Inspiring young environmental stewards through intercultural hands-on learning
A V E S C O M P A R T I D A S 2 0 2 3
About the Project
Alt Text: Rachel talking with students at their desks
Image by Hannah Motta
AVES COMPARTIDAS
Aves Compartidas is a part of the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) within the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon. ELP facilitators in this program approach environmental education from an interdisciplinary, multicultural, and student-centered perspective that stresses that people are part of the environment.
In Eugene, OR at our partner school, River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary, ELP facilitators developed and taught three distinct curriculums following designated themes. Third-grade ELP facilitators focused on pollinators, fourth-grade facilitators studied terrestrial birds, and fifth-grade investigated watersheds and wetland birds.
These interdisciplinary curricula built relationships between students in the Willamette and Laja watersheds in Oregon, USA, and Guanajuato, MX through the birds both regions share. ELP facilitators used Spanish and English instruction in the classroom to bring intercultural connections to the forefront. Through a series of five student-centered and action-based lessons, culminating in a field trip to Mt. Pisgah Arboretum students become environmental stewards through observation, critical thinking, and exercising practical skills.
mission statement
Our aim is to create a community of young environmental stewards united by profound cultural connections and a desire to help in conservation, and who celebrate our shared migratory birds and their habitats.
Alt Text: Sofia leading a field trip group up a trail
Image by Katie Lynch
Our Partners
WILLAMETTE LAJA TWINNING PROJECT
The Willamette Laja Twinning Project is a bi-national initiative that aims to promote cultural exchange, environmental awareness, and sustainable development practices between the Willamette River watershed in Oregon, United States and the Río Laja watershed in Guanajuato, Mexico. Aves Compartidas is a program within the Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership. This project involves collaboration between multiple non-profit organizations to promote community led efforts in addressing environmental challenges and social equity in both regions. Using the platform of shared neotropical migratory bird species, both regions collaborate and achieve measurable outcomes for migratory bird species and their habitats through action oriented education.
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Study Sites
river road/el camino del río elementary
River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary is a K-5 school in northwest Eugene, OR which gets its name from its close proximity to the Willamette River. As a Spanish-English bilingual school, their mission is as follows:
"Students in the El Camino del Río Dual Language Program will be bilingual, biliterate and multicultural. Students will exhibit high academic achievement in all content areas in both languages."
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Mt. Pisgah
Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a 209-acre public outdoor space owned and operated by a nonprofit organization located in southeast Eugene, OR. The area includes hiking and walking trails of various levels of difficulty and the nonprofit offers guided tours for all ages, school field trips, and summer camp opportunities for community youth. Their mission is as follows:
"Our Mission is to engage people with nature through interactive learning and stewardship."
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Alt Text: Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Entrance Sign
Image by Mount Pisgah Arboretum