Youth and Families - San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory - San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory

Environmental Education for Youth and Families

The future of bird conservation depends on the kids of today. That’s why we offer free opportunities for Bay Area youth and families to learn about avian science. Check out our activities below and contact [email protected] to learn more and schedule a program.

Family Science Programs

We offer events that engage kids ages 6 to 12 and their families in avian conservation through hands-on crafts and science activities. We partner with libraries, schools, and youth groups such as Scouts and Boys and Girls Clubs to offer these programs. Check out our upcoming events to look for free public programs.

Some of our virtual activities have been recorded. Check these out:

Family Science: Bird Banding with San Jose Public Library, 2020
Bird Scavenger Hunt with opening event and closing event for the Bay Area Science Festival, 2020
Migratory Bird Scavenger Hunt and event with wildlife photographer Jeff Young for World Migratory Bird Day, 2021

Curriculum

Coyote Creek Field Station Education Module: We developed a middle school curriculum for teachers to showcase our Coyote Creek Field Station bird banding program. Students analyze bird capture data collected at Coyote Creek Field Station and investigate how environmental and human impacts can influence bird migration patterns and population trends in the Bay Area of California. The curriculum is freely accessible, and when funding is available, it can be paired with a field trip to the banding station.

From Birds Eye View with Marshmallow Minds: We partnered with Marshmallow Minds, a nonprofit that provides free and affordable Design Thinking and STEAM education to kids, to develop curriculum that engages students with birds, science, and engineering through hands-on activities and problem solving. For 4th-6th grade students, we have a Threats to Migratory Birds curriculum that introduces students to numerous threats that migratory birds face, focusing on the problem of bird strikes with human-made structures. With hands-on STEAM kits, students learn to use circuits and code a blinking light as a method to reduce bird strikes. We are currently developing freely accessible lessons and can provide kits when funding is available. Check out this video to learn more. We have also introduced a new field trip component for students to get first-hand experience with restoring habitat for birds.

Bird Banding Demonstrations

Between April 15-October 15, we are able to host groups at Coyote Creek Field Station for bird banding demonstrations. This special experience gives participants the opportunity to see birds up close in the hand! Participants get to see each step of the bird banding process and learn why we band birds and what information we learn from collecting banding data.

Kids Bird Art Contest

We hold an annual Kids Bird Art Contest for people ages 3-17. Kids are asked to go outside and observe birds in nature, and then create a piece of artwork that reflects experience and captures their observations. Submissions are typically due in the fall, and prizes are awarded in different age categories. Learn more about participating in the Kids Bird Art Contest.

Thank you to supporters for making our youth education programs possible. Funding for our programs in recent years has come from the Applied Materials Foundation, Cargill, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Swantz Family Foundation, Open Space Authority, Valley Water, and individual donors. If you’d like to support our efforts, please consider donating so we can continue engaging kids and their families throughout the Bay Area with birds and science!