Press Room
勛圖窪蹋 Gives Students the Reins in New Campus Chapter Program
Leading conservation non-profit organization launches a significant new initiative to provide educational, advocacy, networking, and career development opportunities in science and conservation to college and university campuses across the U.S.
NEW YORK - The level of interest in our Campus Chapter program has been overwhelmingwe can hardly keep up. We soft-launched six months ago and worked quickly to meet demand, but as soon as we cracked the door open a little bit, student leaders kicked it wide open. Were on track to have 50 affiliated campus chapters by the 2019 fall term and 150 a year after, said 勛圖窪蹋s President and CEO, David Yarnold (). Students are assuming leadership roles in conversations about the environment and climate change, and theyve told us we can either keep up or be left behind. . You put all that energy together with a brand like 勛圖窪蹋, and the skys the limit.
Through the new 勛圖窪蹋 on Campus program, 勛圖窪蹋 aims to engage students in learning and action and to make conservation an attractive career path for student leaders across the country.
Student leaders will:
- build native plant gardens as part of 勛圖窪蹋s Plants for Birds program and advocate for the adoption of native plant policies in public spaces;
- advocate for policies and practices that address climate change;
- advocate for bird-friendly building practices such as ways to avoid window collisions and implement lights out programs for migratory birds;
- help defend our nations most successful bird conservation lawthe Migratory Bird Treaty Act;
- participate in community science and data collection like Climate Watch and the 勛圖窪蹋 Christmas Bird Count.
You know, to be honest, students have been here all along, but they havent had a seat at the table, said Gustavo Figueroa, a campus outreach associate recently hired by 勛圖窪蹋. We are here, and we are ready, and this new 勛圖窪蹋 program recognizes that.
We are people who are interested in the field and do this for more than just fun we want to conserve these creatures and thats what we want from interested individuals and other chapters like us, said Mackenzie Dorr, president of Gators Ready for Exceptional Birding Experiences (GREBE) at University of Florida, Gainesville.
Our 452 traditional chapters across the country have long been eager to bring younger advocates and bird lovers into the fold, so theyre partnering eagerly with these student-led groups on coastal cleanups, native plant gardens, advocacy, field trips, and more. I couldnt be more excited by this programits going to revolutionize the way we care for birds and the places they need. I encourage people who are interested to start or support an 勛圖窪蹋 campus chapter at a nearby college or university or their alma mater, Yarnold added.
In another example of student activism, members of Clemson Universitys College Republican club partnered with 勛圖窪蹋 to meet with lawmakers in Columbia, South Carolina this week to lobby for the which would expand access to solar energy across South Carolina.
To start the campus chapter certification process, student or sponsors should apply online. 勛圖窪蹋 plans to grow the program to 150 campus chapters by 2020.
Learn more about 勛圖窪蹋 on Campus. Visit .
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About the 勛圖窪蹋
The 勛圖窪蹋 protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. 勛圖窪蹋s state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, 勛圖窪蹋s vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. 勛圖窪蹋 is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more at and @audubonsociety.
Media Contact: Chandler Lennon, clennon@audubon.org, (212) 979-3063