My arrival at the Bird Education Network Gathering’s designated location was made after a long day’s joruney across the United States and under the cover of night. However even through travel weary eyes I could tell that I had arrived in a place unlike any I had ever been before. While I have travelled across the face of the globe from Asia to Europe, I can honestly say that I have never found anything even remotely similar to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel on Jekyll Island, Georgia.
The hotel’s full history is a long and storied one – far too long to recount here. Suffice it to say that with it’s grounds populated by Live Oaks hung with Spanish Moss (more on that topic at a later date), lush manicured gardens, magnificent Queen Anne style architecture, and walking paths leading through historically preserved reminders of days-gone-by, the visitor is instantly transported to a setting most have only ever found depicted on the paged of some of American literature’s classic novels.
As the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is a four star property, its selection for the BEN conference was a bit of surprise; however the BEN person or committee responsible for negotiating the package offered to attendees of the conference is to be highly commended for their excellent work as I have commonly been required to spend more to stay at one of the commonly used chain motels that proliferate throughout our nations cities and towns.
However make no mistake – those attending the gathering did not do so for a vacation. A host of serious topics pertaining to all aspects of bird conservation and education are included on the agenda for the gathering. Some of the most influential figures in the world of modern bird watching and bird conservation have come to address the assembled teachers, researchers, refuge and nature center managers, and others on what has been done and what still needs to be done to further both the causes of conservation and bird study at all levels of participation.
What is my role in the gathering you may ask? Indeed you certainly may. I’m attending to bring the attention of those assembled to the innovative products offered by the Mitch Waite Group – iBird Explorer, Winged Explorer, and WhatBird.com – and to discuss how they can be successfully incorporated into bird education programs at all levels.
