Partnerships Create a Brighter Future for Children
By Mary Britton-Simmons
Over the years, Eastside Audubon’s Youth Education Committee has partnered with a wide variety of organizations, including businesses, parks, camps, Scouts and libraries. Our most valued and long-lasting partnership certainly has been with the Juanita Bay Rangers with whom our volunteers work annually. The Rangers generously donate their time and expertise on walks with children and families. They have introduced hundreds to the amazing wetlands in our midst: history, plants, animals, the land and water.
The Scouts have called on our Youth Education Committee volunteers many times. Ex-teachers have given presentations to Scout leaders on structuring lesson plans and encouraged them to focus on stewardship of the environment. We have partnered with local entities like Duvall and their Heritage Festival, and Bellevue where the Parks Department watered student plants over the summer for a Teacher Grant recipient. Duvall, Newport, and Kenmore Libraries have also benefited from our volunteers.
Each spring and fall, we partner with Molbak’s during their family festivals. Creating bird masks and a booth with a wide collection of mounts were huge hits last October. Six volunteers kept busy all day! Our yearly schedule always has room for Peter Kirk Summer Camp. After a presentation on the wetlands at Juanita Bay Park, campers take the bus to the park for a walk with our volunteers and Rangers. At times, we venture out to Carnation for Carnation Farm Day and Oxbow Farm Festival. Parks seem to be our specialty: Swamp Creek, Bridle Trails, McDonald—the list goes on and on.
The Youth Education Committee values its partnerships and feels honored to be a part of local communities: Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance, churches, Kids Quest Museum, Little Chinese Masters Class, Camp Kindness and of course, private and public schools—just to name a few. Partnerships enrich our programs and allow us to reach more children and their families.