Aves Compartidas means shared birds in Spanish. I was a part of this community-based ecological education program that taught interdisciplinary, bilingual lessons to elementary school students. My team members and I taught third, fourth, and fifth grade students about shared migratory birds and watersheds of Eugene, OR and Guanajuato, MX, where our partnership schools are located.
The Aves Compartidas program collaborates with community partners and schools within the Laja region of Guanajuato, Mexico. Their goal is to address issues of the environment and of social equity in both regions.
Our mission was to inspire and excite learners about nature through migratory birds by highlighting how we're connected ecologically and culturally to other communities.
Some of the overall goals of the program were to:
Excite students about birds
Spark curiosity and care for the environment
Encourage lasting gratitude for nature
Motivate the next generation of environmental stewards.
Below are some photos of me throughout my time leading lessons and fieldtrips:
A group photo of the third grade team. My co facilitators: Manuela, on the left, and Ava in the middle. Photo by Lauren V.
Me leading an arts and crafts flower making activity after our pollinator lesson. Photo by Ava M.
Me leading a fourth grade group on our field trip to Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Photo by Mary V.
Me facilitating our fourth lesson. Students learned about the four components of a habitat. Photo by Ava M.