Foremost among the goals of our educational program is bringing this opportunity to students outside of our historical reach, both geographically as well as resource-wise. Our ability to further the educational impact of the Center’s mission relies significantly on support from advocates, like-minded organizations, and the generous support of our community. Partnerships with Friends of Coastal SC’s Earth Stewards program and through support provided by grants from conscientious donors such as the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation, extend the reach of our conservation message into Georgetown County Schools (including traditionally underserved students at Title I schools) this year. Additional public support from the Daniel Island Community Fund and others allow the Center to pursue similar partnerships for Berkeley and Charleston County Title I schools.

Key to these partnerships is our ability to offer meaningful programs that align with classroom lessons in biology, environmental science, conservation, and habitat/ecosystems lessons among others. In July and August of this year, the Center’s education staff and interns worked to complete a review and update of state educational content standards to create new customized lesson plans for elementary level programs. Doing so provides teachers across all elementary levels opportunity to seamlessly align in-class content with the Center’s programs through engrossing hands-on lessons that incorporate the excitement of live birds of prey. It is through the synergy of using the birds we serve to inspire conservation, a love for science, and the wonders of our natural world to inspire future generations that we are truly able to witness the essence of the Center’s vision fulfilled!