Tulsa Audubon is pleased to announce we are offering two full scholarships to a young birder to attend a youth birding camp in the summer of 2013. There are several such camps in different parts of the country and the scholarship can be applied to any of these. The eligible camps are outlined below. Some excellent discussion on youth birding camps can be found on this Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/youngbirders

More good info can be found on the American Birding Associations Young Birder's Blog:

http://birding.typepad.com/youngbirders/

To be eligible, you must meet these criteria:

- Live in the general Tulsa area

- Be between 14-18 years old (as of June 1st, 2013)

- Be willing to provide a short report (about 10 minutes) at a TAS meeting

To apply, please provide these three things:

Write an essay (approximately 500 words) answering these questions: What is the importance of birds to you, why is birding an important activity for you, and how does it make you a better conservationist?

List your five greatest achievements to date. (These need not be bird-related.)

Provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher, parent or an adult birding friend that should cover what they know about your commitment to birds and birding.

The deadline to apply is February 12, 2013. (This is early, but these camps fill up very fast!) The winner will be announced at the February 19th TAS meeting.

The scholarship will cover the camp fee. Transportation and other incidental expenses will be paid by the camper or his/her family. Additional funding to help with transportation may be available on an as needed basis.

Application at: http://tulsaaudubon.org/Youth-Scholarship-2013.pdf

Entries, including the above information, should be returned to John Kennington.
They can be emailed to johnkennington@gmail.com or mailed to 11224 S. 83 E. Ave., Bixby, OK 74008

ABA's Camp Colorado July 21-27, 2013 $1,095

http://events.aba.org/camp-colorado/#more-478

Location: Based out of Estes Park, Colorado, but traveling to different parts of the region.
Leaders: Bill Schmoker, Jennie Duberstein, Bill Stewart, Jeffrey Gordon, Liz Gordon, and others. Description: 2012 Camp Colorado has found a new home at the YMCA of the Rockies in heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Each day campers will explore the different birds, habitats, and ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Front Range, including Rocky Mountain National Park and the Pawnee National Grassland. Hikes, field trips, workshops, and guest lectures about a variety of birding and bird conservation topics will combine to create a truly exceptional experience. Campers will find plenty of opportunities to take their birding skills to a new level, meet other young people with similar interests, and learn about the diverse birdlife and natural history of the Rocky Mountains. Target species we hope to encounter include White-tailed Ptarmigan, Dusky Grouse, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Cassin's Finch, Black Swift, Violet-green Swallow, Swainson's Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Burrowing Owl, McCown's and Chestnut-collared longspurs, and MacGillivray's Warbler, to name just a few. Campers will be housed in comfortable dormitory-style lodges and enjoy 3 all-you-can eat buffet meals per day. In addition to the incredible birding and nature study opportunities in Estes Park, the location will also provide wonderful true camp-like recreational activities such as swimming, campfires, volleyball and so much more!

VENT's Camp Chiricahua August 6-17, 2013 TBA, approx. $1,350 http://www.ventbird.com/birding-tour/2013/08/06/camp-chiricahua

Location: southeastern Arizona (Tucson, Portal, Sierra Vista)
Leaders: Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis
Description: Camp Chiricahua presents young birders with an extraordinary opportunity to share a mutual love of birds and nature in one of the greatest natural history locations in North America- southeastern Arizona. The primary focus of the camp is on the rich birdlife of the region, but we will also explore all aspects of nature, and spend time learning about habitats and ecosystems. Campers do not need to be expert birders, but should possess an interest in birds and nature. Campers should expect to see most of the special birds of southeast Arizona, including such sought-after species as Elegant Trogon, a good variety of hummingbirds, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and Red-faced Warbler. Evening night drives will provide additional opportunities for mammals, reptiles, and insects.

Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens June 16-21, 2013 and June 23-28, 201 $995 http://hogisland.audubon.org/bird-studies-teens#Programs

Location: Hog Island, Maine
Leaders (vary depending on session, but to include): Scott Weidensaul, Heather Richards, Doug Wentzel, Josh Potter, Stephen Kress, Don Kroodsma, Sara Morris, Pete Salmansohn, Susan Schubel, Bill Thompson III, Peter Vickery, and Julie Zickefoose
Description: During this intensive 6-day, 5-night program on Hog Island, some of the country's best known birders and ornithologists will lead sessions on field identification, bird song recognition, and conservation practices. This program includes the opportunity to observe Audubon's seabird conservation field research in action, and is the only Hog Island program that lands participants on Eastern Egg Rock during the puffin breeding season.

There are also two camps in the Seattle area. See http://bit.ly/tas-birding-camps for all camp possibilities.