Saint Vincent College is excited to host an Ornithology Camp this June 7^th – 9^th, 2024, on our campus in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Participants will experience birds with hands-on activities that teach them how ornithological research is conducted and how it can be used to protect and care for them in their own backyards. Students entering grades 8-12 in the fall are encouraged to sign up. Enrollment is open until we reach capacity at 12 students. Binoculars issued to each student for use during the weekend.

Ornithology Camp will feature:

• Demonstrations in bird-banding, nest monitoring, song identification, radio-tracking, and surveying
• Presentations on migration, nesting behavior, owls, and raptors
• Lessons in using eBird, the Merlin phone app, and equipment such as binoculars and spotting scopes
• Activities focused on protecting and caring for birds at your home

Tuition:

$300 for overnight participants, includes single room lodging, meals, and bird supplies sent home with students.

$240 for commuter participants, includes meals and bird supplies sent home with students.

A $50 discount will be applied for families with multiple-child enrollment.

If you need financial aid to attend the camp, please contact the camp instructor.

Meet Camp Instructor:

Dr. Jim Kellam is an Associate Professor of Biology at Saint Vincent College where he teaches Ornithology, Conservation Biology, and Wildlife Biology. He is a published expert in woodpecker behavior and currently conducts work on Tree Swallows and Chimney Swifts. He is the Armstrong County Coordinator for Pennsylvania’s Third Bird Atlas and a Research Associate with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. His current collaborations are with PixCams, Inc., Wildbird Recovery, Inc., Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, the Westmoreland Land Trust, and Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve. He and his wife enjoy spending time with their two adult children, fostering cats, swimming, completing triathlons, and singing in their church choir.

Contact: Jim Kellam, james.kellam@stvincent.edu, 724-805-2171