Getting Kids Involved

GETTING KIDS INVOLVED
 June 07 & June 09

The successful Prince Edward County Birding Festival, held this year during the week of May 14^th, actually had its humble beginnings back in 1997. In its formative years, and through its years of struggle, and now, celebrating the last two years as a major undertaking, Quinte Conservation has always been a proud sponsor of this event. The conservation agency realized early on, that this was an important event in many ways, not the least of which, was drawing everyone’s attention to this “Point Pelee of Lake Ontario” that is within its watershed, but also its importance as a major tourism event during the shoulder seasons of the year. Quinte Conservation makes possible, the morning interpretive bird hikes that take place for nine days at Prince Edward Point, and providing a representative to sit on the Festival Committee.
Although attracting primarily adult birders, this year saw a marked increase in the number of young birders joining the ranks of the birding fraternity during this festive occasion. One 12 year old boy arrived at 8:00 a.m. with his father, from Peterborough, the first weekend, then showed up again the following weekend. The obviously seasoned young birder, his Bushnell binoculars swinging from his neck, impressed everyone with his knowledge of invisible songs filtering down from the tree tops, calling off species as he went.
Another day, a father and his 15 year old son from Ottawa turned up, eager to learn not only the warbler species that were present, but where these birds had travelled from, and what their ultimate destination would be and their arrival time. A home school teacher and her two eight year old students also arrived one morning, eager to give her two boys some practical field experience. Others arrived too during the week, to watch the bird banding demonstrations, or just to simply enjoy the atmosphere created by this spectacular annual migration of songbirds, destined for the boreal forests of Ontario
It is refreshing to see the interest that young people are taking today in the natural world around them. They are eager to learn, and I see this same enthusiasm from them on some of our other interpretive events that we do during the year. This year, among the 21 bird enthusiasts who signed up for the Bird Identification Course at Quinte Conservation in January, was a 16 year old who comes from a family of naturalists involving his immediate family, and also including his grandparents.
Quinte Conservation continues to be a strong supporter of outdoor interpretive programs, in particular, those that can involve children in some way. The popular Conservation Day Camp, held each summer in Belleville and Picton, has been running since the mid-1990s. The conservation camp is geared to children from seven years of age to 13. Held this year from July 4^th to August 25^th, registration is usually fast and furious, particularly at the Belleville Camp, with the second week of July already full, and the final week of August almost filled. Cost at each location is $110.00 per child per week, except for the short weeks during the first of July and August.
The name says it all. It is a conservation camp, and during the two months, all activities have a natural history theme. The games are nature oriented, as are the crafts, other activities and guest speakers. Registration is limited to 22 children each week and there are three leaders at each location.
This year, registration for the Conservation Day Camp can be done online, at the Quinte Conservation website www.quinteconservation.ca . The registration calendar on the website will specify the current enrollment for each week, and payment can be made online by using your credit card.
In Picton, the Conservation Day Camp takes place at Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area, an ideal setting with indoor facilities during rainy weather, a spacious area for outdoor activities, woodland trails, and a pond full of aquatic life. In Belleville, the Conservation Day Camp is held at the Quinte Conservation office at 2061 Old Highway 2, just west of the Wallbridge/Loyalist Road traffic lights. Here, children have access to a building constructed two years ago especially with the Day Camp in mind, interesting trails, and Potter Creek that meanders through the property.
The conservation day camps are made possible with the generous support of the Rotary Club of Quinte Sunrise, Rotary Club of Picton, Computers for Schools, and Rotary Club of Stirling.
Check out the Quinte Conservation website today, or phone 613-968-3434 ( extension 104 )