Connecting Cultures: Engaging Latinos in Science Education
Connecting Cultures Newsletter 
from Environment for the Americas

September 2012
In This Issue
New Project in San Diego, California
EECapacity Project
Calendar of Events
Migratory Bird Day - 2012
International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is the focus of the Connecting Cultures study.  In 2012, the program will share the results of the study in a celebration of diversity, IMBD's 20th Anniversary, and bird conservation.

2012 Art
Art by Rafael Lopez for EFTA
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

INTERN LIAISON

Mariamar Guti�rrez

DIVERSITY OUTREACH 
Natasha Kerr

PROJECT CONSULTANTS   Brett Bruyere
Marcella Wells
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Thanks to those of you who have been following EFTA's work examining the barriers to Latino participation in informal science education. This fall, we will conclude the field research component of the project when we examine Latino participation in Bandelier National Monument's Fall Nature Fest. Currently, we are completing data analysis, preparing a report on the experiences of the Latino interns, and drafting research papers for submission to journals. 
 
As you can see from this newsletter, however, our work continues! We look forward to another year with 8 new interns.  Please share your experiences with us as we work to make bird conservation and education an opportunity for everyone.
 
Sincerely,
 
Susan Bonfield  
Susan Bonfield
Environment for the Americas
Fall 2012 Intern- Jennifer Keliher
Reaching Latino Communities in California
 
EFTA and the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex are working together to reach Latino communities near the refuge. Intern Jennifer Keliher was recruited in August and will be delivering education programs at local libraries, schools, colleges, youth centers, and other community based organizations. Jennifer is also working on promoting the Refuge's fall events and programs with the goal of increasing Latino participation and awareness of shorebird conservation. The Refuge is offering special field trips as part of this initiative. 
 
Jennifer is native to San Diego and a recent marine biology graduate from San Diego State University. She began volunteering at the Tijuana Estuary Reserve at an early age. Jennifer has also been involved in research at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Louisiana State University's Coastal Ecology Institute, and San Diego State University. She was a recipient of scholarships from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Association for Women in the Sciences, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Jennifer looks forward to creating new opportunities and educational resources for community members focusing on shorebird conservation at the Refuge. 
 
USFWS

 

Thank-you to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 
for support of this project! 

 

 

 

 Colorado EECapacity State Consortium
 
 
Colorado is a pilot site for the Environmental Protection Agency's Expanding Capacity in Environmental Education Project  (EE Capacity). EFTA is a member of the Colorado EECapacity State Consortium, coordinated by the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education. We are excited to be a part of this project which trains educators in ways to make environmental education relevant to diverse urban communities. The members of the state consortium are educators that work in both traditional and non-traditional environmental education settings. The EFTA staff looks forward to working together with other Colorado based organizations on this important issue.    

 

For more information on the Colorado EECapacity State Consortium, please visit: https://www.caee.org/colorado-eecapacity-state-consoritum. 

 

For more information on this national initiative, please visit: http://www.eecapacity.net/.  

Calendar of Events  

September 2012 
EFTA's first America's Great Outdoors intern begins working in the Boulder office.  
 
Sept 29, 2012 
The Fall Nature Fiesta takes place at Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico. Participant surveys will be taken at the festival, concluding research efforts of the NSF Engaging Latino Audiences in Informal Science Education project.  
 
October 2012
EFTA will facilitate a panel discussion and give a workshop presentation on engaging Latinos in informal science education during the North American Association for Environmental Education in Oakland, California. 
 
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

2601 31st Street
Boulder, Colorado 80301
866.334.3330