ABOUT THE OYBC
Sometimes you just gotta go birding!
The Ohio Young Birders Club is a program developed by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) in 2006 to encourage, educate, and empower our youth conservation leaders. Each month student members can participate in field trips to exciting places in Ohio. In addition to field trips and outings, members participate in service projects focused on habitat restoration and conservation projects such as building Barn Owl nest boxes and monitoring Bluebird trails.
The most inspiring event in conservation...
ANNUAL OHIO YOUNG BIRDERS CONFERENCE
The keystone event for The Ohio Young Birders Club is the annual Ohio Young Birders Conference. The event includes presentations by student members, a keynote address by a regional, national, or international youth conservation leader, and field trip outings. Because the event is such a powerful experience, the conference draws participants from throughout Ohio and many other states. The annual conference provides a venue for our members to present their experiences in a professional conference setting. The preparation and delivery of these presentations gives the youth a sense of pride, and boosts their self-confidence. Public speaking is an important career skill, and this conference is often the first exposure to this critical area of professionalism. Former OYBC members often reflect back on the conference experience as they apply for colleges and for employment. And for all members of the audience, students and adults, watching our youth conservation leaders deliver interesting and informative presentations is tremendously inspiring! This is especially true for the younger kids in the audience, as the conference provides an important and valuable opportunity to be educated and empowered by seeing their peers deliver these dynamic presentations.
**Please note our strictly enforced smoke-free, drug and alcohol-free policy at all Ohio Young Birders Club events and activities. We enforce a strict policy in regard to honorable behavior on every level of the Ohio Young Birders Club, including the language we use around our student members. We are dedicated not only to teaching young people about birds and nature, but teaching them how to live their lives with honor, integrity, and kindness, as well.
All adult OYBC advisors and field trip leaders complete an Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) background check.
GOALS OF THE CLUB
CLUB STRUCTURE
Sometimes you just gotta go birding!
The Ohio Young Birders Club is a program developed by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) in 2006 to encourage, educate, and empower our youth conservation leaders. Each month student members can participate in field trips to exciting places in Ohio. In addition to field trips and outings, members participate in service projects focused on habitat restoration and conservation projects such as building Barn Owl nest boxes and monitoring Bluebird trails.
The most inspiring event in conservation...
ANNUAL OHIO YOUNG BIRDERS CONFERENCE
The keystone event for The Ohio Young Birders Club is the annual Ohio Young Birders Conference. The event includes presentations by student members, a keynote address by a regional, national, or international youth conservation leader, and field trip outings. Because the event is such a powerful experience, the conference draws participants from throughout Ohio and many other states. The annual conference provides a venue for our members to present their experiences in a professional conference setting. The preparation and delivery of these presentations gives the youth a sense of pride, and boosts their self-confidence. Public speaking is an important career skill, and this conference is often the first exposure to this critical area of professionalism. Former OYBC members often reflect back on the conference experience as they apply for colleges and for employment. And for all members of the audience, students and adults, watching our youth conservation leaders deliver interesting and informative presentations is tremendously inspiring! This is especially true for the younger kids in the audience, as the conference provides an important and valuable opportunity to be educated and empowered by seeing their peers deliver these dynamic presentations.
**Please note our strictly enforced smoke-free, drug and alcohol-free policy at all Ohio Young Birders Club events and activities. We enforce a strict policy in regard to honorable behavior on every level of the Ohio Young Birders Club, including the language we use around our student members. We are dedicated not only to teaching young people about birds and nature, but teaching them how to live their lives with honor, integrity, and kindness, as well.
All adult OYBC advisors and field trip leaders complete an Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) background check.
GOALS OF THE CLUB
- Create a community for young birders throughout Ohio ~ and beyond!
- Promote volunteering and contributing through service projects
- Foster an interest in natural history and encourage young people to spend more time outside
- Introduce young people to career opportunities in the wildlife, research, and conservation fields
- Connect young birders with adult mentors willing to share their time, knowledge, and transportation!
- HAVING FUN!
CLUB STRUCTURE
- Founded in 2006 by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory
- A planning committee assisted by an OYBC youth advisory panel
- A website dedicated to OYBC members & supporters
- Partnerships with other regional and national organizations
- Six OYBC Chapters throughout the state of Ohio to provide a growing number of opportunities!