Williamsburg Bird Club

It’s time to apply for Nature Camp scholarships! The educational camp in the George Washington National Forest has, for many years, offered opportunities for nature-loving students to learn about our Virginia environment and strategies for protecting it. During October, the Williamsburg Bird Club is accepting applications for scholarships for Summer 2027 sessions.

The Bill Williams Nature Camp scholarships, valued at $1,000 each, offer environmental opportunities for students in James City County, upper York County, and Williamsburg. A committee evaluates the applications to choose recipients who exemplify the ideals of Williamsburg Bird Club.

Nature Camp, a two-week, co-educational, academic camp in Vesuvius, Virginia, emphasizes education in natural history and environmental studies. It is intended for those seeking a science/nature experience. Campers will attend class daily, maintain a notebook, complete written projects, and participate in outdoor activities.

If you know of a student in grades 5-12, who loves nature and would enjoy a two-week session at Nature Camp, please encourage them to download an application from the Williamsburg Bird Club website and return it by October 31. https://williamsburgbirdclub.org/about/nature-camp-scholarships/

If you missed a meeting (from February 22, 2022 on), you can watch the Zoom session on the Williamsburg Bird Club’s YouTube channel.

Consider subscribing to our channel!

Since the beginning of the Williamsburg Bird Club in 1977, the Club has had a relationship with the local public library, the Williamsburg Regional Library. We have donated funds to the library so they could add bird-related books, and, later, cassettes, CD’s, DVDs, and eBooks to their collection. A list of those titles can be found at 40-Plus Years of Donations to the Williamsburg Regional Library. Note that there is now a “carousel” of book covers on that page of bird-related items available at the library. If you click on the titles, you will be taken to the record for that title in the library’s catalog for possible check out. This is another great way the club and the library have partnered.

The Williamsburg Bird Club was organized with the purpose of promoting interest in the study of wild birds; protecting birds and their habitat; and sharing the joy of birding with others. To do so, the Club supports the goals of many birding partners, including these listed on our website under links: Virginia Society of Ornithology, Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory, The Center for Conservation Biology, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Recently the Virginia Society of Ornithology posted the following statement which the Williamsburg Bird Club also endorses:

The Virginia Society of Ornithology recognizes the unique challenges people of color can face in all aspects of society, and that includes birding and other outdoor pursuits. Enjoyment of birds and all facets of the natural world is everyone’s right, equally and without bias. As our ongoing commitment, we will continue to promote participation from people of all backgrounds and ethnicities in our field trips, youth programs, and all other VSO activities. Through diversity we are stronger, wiser and better able to face the challenges of declining bird populations and environmental degradation.

Check out this article which highlights Black Birders Week, with insightful comments from Dr. Drew Lanham, Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Clemson University:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/06/05/black-birders-week

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