DOWNEAST AUDUBON HOLDS CONTEST FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS TO WIN SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $4,600 FOR A FREE WEEK AT MAINE AUDUBON SUMMER NATURE CAMP

Middle and high school students living in Hancock County who enter the Downeast Audubon (DEA) essay contest will be eligible to win full scholarships worth $1150 each for one week at Maine Audubon’s youth and teen camps at Hog Island in Bremen, Maine. Up to three scholarships will be awarded to students 10-13 years old, and a fourth scholarship to a student aged 14–17. Entries must be postmarked no later than February 14, 2008.

To apply for the youth nature camp (Aug. 3-9) scholarship, students need to fill out an application form and write a short essay about a favorite bird experience. Middle school essays must be between 250 and 400 words in length, neatly handwritten in pen or typed.

To apply for the high school Coastal Maine Bird Studies camp (June 22-28) scholarship, teens must fill out an application form and write a short essay describing what they would like to gain from a week of closely studying birds. High school essays must be between 400 and 750 words in length. All essays will be judged on creativity, detailed descriptions or narration, grammar, and spelling, and they may be sent to:

Downeast Audubon
PO Box 5267
Ellsworth, Maine 04605

Entrants are asked to include their names on their applications only, as all essay submissions will be judged anonymously. Previous winners may apply only in non-consecutive years. Winners will be announced by March 31st.

Campers at Hog Island (about 60 miles northeast of Portland) learn about nature, themselves, and how they relate to the natural environment. Led by dedicated science and environmental educators, the 50 students in youth camp enjoy forest hikes, boat outings, swimming, and more. Accepting only 13 students each year to the Coastal Maine Bird Studies, the teen camp fosters a warm, personal learning atmosphere. This summer Laurie McLaughlin and Doug Wentzel return as session leaders along with nationally known ornithologists including Scott Weidensaul.

The curriculum is wide-ranging and includes marine science, geology, forest ecology, ornithology, conservation practices, and field and pond studies. Campers awake to the songs of warblers and fall asleep with the sound of the tide lapping at the shore. In between, they roam the spruce-fir forest, fern-filled meadows and rocky beaches.
DEA raised enough money from the 2007 birdathon to add a fourth scholarship to the three traditionally offered for the week at Hog Island. The camp, accessible only by boat and set on a 330-acre wildlife sanctuary, was developed in 1936 to instill appreciation, respect and a sense of stewardship for the natural world.

The Downeast Chapter of Maine Audubon is dedicated to the conservation and protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat in Maine. Downeast Audubon serves all of Hancock County and offers monthly programs and field trips to members and the general public. For more information, please visit www.maineaudubon.org/downeast.