The Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society’s fourth grade birding program has taught birding basics to thousands of children over the past 20 years. Through Vashon Artists in the Schools, Chautauqua teacher Jan Smith started integrating art into her bird lesson plans several years ago with the help of artist Rose Belknap.
Artwork from a student in Vashon’s artful 4th grade birding program
This multidisciplinary approach—and the engaging student art that resulted—caught the attention of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a renowned bird research center. In November, the curriculum was featured as a model program on their Celebrate Urban Birds website.
You can learn more about the birding program’s history in this Beachcomber article.http://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/news/134710373.html
If you’d like to get involved, contact current bird program leader Richard Rogers through theAudubon website. And if you’re looking for a locally grown holiday gifts, greeting cards featuring the students’ artwork are for sale at Vashon’s Wings Birdseed Company.
Congratulations to Jan, Rose and all of those involved in making this program a success!