Young Birders

Young Birders2024-02-22T13:19:11-05:00

Michigan Young Birders Camp
June 23–28, 2024

We are pleased to continue to connect young people with the diverse bird communities of the Great Lakes region for the seventh year. Michigan Audubon hopes to reach more young birders, ages 13–18, during this week filled with exciting bird and conservation adventures.

The 2024 Michigan Young Birders Camp (MYBC) will be held June 23–28 at Alma College. Participants will travel around the state, visiting different habitats and important bird areas. Throughout camp, we’ll discuss bird conservation topics, identification tips and techniques, and hear from guest speakers on topics related to birds.

MYBC costs $650 per camper, which includes lodging, food, transportation during camp, camp materials, and camper swag. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.

Michigan Audubon will begin accepting applications on December 8, 2023, at 9 a.m. No money is required to apply. All applicants will be contacted to discuss the next steps. Applications will be accepted through May 1, 2024, or until spaces are filled.

Please contact us with any questions at events@michiganaudubon.org or 517-580-7364.

My favorite experiences at camp were when I realized that everyone there was like me, and every person there knew so much and loved to share. At camp I could be myself and talk as much about birds as I wanted, and I met so many people who were kind, and included me in a way that I felt like close friends would do. I also learned so much about why conserving birds is important, and the experience was incredible. Holding wild birds and getting the chance to learn different ways to identify them was so cool. I will definitely go next year! (Update: She did!)

Natalie W., MYBC 2018 & 2019

I learned a lot, had fun, and made new friends!! So hard to pick a favorite thing but I liked learning about banding and doing hands on set-up and handling birds, I also loved the raptor rehab center and hearing the director of Michigan Audubon. My favorite educational speaker was the raptor presentation! I learned so many useful things about raptors and raptor ID that I didn’t know!

Grace D., MYBC 2018

This camp was definitely the highlight of my summer! Having the opportunity to meet new people just like me and share my experiences with kids my age was so exciting and astonishing! Before I applied for the camp, I had the thought that there was no one out there my age who enjoyed birds as much as I do, and it turned out that there was a whole group of extraordinary individuals. My favorite part of the camp was sharing my skills and knowledge among the campers and learning loads of new information about birds. Knowing that I was going to be a part of a new and fresh program, I had faith that everything was going to run smoothly, and it did! Overall, it was one of the most fun and exciting activities of my life. It’ll definitely be a memory I won’t forget. 

Ethan U., MYBC 2018

The camp was an amazing experience, where I not only got to have fun with birding and related activities, but met so many awesome people. Before the camp I barely knew any young birders, or even people my age interested in the natural world, but now I do. It’s definitely worth it, even if you’re not sure at first whether it’s for you.

Benji S., MYBC 2018

I loved camp and never thought that I would meet other friends that loved and knew about birds like me!  I thought going out into the field was very educational and made me feel like a biologist. I would participate in this camp again!

Lydia W., MYBC 2018

Camp was definitely my favorite part of my summer. I loved learning new things and getting a better idea of what conservation work looks like. Although maybe getting up at 4:30 a.m. wasn’t a ton of fun at the time, now I look back with fondness at the experience. I also met a lot of interesting people, some of whom I still talk to now!

Maddie H., 2022 MYBC

My favorite experience was going up to Grayling and seeing the Kirtland’s Warbler, a bird that mainly breeds in Michigan. We got great views and that was amazing. Another great experience was going to Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and seeing Black Terns flying right above me. The Black Tern was a bird I had been trying to see for a while and finally seeing them was unbelievable.

Travis K., MYBC 2018

Your support is needed!

Through experiences that develop expertise in avian natural history, native ecology, conservation values, and special topics in ornithology, camp participants gain a rich foundation on which to successfully nurture their passion for the natural world while fostering lasting relationships with their peers and mentors in conservation and birding.  

We rely on the support of generous sponsors like you to help fund these education programs, including the Michigan Young Birders Camp (MYBC).  Your gift supports our camp, yes, but it also directly supports these kids who are looking forward to a bird-driven, once-in-a-lifetime learning experience this summer! Your sponsorship gift will go entirely to both ensuring as many students are offered full scholarships as possible as well as providing equipment, software, curriculum resources, and materials for our campers to have a fully supported, positive experience.

You can donate directly to MYBC here or you can create your own fundraising page. This is a fantastic way to share your passion for Michigan birds with your friends and family and encourage their support of conservation education through MYBC. Creating your fundraising page is quick and easy and will help us reach our goal of $15,000 for each camp. Creating a fundraising page for MYBC is as simple as filling out our form to set a fundraising goal, add a photo, and share your story. A Michigan Audubon will follow up with your personalized fundraising page link. To get started, click here.

On behalf of birds and the kids this camp aims to serve, thank you so very much for your support!

Michigan Young Birders Network

The Michigan Young Birders Network is a program of Michigan Audubon that aims to connect young birders, ages 13–18, offering a space for them to share their enthusiasm for the avian world. The network is managed by young birders who contribute to the programming, content, and community, which focuses on connecting and educating young birders about birds and conservation.

How do you learn more about getting involved in the MYBN?

Are you ready to join MYBN? You can start your adventure by filling out our MYBN Interest Form.

Please contact Manager of Education and Events Lindsay Cain at lcain@michiganaudubon.org or (517) 580-7364 with any questions.

Bird by Bird

The Bird by Bird program connects young people with birds and the natural world through classroom-based lessons and activities, and bird feeding and monitoring activities. This birding and avian-conservation curriculum enhances health and well-being, fosters respect for wildlife and their habitats, and helps young people to develop responsible long-term environmental behaviors.

Each Bird by Bird school helps to install and maintain a bird feeding station where students can learn to identify and observe birds and collect community science data. The participating teachers work to incorporate birds and conservation into their curriculum while providing a library of bird identification and resource guides.

Bird by Bird Michigan is facilitated by passionate and knowledgeable Michigan Audubon volunteers and staff. Facilitators help teachers with curriculum, visit the classroom with lessons and activities, and provide support with student equipment training, bird/nature walks, and special projects.

No funds are required from participating schools. Michigan Audubon provides bird feeding equipment, bird seed, bird identification and resource guides, and all materials for facilitated lessons and activities.

Teacher requirements:

  • Commit to a full school year in the program with 5-8 facilitator visits throughout the year
  • Install and maintain bird feeding/watching equipment on school grounds
  • Attend a beginning of the school year training meeting and an end of the year wrap up meeting
  • Provide program feedback through a survey form
  • Teach fifth grade – Michigan Audubon is only working with fifth-grade classrooms at this time
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