Track it. Spot it. Name it.
Bird Conservation Summer Camp
This isn’t just watching birds. It’s learning how to read the woods.
This one week pilot camp turns the forest into a living puzzle.
Led by avian experts, middle school students will learn how to find and identify birds, understand their behavior, sounds, and habitat. We’ll explore bird biology, the challenges birds face today, and practical ways people can make the world more bird friendly.
About the summer camp
Bird populations in the United States are declining dramatically, with most bird species showing a 50% decrease and 2.9 billion birds lost since the 1970s. This is due to a wide diversity of factors, with habitat loss being the leading cause. While policy change is essential, it often takes time to make an impact. In the meantime, individuals and communities can play a powerful role in protecting birds through awareness and everyday actions. To inspire that sense of care and responsibility, people first need to feel connected to birds and understand how their choices can make a difference. Creating a safe habitat for birds involves a variety of factors, most of which are actionable at the individual level, applicable on a small scale in our own homes, and at a larger scale in our municipalities. The results are achievable and rewarding.
Our science and nature camp will not only be affordable, offering a price that allows low income families to access an educational opportunity, but will also prioritize them for registration. We will collaborate with middle schools’ counseling personnel to reach out to these families, offering them the opportunity to register before opening the camp to the general public. We aim to educate students about the challenges birds face, how they can provide habitat, be advocates in their communities at different levels, and be the next generation leading the change that bird populations need to thrive.
Our program will follow best practices for group management, it will offer a rigorous and exciting curriculum based on the latest published information, and it will offer a unique opportunity to an underserved sector of our population. Running a one week summer camp pilot will allow us to achieve the goal to provide an affordable option for these families and to test the model for future iterations, shedding light on what strategies are successful and which need to be modified, informed by the feedback obtained from students and their families.
This program is for middle school students.
Limited Spots — Pre-Register March 18–31
Applications close March 31. Selected students will be notified on April 15th.
Who It’s For. What We’ll Do. Why It Matters?
This project begins with a simple idea: learning about birds can open the door to understanding the world around us.
$50 | 1 Week | 10 Spots
Who?
Middle schoolers who love nature, asking questions, and noticing things other people miss.
When?
June 15-19, 9 AM- 4 PM
Where?
Based at Calvary Church in State College, with outdoor learning in nearby natural areas, the camp is rooted in a region that becomes a hotspot for bird activity during the spring and summer months, offering students an exceptional opportunity to observe birds where they live and move through the landscape.
Why?
Because what we notice, we protect.
Birds are a keystone group. The actions we take to preserve birds are far reaching, and have a positive impact on people and the environment.
Meet Our Project Leader
Constanza Ehrenhaus PhD. Biology
I am an educator and conservation advocate dedicated to understanding ecological interactions and protecting bird populations threatened by human activity. Through hands-on education, community outreach, and leadership with the State College Bird Club, I have inspired students and community members to engage in bird conservation and supported the adoption of bird friendly policies. Drawing on experience across K–12 and higher education, I combine scientific training, teaching, and community engagement to translate complex ecological ideas into accessible action that empowers others to care for and conserve birds.
FAQs
We’ve been getting some questions, and we are so glad you asked!
My child is a rising 6th grader, can they participate?
Yes, rising 6th graders through rising 9th graders are welcome to register.
Are there still spaces?
Yes, we are doing a pre-registration to avoid a first come first serve scenario. We will later contact families to register.
What is the schedule for this program?
June 15th to 20th, 9 AM to 4 PM.
Can my child participate even if we do not receive free or reduced lunches?
Yes, children from all backgrounds are welcome to register, however we will keep spaces for free and reduced lunch families to make sure they have an affordable summer camp option.
My child does not know anything about birds, can they register?
Of course! All that is needed is a want to learn and enjoy nature!
I see you are hosting this in a church. Is this run through a religious group?
No. This is a secular camp. Calvary Church is an amazing component in our community, and they offered to host the camp, but it is not a religious camp. All people are welcome.
I wish you had this for elementary school.
We do too! We are just getting started and need to run a pilot, so we chose an age group. In the future we would like to offer many more options.
Supported by Our Community
This program is made possible through the generosity of local organizations and individuals who believe in expanding access to environmental education. Their support allows us to offer this experience at a reduced cost and reach students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.
Community members
Amber Wievel
Julie Donnel Simon
Jim Simon
Kim Nelson
Amy Parson
Jeanne Lumadue
Katie McNutty
Discovery by Nature
Calvary Church at Harvest Fields
We are grateful for their generosity at giving us a place to hold our Bird Conservation Summer Camp pilot program. Without their support, this project would not be possible.
Thank you Calvary Church for constantly working to build up our community!
Mount Nittany Physicians Group
Thanks to the generous support of Mount Nittany Physicians Group, we are one step closer to our goal of offering our Bird Biology and Conservation Summer Camp. Their financial support will allow for the purchasing of materials for students to use
Thank you, Weis Markets of Rolling Ridge, for believing in our project!Thanks to their support, we are one step closer to fulfilling our needs for the Bird Conservation Summer Camp Pilot.