Updates, updates, updates! This was the heading of multiple recent emails received by the many who make our education programs happen. That’s right-after almost two years of no school field trips at all, Los Angeles Audubon is back at it, sharing nature with residents of all ages that call Los Angeles home.
Open Wetlands at Ballona Young Birders
In addition to our regular Ballona tour on Sunday, March 13th, we will offer a new tour for Young Birders! Our very own Emily Lamb will be leading her fellow Young Birders on a tour at 10 am. Come learn about the birds of Ballona, upcoming migration season, and hunt for Owl pellets with Emily. RSVP to Cindy Hardin at cindyhardin@laaudubon.org or give a call at 310-301-0050.
Ballona Wetlands Learning Experiences
As Director of Outdoor Education for Los Angeles Audubon, I routinely see over 3,000 students a year on field trips to the Ballona Wetlands and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. For the most part, we only see these students on one or two field trips, and then they are off to the next grade level and onward.
It is difficult to really quantify the impact of the students’ experience from these trips, but occasionally a past attendee resurfaces, and we find that their field trip(s) really did have an impact on their lives and learning experiences. Ethan Greenberg is one such student, and I had the delightful experience of re-connecting with him last year as he worked on a special project for students deprived of a field trip due to the pandemic. Ethan graciously agreed to be interviewed about his experience at Ballona and the effect that it has had on his life. I am thrilled to share his thoughts with you, and to see that our mission to connect young people with wildlife can be quite substantive.