America s Great Outdoors: Celebrate Shorebirds/ Celebra las Aves Playeras

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1 America s Great Outdoors: Celebrate Shorebirds/ Celebra las Aves Playeras Engaging Latino Youth in Natural Resources Careers Project Site: Colorado An Internship Program coordinated by Environment for the Americas

2 This project was made posible with funding from:

3 Intern Michelle Mendieta Michelle Mendieta grew up in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, enjoying all the natural areas New England had to offer. It was this excitement for the outdoors that created a passion for teaching others about sustainability and the environment. To puruse this passion, Michelle attended the University of Vermont, graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies. Upon graduating, Michelle moved to beautiful Colorado and began her internship at Environment for the Americas in Boulder. Previous to this internship, Michelle worked for the University of Vermont Office of Sustainability. She contributed to the Vermont Campus Sustainability Network newsletter, assisted the staff in research, and ran environmentally friendly events on campus. Michelle (far left) and Laura West hosting a booth at an environmental conference. As the EFTA Project Assistant Michelle was integral in making sure the office ran smoothy, maintaining all social media pages, coordinating the annual IMBD Walk in the Wild event in Boulder, and acting as a liaison for ther other interns in the country. EFTA s social media presence grew tremendously with Michelle s work and the annual IMBD Walk in the Wild event she coordintaed had a great response with over a record number of attendees. Michelle is continuing her passion for environmental education with a position in Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE). 5

4 Intern Anjelica Quintana Anjelica Quintana was raised in Viejo San Acacio, a small farming town just a few miles west of San Luis, Colorado. Growing up, she was influenced by her father who was not only a rancher, but a local high school science teacher as well. For many years her father s ranch experienced severe droughts that greatly impacted her family. Seeing this continuous drought sparked Anjelica s interest in protecting natural resources for local ranchers and wildlife. To work towards this goal Anjelica decided to pursue a degree in Wildlife Biology at Adams State University in southern Colorado. Anjelica (far right) sampling water to study shorebird food sources. This was not Anjelica s first time working at Blanca Wetlands and she says it will not be her last. In the summer of 2012, Anjelica worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) doing field work at Blanca Wetlands. In addition to fieldwork she was able to give presentations to, and work with, different youth crews from around the San Luis Valley. She learned that many people in the San Luis Valley do not fully understand the intentions of the organizations involved in protecting natural resources. Anjelica s outreach work within her own community was very important in creating awareness regarding the BLM s role in conserving the natural resources of that area.

5 Intern Portland Torres Portland is an experienced hand at the Blanca Wetlands. Previous to this internship, Portland worked as a crew leader for the Bureau of Land Management within the Blanca Wetlands of the San Luis Valley where he successfully learned how to complete surveys involving wildlife within the Blanca Wetlands, data collection, and how to compile seasonal reports. His EFTA internship will have been his third summer working in the wetlands. Portland was born in Alamosa, Colorado and spent part of his childhood in the San Luis Valley. Portland was exposed to hunting, fishing, camping, and an appreciation for the great outdoors at a young age. Portland s love for nature brought him to pursue a Wildlife Biology degree at Adams State University. Portland posing in front of the cages set to trap waterfowl. To be able to put what you re doing into context is what makes surveying for shorebirds, digging through the mud, or hiking 10 miles a day worth it in the end. -Portland Torres 4

6 Fieldwork Anjelica and Portland spent ten weeks conducting surveys and field research at the Blanca Wetlands. The Blanca Wetlands in the Sun Luis Valley of Alamosa, CO are a crucial stopover site for more than 150 different species of birds during their strenuous migration journey. Anjelica and Portland were responsible for surveying migrating shorebirds such as sandpipers, pharalopes, plovers, and avocets. Along with the shorebird surveys, Anjelica and Portland were able to participate in the surveys of Big Horn Sheep, macroinvertebrates, and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers. Anjelica helping with the placement of a GPS tag on a Golden Eagle. Anjelica and Portland, along with BLM staff and supervisors trekking through the wetlands to place traps and to do surveying. Learning how to set duck duck traps in the wetlands. 6

7 Community Engagement Another important objective of this internship is the engagement of local Latino communities in environmental education. Anjelica and Portland worked hard at engaging their local Latino community through various elementary, middle, and high schools along with some of the local universities. Examples of some their community outreach involves hands-on teaching within the Centennial schools to K-12 classes with workshops teaching about bird beaks, nests, and how to get involved with natural resources. They also particiapted in Jr. Ranger Day at the Great Sand Dunes and helped lead an educational day for Southwest Conservation Crew (SCC). Anjelica (2nd to the left, back row) and Portland (far right, back row) leading a bird-mask Anjelica particiating in hands-on tutoring. Portland leading an outdoors conservation day, teaching local students about science surveys. I actually had one of the girls that attended my presentation tell me that I give her hope! - Anjelica Quintana 7

8 Tracking the internship experience Interns kept detailed records of their work. Each intern was involved in both research and education and received training at their sites, as well as from EFTA staff. Training included developing research skills, examining methods of communicating with Latino communities, and exploring environmental education methods. Breakdown of Anjelica and Portland s Intern Hours Anjelica and Portland leading a Southwest Conservation Crew on an educational day through the Blanca Wetlands. 8

9 In back, intern Portland Torres with site supervisor Susan Swift-Miller, wetland biologist. Photographed in front is intern Anjelica Quintana. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. -Nelson Mandela BirdDay.org Tel: Toll-free: Fax: st Sreet Boulder, Colorado Environment for the Americas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.