FULFILLING OUR MISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
One of the most important goals of any Audubon Society chapter is to foster environmental education. Members of the Mesilla Valley Audubon Society are firmly committed to teaching children and adults the importance of appreciating nature, preserving our natural resources and protecting natural habitats. Our MVAS educators work very hard to fulfill this mission and are having a very positive effect on the growth of environmental awareness in the Las Cruces area. Conservation and concern for wildlife are especially important in an environment as fragile as our Chihuahuan Desert. Through our education programs, Mesilla Valley Audubon Society feels that it is building greater public awareness of our surroundings and of the value of preserving natural areas. We are gratified to know that we are helping to increase our community's respect for and appreciation of nature. These are the highlights of MVAS's ongoing educational projects:
One of the most important goals of any Audubon Society chapter is to foster environmental education. Members of the Mesilla Valley Audubon Society are firmly committed to teaching children and adults the importance of appreciating nature, preserving our natural resources and protecting natural habitats. Our MVAS educators work very hard to fulfill this mission and are having a very positive effect on the growth of environmental awareness in the Las Cruces area. Conservation and concern for wildlife are especially important in an environment as fragile as our Chihuahuan Desert. Through our education programs, Mesilla Valley Audubon Society feels that it is building greater public awareness of our surroundings and of the value of preserving natural areas. We are gratified to know that we are helping to increase our community's respect for and appreciation of nature. These are the highlights of MVAS's ongoing educational projects:
1. Audubon Adventures: Our most successful school program is Audubon Adventures, which is currently made available through MVAS funding to 80+ fourth grade classrooms in the south central New Mexico area, including Las Cruces, White Sands, Alamogordo, and Truth or Consequences. Lorraine Schulte and her committee work diligently every year to supply this natural history curriculum to our school children. MVAS also actively supports and contributes to the newly created New Mexico supplement to Audubon Adventures.
2. Lorraine Schulte Excellence in Teaching Award: Each spring, MVAS presents the Lorraine Schulte Excellence in Teaching Award to a local teacher, grades K-12, who exemplifies excellence in environmental education.
3. Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program and Scholarship Competition: Another school project in which MVAS is involved is the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program and Scholarship Competition. Guy Powers is our chapter coordinator. This program promotes "conservation through the arts" for children K-12, by sponsoring contests for budding artists to submit their own artwork of waterfowl in hopes of it being chosen as the illustration for the annual Junior Federal Duck Stamp. MVAS members have made presentations to art teachers and their classes to explain the competition and introduce the students to local waterfowl species and their wetland habitats. Local school participation is growing each year.
4. Beginning Bird Watching Course: If you are new to the area or just want to get acquainted with local birds and where to find them - this is the class for you! You will learn to identify birds by their shapes, sizes, sounds, behaviors and habitat. Classroom sessions will be led by expert birders who will also accompany the class on field trips. Saturday field trips to local birding spots will reinforce concepts learned in classroom sessions. Anf for the final class we'll visit the Vertebrate Museum at NMSU to get a close-up look at some oof the birds seen on the field trips. Handouts and other course materials wil be provided. Note: There will be three Tuesday evening classroom sessions (2/09, 2/16 and 2/23/10) as well as three Saturday Field Trips (2/13, 2/20 and 2/27/10). Experience the fun of this popular hobby and learn about our fascinating, southern New Mexico birds! Watch for our Fall 2010 Bird Watching Course too!
Minimum # in class: 8 Maximum # in class: 12
Presented by: Mesilla Valley Audubon Society in conjunction with the Dona Ana Community College.
Cost: $40 - Contact DACC Community Education (575-527-7527) for registration
When: 2/09 - 2/23/10 - Tues. - 7:00-9:00pm
2/13 - 2/27/10 - Sat. Field Trips
Where: DACC East Mesa Campus - DAAR 114