Introduction
As our mission states, Birds Connect Seattle advocates and organizes for cities where people and birds thrive. Our board of directors has affirmed that the fight to protect birds and nature is not separate from the fight for equity and justice, and to succeed at one we must succeed at both. This work needs everyone—board, staff, members, and volunteers—pulling in the same direction and committed to change.
Hoot Camp is a series of educational workshops, refreshed and offered annually, intended to ensure that Birds Connect Seattle programming is welcoming, safe, and inclusive for all. Hoot Camp was created in direct response to feedback from community members and volunteers, who shared they did not always feel welcome when participating in our programs. While these trainings are an important step to promoting a more inclusive culture, Hoot Camp is only the beginning. This work has the power to be transformational over time, and will require consistent practice and effort.
Investing in People
Birds Connect Seattle volunteers have powered impressive conservation accomplishments throughout the organization’s long history. They have created a close community that cares about birds.
While we now have a professional staff, volunteer leaders continue to represent Birds Connect Seattle and the organization’s values in almost every activity and program we offer. In The Nature Shop, leading a field trip or Neighborhood Bird Outing, serving on the board or a working committee, or volunteering for a youth education activity, volunteers are in a position to demonstrate those values, and are a vital connection to the organization for the public. Birds Connect Seattle celebrates the importance of these roles, and as an organization, have has an obligation to support volunteers’ success in fulfilling the mission, just as we do for our staff.
All staff and all volunteers in leadership roles, or who interact with the public, are encouraged to attend Hoot Camp workshops. Attendance at Hoot Camp will be required in order to volunteer for certain roles starting in 2023.
Information for Participants
HOOT CAMP 2023 SCHEDULE (for in-person event only)
Hoot Camp 2023: Saturday, October 28 from 10:00a.m.-2:30p.m.
Location: Phinney Neighborhood Center Community Hall (brick building)
10:00a.m. – Welcome
10:15-11:15a.m. – Rex Holbein and Blair Jordan from Facing Homelessness
11:15-11:30a.m. – Break
11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. – White Supremacy Culture with Erin Dury (for white attendees) or Joy Actualization Workship with Nacala Ayele (for BIPOC attendees)
1:00-1:30p.m. – LUNCH
1:30-2:15p.m. – Recognizing an overdose and what to do with Anthony Floyd
2:15-2:30p.m. – Closing
BEFORE HOOT CAMP
In order to make the most of our time together, we have prepared a few pre-work activities to prime everyone for the evergreen Hoot Camp topics. The sessions below are offered on an ongoing basis. Other sessions, particularly those with guest presenters, will not have make-up sessions on offer.
Recognizing Implicit Bias (2022 Session)
Please complete at least two of the tests at Harvard’s Project Implicit site: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
We’d like everyone to complete the Race IAT, and then another test of your choosing.
Conservation Communications pre-work (Evergreen Session)
Step 1: Complete the pre-training assessment survey if you did NOT already complete it in spring 2021 .
Step 2: Watch the four conservation training videos linked below (no passwords needed; all videos set to public viewing)
- Threats to Habitat (9 minutes) | Handout for Video 1
- Climate Change (5 minutes) | Handout for Video 2
- Bird-Safe Cities (8 minutes) | Handout for Video 3
- Conservation Communication (17 minutes) | Handout for Video 4
Step 3: Complete the post-training assessment survey
Field Safety pre-work (Evergreen Session)
- Please watch at least three of the videos in this collection. They’re short and thought-provoking – feel free to watch them all!
- Consider these questions (no need to write anything down or send us your answers):
-Think through a time when you felt awkward, left out, or excluded in a group setting. How did it make you feel? What, specifically, made you feel this way?
-Think about a time when you joined a new group and you felt embraced. What, specifically, made you feel this way?
ELIGIBLE VOLUNTEERS
All volunteers who serve in either leadership (board, commitees) or public facing (Nature Shop, field trips, Neighborhood Bird Outings, community science leaders) are encouraged to participate in these inclusive leadership trainings. These volunteers will receive Save-the-Date messages annually, and will be invited to online make-up sessions if they are unavailable to attend the annual in-person session.
If you are not currently a part of one of the above volunteer groups but would like to attend Hoot Camp, that’s wonderful! Please contact Christine Scheele at christines@birdsconnectsea.org to learn more.
Hoot Camp Online Make-Up Sessions
If you were unable to attend the in-person session, or if you are a new volunteer, please sign up for the following online sessions for 2023 (note there are two session of each training and you only need to sign up for one of the sessions):
September 13 from 6:30-7:45pm – Field Safety
September 26 from 10:00-11:00am – Conservation Communication
October 11 from 12:00-1:00pm – Implicit Bias
Hoot Camp 2021 Recap
What we learned from our first Hoot Camp in November 2021, and what we are for planning next.
Environmental Education for All
Nature Camp is spreading its wings! We are excited to announce that for the summer of 2024, Nature Camp will be offered at new locations across Birds Connect Seattle’s service area.
Volunteers Assemble at Hoot Camp
Volunteer leaders for Birds Connect Seattle assembled at the organization’s annual Hoot Camp to help make our events and programs more enjoyable, safe, and inclusive.
Honor Snoqualmie Request
No longer a barrier, our new name represents an open door for new communities to join us in our mission to advocate and organize for cities where people and birds thrive.