President's Corner
Two Grants Received By The Chapter Will Be Put To Good Use
by John Shenot
I'm excited to announce that FCAS received two grants this summer from the National Audubon Society (NAS) that will help make our chapter, and birding in general, more inclusive and welcoming to a wider audience. Every year, NAS invites local chapters to submit proposals in two categories: 1) collaborative grants of up to $1,000 for small projects, and 2) Audubon in Action Grants of $5,000 to $15,000 for bigger projects. This year, for the first time, we applied for and received both grants—and for the maximum dollar amounts possible!
For the smaller collaborative grant, FCAS will purchase new gear that will better enable people with disabilities to participate in the field trips our chapter sponsors. We also will offer a special field trip in Fall 2024 targeted to people with disabilities. We are already testing some equipment that we think will make our field trips much more feasible and enjoyable for people who use a wheelchair, or have hand tremors or visual impairments.
For the larger Audubon in Action Grant, FCAS will share expertise we've developed in Mindful Birding practices with Audubon chapter leaders nationwide through online and in-person workshops. Mindful Birding combines the joy of birding with the restorative and grounding practice of mindfulness.
The idea is to slow down, live in the moment, engage all our senses, connect what we sense with how we feel, and appreciate the joy and peace that the birds we observe give us—even if we don't know or care what species we're observing or whether it is common or rare. A growing body of re-search (to which FCAS contributes) is beginning to reveal that this practice yields tangible and measurable physical and mental health benefits. Dr. Barbara Patterson, a former member of our Board of Directors and a stalwart within the national Mindful Birding Network, will lead our efforts. The first workshop will be at Barr Lake outside Denver in early September.
