Cte Butrubon Societies: 



SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 



Edited by ALICE HALL 'WALTER 



Address all communications relative to the work of this depart- 

 ment to the Editor, 67 Oriole Avenue, Providence, R. 1. 



BIRD CLUBS 



The question is sometimes asked, and quite legitimately: ''What becomes of 

 a Junior Audubon Society after its first year of existence?" To say that a 

 Junior Audubon Society has only a year's existence, and a school-year's at 

 that, is hardly answering the question fairly. 



It is true that Societies of this kind are not permanent, and from the nature 

 of their formation, never can be made so. However, the fact of their organiza- 

 tion and existence, brief as this may seem, goes to show that there is a place 

 for them, and not only a place but a real need. The Junior Audubon idea is of 

 permanent value, and its perennial growth is a matter for reflection. What does 

 it signify that hundreds of societies are constantly being organized in the name 

 of Audubon among the school-children throughout our country? Hardly less 

 than this, that a gradual awakening to nature is taking place. Each Junior 

 Audubon Society is a mark of progress toward a great ideal, the love and 

 conservation of nature. 



The strength of these juvenile societies lies in the great numbers which 

 they reach, and, though their influence may seem merely temporary, a mind 

 once awakened to a great idea can hardly fail to react to it, whenever it may 

 subsequently be presented. The weakness of these societies lies in their lack 

 of permanency, for many children are left without a further opportunity of 

 enjoying the benefits of leadership and organization, just at the time when 

 they have really become interested in bird- and nature-study. 



How to overcome this difficulty successfully is a problem which belongs to 

 the State Audubon Societies far more than to the National Association. The 

 latter, having once accomplished its mission of providing the leaven of a 

 love for nature, must leave the task of guarding and increasing this leaven to 

 others. Teachers are far too pressed with regular duties to follow up the mem- 

 bership of a Junior Audubon Society, and to organize those who are sufficiently 

 interested into a permanent club. 



State Audubon Societies might well take up the work where teachers are 

 obliged to drop it. Undoubtedly, each Junior Audubon Society would furnish 

 its quota towards a community Bird- or Nature-Study Club, if the right steps 

 were taken at the opportune moment. The following statement of conditions 

 and plans for cooperation, from a correspondent, shows the fine spirit in which 

 work of this kind may be carried out: "I am a woman of sixty-one, more than 



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