Home
»
January 2018
»
A Growing Partnership
January 8, 2018
This year marks the continuation of
a beneficial and enduring partnership between the Sacramento Tree
Foundation and the Center for Land Based Learning’s SLEWS program
(Student and Landowners Education and Watershed Stewardship). This year SacTree is hosting four educational
volunteer events for students participating in the SLEWS program. During these
events high school seniors learn about the importance of environmental
stewardship, gain practical skills for environmental field work and learn the science
behind conservation efforts. Recent events have focused on propagating native
plant species, identifying migrating water fowl and birds of prey and learning
about the intricate management strategies employed at the Stone Lakes National
Wildlife Refuge.
Spending time in the field with SacTree
staff, knowledgeable mentors and other environmental professionals helps
students gain the skills and perspective they will need to seek further
education or employment in environmental fields. Mentors range from recent
graduates to retired professionals and provide the students with varied and
valuable insight. Our most recent event gave students a chance to construct
raptor perches used to manage rodent populations on restoration sites. This
activity was paired with a survey of birds found during winter on the refuge.
Students were given binoculars and bird identification guides to help them to
fill out the survey used by refuge staff. Together we observed birds of prey,
ducks, geese and even Sandhill Cranes.
The opportunity for the students to
take the knowledge they have gained during the semester and see the real world
application is invaluable. Many students expressed their excitement and
gratitude; promising to come back and volunteer as soon as they could. The
enthusiasm of the students and mentors was contagious. Everyone left the event
with a big smile on their face and a new found interest in birding and conservation
efforts to preserve habitat.