Rio Salado Audubon Center Launches 2022-2023 Education Programs

Local Nature Center Rolls Out K-8 Programs to Resource Valley Schools

The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center announced today the launch of its 2022-2023 education programs for local schools and the South Phoenix community, offering cost-effective opportunities to engage the local community in the Valley’s wildlife and natural ecosystem.

From October through April, the center offers various educational programs for local schools and for members of the community.

“One of the main reasons that the Rio Salado Audubon Center exists is to serve our local community and provide these unique educational resources and programs for local schools,” said Corey Lycopolus, senior education coordinator for Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. “The education programs are one way of bringing hands-on learning opportunities to students to awaken their environmental curiosity.” 

Programs include:

·  Educational Field Trips: K-8 students have the opportunity to visit the center to experience a guided nature/bird outing led by an education coordinator. All field trips align with Arizona state standards and topics include a Guided Nature/Bird Outing, Mammals of Arizona, and Science & Art Collide. The cost is $225 (reduced to $150 for Title 1 schools). The center also provides transportation scholarships for schools. 

·  In-Classroom Presentations: An Education Coordinator is available to speak to K-8 students about nature and ecology, and guide students through art lessons. All activities support the classroom curriculum and align with Arizona state science standards that give a new perspective on the wildlife that calls its campus home. Topics include Guided Nature/Bird Outing, Birds of the Valley, Campus Habitat Redesign, Urban Hummingbird Program (K-5) and Downtown Owls (6-8). The cost is $150 per 2-hour presentation and $100 per 1-hour presentation. For Title 1 schools, the cost is reduced to $120 per 2-hour presentation and $100 per 1-hour presentation.  

·  Girl Scout Patch Program: This program is offered to Girl Scouts to earn their bird badge where they will learn about bird sounds, crafts for birds, and go on a bird and nature outing. The cost is $15 per participant and includes a 3-hour workshop. Girl Scouts receive a badge at the end of the program.  

·  Science with Wings: This program aims to enhance biological science instruction in schools by using birds, their behaviors, and habitats to awaken environmental curiosity, hone data-gathering skills and increase the ability to ask and answer scientific questions intelligently. The program is directed toward students in grades 5-8. Teachers can download modules and request a box of binoculars to use from the center’s website. This resource is free for all teachers and educators. 

For more information on Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center and upcoming events, please visit https://riosalado.audubon.org/programs/education-programs.

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About Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center 

Audubon’s mission is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center is the Arizona headquarters of the Southwest office for the National Audubon Society. To learn more visit, www.riosalado.audubon.org.