Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 09:43:45 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Jim Wilson Subject: Re: Youth Birding Club Comments: To: dfarner@AUDUBONNATURALIST.ORG MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit David, My name is Jim Wilson and I was a parent volunteer and designated driver for 2 Centreville Middle School (Queen Anne's County) WSB teams. As you may or may not know, they have sent at least 2 youth teams for the past 4 years to the WSB. Speaking from experience, I would say that the skills do not have to be that great. All you need is some interest and dedication on the kids part to practice and to make it to Cape May. I say kids' interest, but what you will need more than anything is the parents interest to move the kids to practices and to Cape May. The excitement of just being at the WSB will hook many of the first timers to develop a real interest in birding and that desire to go back again, year after year. I have seen it happen. I have four high school birders who are planning to return in 2003. In 2002, 3 of them went to Cape May during the WSB, not to participate, but just to be there and bird that day. One other note ... do it right. Go over a day or two early and do the scouting. Stay in a hotel for comfort. The first year the CMS team camped in a camping ground to save money ... nice idea but not that great for rest and food. I will never forget the first night's pot of burnt Oodles of Noodles done over the campfire. I believe that the morning after brunch is a real necessity, even though it is expensive. The recognition that the kids get is priceless. BTW, if you need kids, I can get'em. Unfortunately, we live on the Eastern Shore. Please let me know if we can be of any help from over here on the Eastern Shore for ideas, kids, etc. Sometimes, you just don't need to reinvent the wheel twice. (Is that redundant???) Jim Wilson, the Elder. DAVID FARNER wrote: >Don, > >Thanks for your email on MDOsprey. So far I have received many emails and >calls from people who want to help or are just glad to hear about the club. >The talk we had on the ferry as well as meeting some interested (and often >very good) kids is what really got this going. > >And also thanks for your offer of help for the World Series. At this point I >am hoping to field a youth team for the 2004 WSB, but it is really going to >depend on the interest and skill of the kids as to whether we do it sooner >or not at all. > >David >Audubon Naturalist Society >Chevy Chase, MD > >======================================================================= >To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com >with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey >======================================================================= > > ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================