| GOOD BIRDING! We look forward to reading about your monthly school birding adventures. |
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Home For Birders For Teachers Fledging Birders Challenge Programs
| Bringing the joy AND BENEFITS of birding to our youth - to promote their healthy development and bird conservation. |
| Fledging Birders Institute P.O. Box 1774 Bellmawr, NJ 08099 logo developed by aclogodesign@aol.com Great Horned Owl and Red Knot images courtesy of www.scottelowitzphotography.com |
| Submit your FBC entries online! Eastern Region Western Region March entries must be received by April 10th! |
The simplest answer is that bird watching is beneficial to our youth!
The process of bird watching allows children to exercise their observation and analytical
skills in an intrinsically motivating context. The innate curiosity of youth combines with
the enthralling nature of wildlife to provide a valuable educational field experience at
each outing.
The children will build their communication skills and sense of camaraderie as they work
together to find, identify, and record the various species. They will improve spatial
awareness abilities as they articulate to their team mates where a particular bird can be
found. As they critically observe the birds, they will use descriptive language to help
each other identify the species.
As they observe a single bird and take in the details, the students are also building their
ability to attend to tasks. This can be very effective for children with ADD/ADHD or
behavioral concerns because they are finding their own strategies to self-monitor their
behaviors. With a bit of guidance, this crucial skill can be generalized for their benefit
(and yours!) in the classroom setting.
As seen in NJEA Review, bird watching can also reinforce important concepts related to
ALL curriculum areas. Please contact NSBC for help in connecting the contest to the
needs and interests of your students or children.
Of course, bird watching is also a fun activity that can be very relaxing. Early morning
birding during fall or spring migration can give your young participants a nice start to
their day. A late afternoon stroll around the neighborhood could help them wind down
after a hectic day. This may even become a lifelong form of stress relief for some of
your young participants.
By the way, bird watching can also give YOUR morning a nice jump start or relaxing cool
down after a hectic day.
The process of bird watching allows children to exercise their observation and analytical
skills in an intrinsically motivating context. The innate curiosity of youth combines with
the enthralling nature of wildlife to provide a valuable educational field experience at
each outing.
The children will build their communication skills and sense of camaraderie as they work
together to find, identify, and record the various species. They will improve spatial
awareness abilities as they articulate to their team mates where a particular bird can be
found. As they critically observe the birds, they will use descriptive language to help
each other identify the species.
As they observe a single bird and take in the details, the students are also building their
ability to attend to tasks. This can be very effective for children with ADD/ADHD or
behavioral concerns because they are finding their own strategies to self-monitor their
behaviors. With a bit of guidance, this crucial skill can be generalized for their benefit
(and yours!) in the classroom setting.
As seen in NJEA Review, bird watching can also reinforce important concepts related to
ALL curriculum areas. Please contact NSBC for help in connecting the contest to the
needs and interests of your students or children.
Of course, bird watching is also a fun activity that can be very relaxing. Early morning
birding during fall or spring migration can give your young participants a nice start to
their day. A late afternoon stroll around the neighborhood could help them wind down
after a hectic day. This may even become a lifelong form of stress relief for some of
your young participants.
By the way, bird watching can also give YOUR morning a nice jump start or relaxing cool
down after a hectic day.
| Why should teachers, parents, or any other adult want their children to participate in the Fledging Birders Challenge? |