ecoEXPLORE, an initiative of The North Carolina Arboretum that encourages kids to connect with the outdoors and engage in citizen science, has announced its upcoming Ornithology Season, running Dec. 1 through Feb. 28.
When participating in ecoEXPLORE, a family works to earn a variety of nature-themed badges and earns points that can be traded in for prizes—all by exploring their own neighborhoods!
The program features a new “Bird Break” video series that introduces kids to bird species. Each three to four-minute video helps to identify bird species, giving information on identifiable characteristics (field markings, size, shape, behavior), calls/songs, habitat, adaptations, and a fun fact. A new video released every week highlights a different staff member who has chosen one of their favorite birds. “This idea came from bird identification as a gateway for kids to learn the fundamentals of identifying living things,” says ecoEXPLORE Creative Coordinator Jenna Kesgen. “From only a few minutes of time, kids can watch a video to learn a new species!”
Kids have the opportunity to earn their Ornithology Badge by taking six photos of birds, along with completing three of the four challenges that will be promoted throughout the season. A bonus Duck Badge offers kids fun facts, tips, and a four-part “Duck Challenge.”
Each mission is closely tied to the challenges that ecoEXPLORERS can do safely in their own backyard or designated ecoEXPLORE HotSpots to earn their badge. These challenges will help kids become more familiar with the different species of birds around them while encouraging them to do their own research. In addition, the participants’ findings can help professional scientists understand changes in the environment and see how these changes impact plants, animals, and other natural resources.
Because ecoEXPLORE is a statewide initiative, the Arboretum collaborates with a range of other science education organizations across North Carolina. This includes the Greensboro Science Center, Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State Parks. “We’ve really enjoyed working with educators across the state to engage families in real outdoor science,” said Jonathan Marchal, creator of ecoEXPLORE and the director of education at the Arboretum. “We’re working to recruit kids and families in all 100 counties of the state, and that would not be possible without partnerships with other state agencies as well as local libraries, parks, and greenways.” At full implementation the Arboretum hopes to have over 1,000 ecoEXPLORE HotSpots across the state.
Ornithology Season culminates with a summit celebrating the kids’ accomplishments, featuring hands-on field work with a science mentor from the community. This year, Dr. Andrew Laughlin, assistant professor of environmental studies at University of North Carolina Asheville, serves as the Ornithology Season mentor. Due to the global health pandemic, this year’s Ornithology Season Summit will be held virtually.
For more information about the ecoEXPLORE program, visit www.ecoexplore.net.