Duck Box Program:

One of the Conservancy’s longest running programs, the duck box program at LRWC gives interested high-school students the opportunity to maintain and monitor over 40 duck boxes utilized by nesting wood ducks, hooded mergansers, and a variety of other wildlife.  Students also have the opportunity to begin their own monitoring program by installing duck boxes on their school or organization’s property. 

Guided Tours:

Guided tours of the Conservancy are available in the fall and spring months to give visitors an opportunity to observe the changing seasons at LRWC.  Fall tours provide an excellent opportunity to watch male ducks transform from subtle summer plumages to bright, showy winter plumage used to attract mates.  Spring tours are an excellent chance to learn about nesting, incubation, and hatching of waterfowl.  Both spring and fall tours give visitors the opportunity to learn about the Conservancy, our birds, and our research and conservation efforts.  Tours can be customized for specific age levels or interest groups. For more information on tours please visit the Tours section of our site. 

 

Incubator in a Classroom Program:

The most popular program offered by the LRWC, Incubator in a Classroom offers students the opportunity to learn about incubation, hatching and the development of young birds within their own classroom.  The LRWC provides everything needed to successfully incubate and hatch quail eggs, and raise chicks for the first few week of life.  Periodic visits from staff and volunteer ‘eggsperts’ help students set up the incubator, check the eggs for fertility, and insure that the recently hatched chicks are off to a good start.  Eggsperts explain the processes the students are observing and answer student questions.  The chicks are returned to the Conservancy at the end of the program, relieving teachers from having the find homes for the birds.  Tailored primarily for elementary and middle-school students, the incubator program can also be adapted for high school students.

Waterfowl Diversity Program:

What’s better than a live animal for capturing the attention of students and creating awareness?  Nothing but more than one live animal!  The LRWC is currently developing a waterfowl diversity program with hand-raised, imprinted waterfowl for elementary and middle-school classroom education.  These feathered ambassadors will be living and breathing representatives of diversity and reminders of the need to conserve wetlands locally, nationally, and internationally.  Students will have the opportunity to connect with wildlife without the distractions of leaving the classroom.  Waterfowl diversity programs are also available for older students and adults.  Please e-mail the Director of Aviculture and Education for more information.

 

General Bird Program:

The adaptations and special features of birds like feathers, eggs, beaks, and hollow bones make them a particularly interesting group of animals.  The general bird program introduces elementary school students to the fascinating world of birds through the integration of hands-on tactile items and the presentation of a live bird.  The general bird program meshes well with biodiversity and wildlife lessons.