looking for education /career recommendations

[Diana Beatty]

I am teaching a high school summer school birding class this month to students who have failed a lot of courses through the pandemic.  Topics will have a field science/ environmental science flavor but focus is birds and birding.

Anyway, I am hoping to spark some of these students' interest in going further either as a hobby or possibly a career direction.  I can compile some resources for those interested in it as a hobby.  But I am looking for some suggestions for those interested in pursuing a career path.  

Given that these students have struggled academically, going straight to 4-year competitive programs may not be the best fit for many of them.  So I am curious if anyone has recommendations for directions these kids could go if interested in wildlife or other field science-like career options - perhaps two year programs, perhaps ideas they could start straight out of high school, etc.  It doesn't have to be specifically birds  but thinking working outdoors and/or with flora/fauna/earth science or other field science flavor to it might be of interest.  If you have any suggestions that might fit this demographic let me know.  Would prefer programs in Colorado - the class is in Colorado Springs - but if something is particularly well-suited elsewhere I'd be happy to hear about it.

Diana Beatty

El Paso County

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All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.

[Mikele Painter]

Community colleges also offer 1- to 2-year programs in things like biology, zoology, wildland fire science, outdoor leadership and recreation, and water resources.

[Mikele Painter]

Youth Conservation Corps groups can be a great step towards a career in natural resources. Here's a link to the Colorado Youth Corps Association... https://www.cyca.org/join-a-corps/

For those that have the flexibility and support to do it, volunteering with a natural resources group or agency is also a great way to get practical experience when one is just starting out. Ideas include CPW, county open space departments, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, city parks departments, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Audubon chapters, US Forest Service, National Park Service, etc.

On Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 8:00:32 AM UTC-6 otowi...@gmail.com wrote:

[Laura Eley]

I facilitate career exploration for Denver Public School students. I don't have any specific suggestions of agencies in your area, I would encourage you to reach out to any local places like state parks, Fish & Wildlife, community colleges, and the state Workforce Development Center and see if they can send anyone to do 'career chats' with your students either live or virtually. If you want to send me an email, I can send you some ideas for how to reach out to community partners, how to set up a career chat, etc. And I have a couple contacts for Denver-area folks that might do a zoom with your students.  Also, if you can get the students out in the field, especially with an expert, I think that would be very powerful. My email address is my first and last name AT gmail.

~Laura Eley