The Education Department of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Waterford Press recently announced their partnership in providing materials to teachers around the country as part of the Lab’s BirdSleuth program. Both groups are believers in the benefit of getting kids outside and learning about the world around them; this partnership demonstrates the shared focus of both Waterford and the Lab.

As a strong supporter of the Lab’s programs over the past 2 years, Waterford has donated over 1,000 of its bestselling Pocket Naturalist® Guides and has arranged to make specially-priced Classroom packs of its guides available to teachers and others interested in the BirdSleuth curricula. The Most Wanted Birds module of the BirdSleuth program has introduced many educators and students to habitats, diversity, the importance of collecting and sharing data, as well as investigating their own biology questions.

BirdSleuth is designed to give students experience with the scientific process: observing, collecting data, asking questions, drawing conclusions through research and observation, and publishing results. In this way, students become practicing scientists. Each fall the Lab publishes a student research journal, Classroom BirdScope, along with a twice-annual supplement called BirdSleuth Reports, which both feature student research and creative work.

James Kavanagh, President of Waterford Press said, “Environmental education begins when we learn to appreciate the plants and animals in our immediate environment. When we start to care about local species – which often begins by learning their names – we take the first step towards appreciating and understanding our place within the ecosystem.”