Park Flight Program brings Education Intern to Cape May for Latino Outreach

NJ Audubon has been part of the Park Flight Migratory Bird Program since 2004. Each year, through our partnership with the NJ Coastal Heritage Trail Route, we have hosted interns from Latin America as part of the Park Flight Migratory Bird Program, a partnership between the National Park Service, National Park Foundation and others.  For the past two years, NJA staff have been working collaboratively with partners to more actively engage the latino communities in Cape May and Cumberland Counties in the plethora of children and family natural history programs offered at their 3 staffed centers in the area. 

“Engaging Latino Audiences in Informal Science Education” is a 3-year study funded by the National Science Foundation and led by Environment for the Americas (EFTA). This project examines the barriers to participation in natural science programs that are faced by Latino/Hispanic audiences. The IVIP will be involved in Year-2 of this project in Cape May, participating with the Harbor Fest event organizers by helping to organize, promote and present bird-focused activities for the Latino communities near the Park. The goal of the Latino Outreach Project is to increase the visibility of NJA programming to the Latino community and engage members of the community in science and nature education.  Additionally, our media outreach efforts seek to increase the number of Latinos attending Harbor Fest, our signature International Migratory Bird Day event for the public in Cape May County in June.  

We are excited to have Sara Beatriz Ocasio Ortiz with us this spring as our Education Intern.  Sara is a biologist from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras. During her studies she has studied in Spain as an exchange student, as well as participated in a summer research project at the University of Minnesota. Sara has worked in PR as an environmental educator and community organizer, promoting the conservation of the North-East Ecological Corridor (NEC), a pristine area of extraordinary biological and scenic value in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Her efforts are helping to create awareness in the local communities on the effects of habitat fragmentation of this important ecosystem on wildlife.  Sara also has experience in bird and amphibian research, including bird banding and frog studies.  Sara is an active member of the Puerto Rico Ornithological Society, participating in bird watching excursions and Christmas Bird Counts.  

During her stay in Cape May, Sara will be working with Dale Rosselet, VP Education, as well as Nature Center of Cape May Sanctuary Director Gretchen Whitman.  She will assist with New Jersey Audubon's environmental education outreach efforts to Latino communities in Cape May and Cumberland counties.  Sara has been presenting after school programs as part of the Vineland YMCA program in Cumberland County.  "I begin by telling students I am from Puerto Rico," she said.  "In one 4th grade class, a student lit up when hearing I was from his home country."  Her presentation introduces students to the variety of bird beaks, and their adaptations to their food and their environment.  Students then have the opportunity to make their own masks.  "My goal is to get the students outside, engaged in science and looking at the fauna,"  Sara says.  "I want to get them excited about looking at birds, and encourage them to explore natural areas."

Sara has been working with teaching staff of the Nature Center of Cape May, presenting programs to all student grade levels at local schools.  ESL (English as a Second Language) students have included Asian as well as Latino groups.  The last couple of weeks have been very rewarding.  "I enjoy interacting with kids and feeling the energy they transmit," she says.  "I'm excited to meet and work with professionals that are very passionate about their work.  I have participated in outstanding activities and events of NJ Audubon; it has been a great learning experience in so many ways." 

Sara will be here thru June, and is excited to have the opportunity to learn new education techniques that she can implement at home.  In October of this year, Sara plans to begin her Master Degree studies at the University of Munich, Germany, on an Ecology program for international students.  In her spare time, Sara enjoys photography and dancing ballet.