Champions for Wildlife
Can you give us some insight into the mission and work of Champions for Wildlife?
Champions for Wildlife is all about wildlife, kids and art. A magic combination! We are dedicated to empowering children to make a positive impact on our planet's well-being through art, fostering a love for nature that extends to their families and communities. In 2 years, we have taught over 3,900 children throughout the State of NC about wildlife including pollinators, hellbenders, Red Wolves, bats, birds and wildlife in your backyard.
What are some of the ways you've observed children leaning in to become future advocates for wildlife and the natural world through the work you are doing?
Through our work, we've seen children harness their creativity and passion to become future advocates for wildlife and the natural world. From writing books and creating documentaries about Red Wolves using photos and videos from our Red Wolf Gallery to designing artwork for fundraising initiatives, children are finding innovative ways to raise awareness and effect change. One class wrote letters to the Governor to save Red Wolves.
By giving them a platform and amplifying their voices, we empower children to make a tangible impact on conservation efforts, demonstrating that even at a young age, they can be powerful agents of change.
And then there is the bug story! The first grader was bragging about stomping bugs in his backyard. After the art lesson where the kids "pretend flew" to chalk flowers to gather pollen on their cotton ball bee, they held some dead bees to look at them more closely.
Two weeks later, we were back to teach about the monarch butterfly migration to Mexico. While we were decorating butterflies to mail to a classroom in Mexico (part of a Symbolic Migration program), the same little bug-stomping boy came up and exclaimed, "I saved a bee!" "How?", we asked. He described seeing a bee drowning in their bird bath. So he scooped the bee up with his little hands and put it on the ground to dry. Then he went and got a rock and put it in the bird bath so the bees would have a place to land and not drown. This 7-year-old went from bug killer to bug buddy in 2 weeks!
The more you learn, the more you love, the more you protect. Learning about the importance of pollinators and maybe even holding dead bugs changed this boy's perception! Just one of the many cool things happening in our wildlife/art classes where, so far, we have taught over 3,900 kids throughout the State of NC.
We've witnessed some of the amazing work you do for our pollinators. Can you tell us more about your work with pollinator gardens and how you feel these gardens increase the future health of habitats?
Our work with pollinator gardens has been one of the most rewarding things we have done. Sixty-fifth graders helped design and plant a native pollinator garden at their school. Lessons on native plants, pollinators and how they are interconnected included cool art projects like painting butterfly wings and making wire sculptures for the garden.
We are also distributing native seed packets and collaborating with various organizations to create vital pathways and connectors for pollinators, fostering biodiversity and resilience in our environment. Our goal is to expand these efforts nationwide, creating a network of pollinator pathways that support habitat connectivity and ecosystem health on a broader scale.
Another initiative is to teach as many kids, and, through them, their families about the monarch butterfly migration. We have partnered with local conservation organizations to bring the Symbolic Monarch Migration program to our schools. The kids learn about monarchs and then decorate butterflies to send to schools in Mexico, where the butterflies overwinter.
How has the conservation community responded to all the work you are doing to inspire children to become future conservationists?
The conservation community has responded enthusiastically to our efforts, recognizing the importance of engaging children in environmental stewardship. We currently work with groups, including US Fish & Wildlife Services and Conserving Carolina, as well as collaborate with civic groups such as Kiwanis and Rotary. By involving schools and volunteers, we're building a network of allies dedicated to nurturing the next generation of conservationists and protecting our natural world.
What are some ways we can all inspire children to become advocates for protecting and connecting habitats in the future?
To inspire children to become advocates for protecting and connecting habitats, we must continue to foster their curiosity and connection to nature. By encouraging outdoor exploration, reading nature books, and actively listening to children's concerns, we empower them to use their voices and take action for environmental conservation. We will be rolling out a Kid's Corner on our website shortly and starting a Kids Club for children who want to actively make a difference. Together, we can cultivate a generation of passionate advocates committed to safeguarding habitats for future generations.
To learn more about Champions for Wildlife and how you can join their cause, please visit https://championsforwildlife.org/