Educational Outreach at Henderson Trails Day Celebration
Submitted by: Billy Chapman
The morning air was cool and calm at the Henderson Pavilion as I began setting up the Red Rock Audubon Society’s booth. With enthusiastic assistance from adjacent participants, setting up the sunscreen was a snap. As I began organizing the materials to be handed out to visitors, I wondered what the day would be like, handing out brochures, magazines, and miscellaneous information about bird watching and conservation of habitat. By 8:45 a.m., setup was complete and the first visitors started to arrive.
Marilyn Mackett and I greeted several curious visitors with our handouts at the ready. Our warm and friendly welcoming expressions turned out to be enough to motivate conversation that resulted in the kind of visitor questioning that, in turn, became an opportunity for educational outreach. The visitors departed with gestures of excitement about furthering their bird watching activities.
Almost immediately, other visitors stepped right into our booth, and being drawn by the striking displays of bird photos on two large panels, they began to ask questions about birding activity in Southern Nevada. Their questions were met with enthusiasm and lots of relevant information. Free materials were distributed to them and the items for sale were briefly described. Some sales transacted. The onrush of visitors did not let up! We found ourselves being continuously busy, answering pertinent questions and informing individuals about the hot spots for birding in the Las Vegas valley.
As the day wore on, the predicted gusty winds showed up on schedule. For the remainder of the morning and particularly after Pam Nickels (President) arrive to help out, the winds reaped havoc on all display stations. However, we were not swayed too greatly by the relentless gusts. Our program goals were reached: to connect with the public, distribute educational information, and extend an invitation to participate in our club activities, monthly meetings, and field trips. Many visitors signed up for future e-mail contacts, which meant that the day spent at the Henderson Trails Day Celebration was a worthwhile event of educational outreach.
