Presenter: Abby Andrews − Environmental Studies
Co-Presenter(s): Jenna Burns, Lucy Trapp, Sequoia Shand
Faculty Mentor(s): Russel Lynch
Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Learning from the Environment
Eugene, Oregon and Guanajuato, Mexico have more things in common than you might think, including 25 shared migratory birds that we introduced to students during our time at El Camino del Rio/River Road Dual Immersion Elementary. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor education has become evermore important. As participants in the Environmental Leadership Program, we strive to rekindle youth’s bond with nature that was neglected during the pandemic. This year, the Aves Compartidas Program taught elementary students about migratory birds through an environmental education lens, and fostered students’ connection to their environment and to Guanajuato, Mexico. Our pedagogical approach focuses on the importance of connecting students with the local environment through the use of auditory, visual, and artistic group learning. Within six weeks, our team taught 42 classes, educating 128 students on migratory birds and related environmental issues, focusing on creating safe migration conditions. We incorporated the observation of World Migratory Bird Day, and highlighted this year’s theme, “dim the lights for birds at night,” in reference to the effect of light pollution on bird flight patterns. The materials created from the program include lesson plans, a project management plan, and an informational website. This will allow continued collaboration between Oregon and Mexico, to nurture the next generation of environmental stewards.