Connecting Cultures: Engaging Latinos in Science Education
Connecting Cultures Newsletter 
from Environment for the Americas
March 2010
In This Issue
Project Participants
Washington Surveys Completed
Data Analysis Continues
Calendar of Events
Project Participants

PARTNERS
Colorado State University
National Park Service
Point Reyes Bird Observatory
New Jersey Audubon Society
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
Barr Lake State Park

ADVISORY COUNCIL
Wendy Hanophy
  Consultant
Edwin Juarez
  Arizona Game & Fish Department
Kim Ramirez
  Audubon Fellow
Michael Rizo
  USDA Forest Service
Greg Stevens
  American Association of Museums
Fernando Villaba
  National Park Service

STUDY SITES
Bandelier National Monument
  New Mexico
Golden Gate Nat'l Recreation Area/Point Reyes Nat'l Seashore
  California
Fire Island National Seashore
  New York
North Cascades National Park
  Washington
New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route
  New Jersey
Barr Lake State Park
  Colorado

CONTROL SITES
Great Sand Dunes National
Park & Preserve
  Colorado
Big Thicket National Preserve
  Texas
Big Cypress National Preserve
   Florida

CO-Principal Investigator
Carol Beidleman
  National Park Service, Park Flight 
  Migratory Bird Program


INTERN LIAISON

Mariamar Gutiérrez

PROJECT CONSULTANTS
Brett Bruyere
Marcella Wells



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Environment for the Americas' newest project is a 3-year study funded by the National Science Foundation examining the barriers to participation in natural science programs by Latino/Hispanic audiences.  Using International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) as the focus of the study, we are conducting community surveys at 6 sites across the U.S., monitoring attendance at IMBD events, and developing tools to help educators improve their outreach to this audience.  Thank you for your interest in our work!
 
Sincerely,
 
Susan Bonfield
Susan Bonfield
Environment for the Americas
CynthiaCynthia Reséndiz (right) conducted community surveys near Muir Woods National Monument.

Latino Community Surveys
Update of
Accomplishments

I need an invitation to go to these kind of programs...by myself I won't go.  Anonymous Survey Respondent in Point Reyes Station, CA

Cynthia Reséndiz of Coahuila, Mexico juggled a heavy load, assisting with education programs offered by Point Reyes Bird Observatory and conducting community surveys.  Cynthia visited a variety of sites to conduct her surveys, including festivals, a farm, a community event, and a luncheon for Latino business women. When she returned to towns where she had conducted surveys, community members stopped her to ask how her the project was going. 


RafaelIn New Mexico, interns Angélica Hernández from Colombia and Rafael Paredes from Mexico visited schools, recreation centers, businesses, and many other locations in the towns near Bandelier National Monument.  This site is home to two communities, members with Spanish ancestry whose families have lived in the area for generations, and more recent arrivals from Latin America.  Data analysis of surveys will compare the responses of these two groups.

Angelica Hernandez (left) and Rafael Paredes (right) head home after conducting community surveys in New Mexico.

Analysis of Latino Community Surveys Begins
Results describe factors that affect Latino/Hispanic participation in programs

The project will complete its first year in May 2010.  The work has been intensive, and we are all waiting with anticipation for the analysis of data gathered during Latino community surveys.

Dr. Brett Bruyere of Colorado State University and his students are leading the effort to enter the data and provide a report on each site.  Data are being analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).  Because the results of the community surveys will be used to determine how our focus events may be adapted to meet the needs of Latino/Hispanic communities, we are prioritizing the analysis based on event dates.  Our first analysis is of surveys gathered in Washington, in towns south of North Cascades National Park. 

We'll be providing formal information about our results as our analysis continues, but below is an example of what we are learning.   The graph indicates that the Latinos/Hispanics near North Cascades National Park have a very strong preference for programs that engage the entire family and that offer their children opportunities to explore topics that might benefit them in the future.

NOCA Preferences


Calendar of Events

February 2010:
Analysis of community surveys and planning of 2010 efforts at study and control sites.

Carol Beidleman, Park Flight Migratory Bird Program Coordinator, and Mariamar Gutiérrez, Intern Liaison, begin interviewing applicants for 2010 Park Flight Migratory Bird Program internships.

March 2010:
Project Coordinator, Susan Bonfield, will attend the National Science Foundation workshop for new grantees.


About Environment for the Americas

Environment for the Americas, home of International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), is a non-profit organization working to increase awareness of birds and their conservation throughout the Western Hemisphere. We provide the framework and education materials for bird festivals and events, host a directory of bird education resources, offer bird workshops for educators, and motivate people of all ages to get outdoors to learn about birds. Find out more at www.birdday.org.

Environment for the Americas
Home of International Migratory Bird Day

2129 13th Street, Suite I
Boulder, Colorado 80302
866.334.3330