A New Starting Point for Diversity and Conservation Education
by Flisa Stevenson, Senior Manager, Flying WILD

How can we engage more diverse audiences in conservation and environmental education, outdoor recreation and natural resource issues?
 
This was the question streaming through the recent diversity conference, "Breaking the Color Barrier in the Great American Outdoors," held in Atlanta, GA in late September 2009.
 
The intent of the conference was to change the perception of who is a conservationist.  Discussions highlighted the history and role of diverse people in the conservation movement --some of these stories are now documented in the new Ken Burns film about our National Parks on PBS.  The core conference program intended to show federal and state agencies, and NGO's that minorities and urban populations do care and are actively involved in conservation but the motivation and message may be different; to learn, share, and discuss strategies and stories on how to communicate with and engage more people (especially youth) from diverse backgrounds back to experiencing the natural world and becoming actively involved in conservation.
 
Don't let the title mislead you. This conference was not just a gathering of minorities. It was one of the most inclusive and diverse gatherings of conservation minded folks I have ever attended.  I wish all of you reading this article could have been there.
 
Over 200 attendees from the National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife, US Forest Service, Sierra Club, REI, Nature Conservancy, diverse youth conservation groups, numerous environmental education NGO's, academics from colleges and universities across the county, and volunteers and interested elders were present.

 

There was a thoughtful panel on birding and bird education. The speakers included Dudley Edmondson, Raptor Works, John Robinson, author & bird watcher, Drew Lanham, Prof. Clemson University (research on songbird ecology and conservation), and Darryl A. Perkins, Master Falconer. 

The discussion suggested that bird educators need a consistent and encouraging message that links to education, careers, and community to reach parents, teachers, community leaders and youth to help parents, teachers, and community leaders find relevance in what their kids are pursuing in relation to conservation activities and outdoor recreation like birding. The presence of the well attended birding session at this diversity conference underscored the relevant and enjoyable contribution bird education plays in broadening participation in conservation.  

Special attention was given to acknowledging the emerging powerful political and social force of Generation WE. This was one of the most impressive and heart opening sessions helping to bust many popular myths and misconceptions about diverse population's lack of interests in conservation and the environment. Officials and conference attendees were able to have frank and informative conversations with close to 100 diverse members of this age group from across the country--already actively engaged in conservation. We learned about the issues of importance, the methods of communications and ways we can better work with and serve the needs of this important demographic.
 
Community engagement and empowerment expressed through youth leadership, careers, and service were continually underscored as the creative elements necessary to engaging diverse audiences in conservation education and issues. 

Youth leadership - Careers - Service

"They are a generation that appears to be unique in American and world history-a generation that is incredibly well prepared to tackle the huge challenges we are facing.  They are often known as the Millennial generation. Born between 1978 and 2000, the Millennials currently include 95 million young people up to 30 years of age-the biggest age cohort in the history of the nation. They are smart, well educated, open-mined, and independent-politically, socially and philosophically. They are also a caring generation, one that appears ready to put the greater good ahead of individual rewards. And they are already spearheading a period of sweeping change in America and around the world."
 
Eric Greenberg with Karl Weber
--Generation WE