PBS KIDS loves the great outdoors!  And PBS stations across the country are marking Earth Day with special programming and community engagement events as part of PBS KIDS Explore the Outdoors Week, April 20-24, 2015.

In Ohio, WOUB Public Media hosted a half-day workshop for local families – “Explore the Amazing World of Birds,” at the Athens Public Library.

Inspired by the WILD KRATTS Creative Adventures and the DINOSAUR TRAIN Nature Trackers Club, WOUB produced an educational outdoor birding adventure to teach local families to use their senses to listen, observe, identify, and record their observations.

Each family in attendance received the book The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, as well as a WILD KRATTS nature journal for them to record their observations while on a bird walk. WOUB brought in two nationally known bird experts --Julie Zickefoose and Bill Thompson III -- to help the children and their parents better understand the science of birding, and to lead families on the walk. Naturalist Bob Placier also demonstrated the bird banding process.

Back at the library after the walk, WOUB helped families access free WILD KRATTS and other PBS KIDS mobile apps based on math and science to inspire children and their families to continue to explore the world of natural science (and birding) after the event.

The free event was a great success with full capacity attendance; close to 40 children (and 25 families) took part and came away with a keen interest and knowledge in birds and their importance to our environment. WOUB administered a pre-test and post-test about birds to each family, all of whom came through the post-test with “flying” colors. A second event is planned due to the popularity of the first, with over 100 families already expressing interest. 

WOUB’s bird workshop complements the station’s overall commitment to STEM education, which includes curriuclum-based outreach programs, on-air content and interstitials, and partnerships with other STEM education-oriented community organizations.