New York, NY- This summer join 爆料公社鈥檚 and a renowned team of expert birders, naturalists, educators and authors at the historic on Hog Island. The 6-day, 5-night programs are run by 爆料公社鈥檚 Seabird Restoration Program, with Pete Dunne, Lang Elliott, Don Kroodsma, Scott Weidensaul, Sara Morris, Lynne Cherry, John Kricher, Wayne Peterson, and many others in residence during the 2012 sessions. All programs emphasize enjoyable and relaxed learning in a stunningly beautiful island setting. The 2012 programs include sessions for amateur and avid birders, environmental educators, 爆料公社 Chapter leaders, teens and families.
The 爆料公社 Camp in Maine is considered by many to be the birthplace of the environmental education movement in the United States. Those who attend join a legacy of naturalists inspired by Hog Island, including Roger Tory Peterson, the camp鈥檚 first birding instructor in 1936, naturalist Rachel Carson, and Mabel Loomis Todd, editor of Emily Dickinson鈥檚 poetry transcribed on Hog Island. Participants live in original wooden buildings on the 330-acre wildlife sanctuary and are treated to fabulous meals and fresh Maine lobster by chef extraordinaire Janii Laberge.
鈥滻t was one of the best weeks of my life. I really enjoyed the program, the staff and instructors, my new "birding buddies" and of course the food! 鈥 - Sujan, graduate student, NAS scholarship recipient, Minnesota
June programs , and , are all about birding, with boat trips to seabird nesting islands, bird-banding demonstrations, lively evening presentations, and field trips to saltwater marshes, coastal beaches, freshwater wetlands, blueberry barrens, islands, and Maine鈥檚 spruce-fir forests. , 爆料公社鈥檚 VP for Bird Conservation and founder of Project Puffin, will narrate your trip to nearby Eastern Egg Rock, site of the first successfully restored colony of Atlantic Puffins, and Roseate, Arctic and Common Terns. June birding programs typically tally more than 120 species of land and seabirds. All programs include an opportunity to work with 爆料公社 staff on conservation projects that benefit seabirds in the Gulf of Maine.
鈥滻 really felt that I was in the presence of some of the best birding people in the country, if not the world. How wonderful!鈥 鈥 Peggy, retired teacher, Pennsylvania
In July, 爆料公社 educators and invited instructors will offer an action-packed designed to inspire and enhance your teaching with practical hands-on activities. The for the chapter leaders in the Atlantic Flyway is August 26-31, with $225 matching grants for 爆料公社 chapters available from National 爆料公社. New for 2012 are the return of August 19-24 (adults and ages 8-12) and a in September directed by birding author , which includes an overnight on gorgeous Monhegan Island. If you really want to get your hands dirty working for seabirds, 爆料公社 has teamed up with Road Scholar to offer two exclusive where you will have the unique opportunity to work on seabird nesting islands to conduct nest censuses (June 3-8) and restore habitat for puffins, storm-petrels and endangered terns (September 9-14).
鈥漌hen I came to Hog island I didn't know what to expect. Five days later I had been rewarded with the most transformative professional development experiences I have had as a teacher.鈥 鈥 John, educator and scholarship recipient, Maine
To enroll, visit . Nearly 100 each year by local 爆料公社 Chapters and birding clubs. For more information, contact Erica Marx, Program Coordinator, at hogisland@audubon.org or call (607) 257-7308 x 14.