas' 4th grade class in the neighborhood where I grew up. Solana Ranch elementary is a new school and Ms. Sabas is a young teacher working her hardest to bring hands on education to every aspect of her teaching. Her 4th grade class was inspiring and very observant. Amidst all of the fast-track housing development happening immediately around their school, the students all have eyes for the natural world. Within two minutes of our walk around campus one of the students commented on an American Crow she saw flying over an adjacent plot of land. It was far in the distance, but pointing her binoculars toward the bird she then exclaimed, "Whoa! It just dive-bombed a bunny rabbit!" Everyone's excitement, including mine, immediately turned to the broad field. The scene unfolded.

Breaking in the binos = hands on!

Yonder, a unique battle was staging, between a Red-tailed Hawk and a murder of crows. It is uncertain if whatever mammal was being torn apart in the field by the Red-tailed was a "bunny rabbit" or not, but the crows seemed interested. The Red-tailed hawk tried to make off with the bounty of meat, but the small mammal was too heavy. Instead it dropped the meat and began an aerial defense of it's catch, providing a dramatic scene for the students to watch for the rest of our hike. Yes, we received visits from the Black Phoebe and Say's Phoebe on the fence, as well.

Darrow and students in the elements.

After so much excitement, Darrow and I travelled to my alma mater high school, Francis Parker, for our last class of the Fall. It was quite rewarding to visit old teachers and new students. We taught three periods of AP Environmental Science, a class that originally inspired me to pay more attention to the other creatures in this world. Though my APES teacher is no longer at the school, I was happy to see my chemistry teacher, Rose Hanscom, at the helm of Environmental Studies at Francis Parker.

Can you tell which bird Darrow is drawing?

Stoke in the classroom with the Bird School Project.

Her students learned how to keep a field journal and how to identify birds they are seeing. This is all in preparation for a bird watching project they will begin first thing after winter break. We got great looks at both Allen's and Anna's hummingbirds, as well as, a Loggerhead Shrike in the canyon. Who knew that the whole time I was in school at Parker all these birds were just over my shoulder on campus. Our last day of class was memorable and we were content to have shared our excitement with a willing group of juniors and seniors, ready to take on the world of environmental science.

Focus those binos!

The next generation of environmental scientists.

Learning about the Yellow-rumped Warblers on campus.

And just like that it is all over. We finished what we set out to do, and discovered so much more as we were doing it. Feeling the wear and tear of our travel, I can't help but to watch the Osprey on the streetlight, across the street from my parents house, and relate. What a feat is migration! Yet, the Osprey is so well equipped. Its long and aero-dynamic wing span and amazing ability to hunt fish make this creature far more prepared for the long journey than myself.

Then I think again. Sitting right next to me is one of my best friends, Darrow. His perseverance and encouragement has, at times, been the only force guaranteeing lift off of the Bird School's wings. I think of all the friends and family, new and old, that we crashed with as we moved from town to town, school to school. Their open doors were so critical to our well-being on the road. I think of all the financial support and resources we received from our community that allowed us to bring high-quality, hands on, life-science workshops to over 1,700 students. That support is invaluable. I think of every student we interacted with. Their positivity and excitement motivated us to new levels of inspiration. I think of all the teachers, breathing life into the classroom each day, no matter what. I guess gratitude can go a long way for our species. To all of you who interacted with us and helped us on our migration, we want to say, "Thank you!" We couldn't have possibly been more well equipped than to have the thoughts and gratitude of an entire community of friends and family behind us. Until next time, cheers! Bird's the word!