BP, Cooper River Plant

Corporate land managers, educators and students were brought together for two days of a fun and unique educational experience at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s 2008 Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) Education and Outreach Workshop. BP’s Cooper River Plant, in Wando, South Carolina, hosted the 2008 Workshop as part of its two-day Signature of Sustainability celebration on March 14-15. The site maintains WHC certified Wildlife at Work and CLL programs and is a past winner of the prestigious Corporate Habitat of the Year and Corporate Lands for Learning of the Year awards.

On March 14, The Cooper River Plant hosted an event for 70 local school children in honor of their recognition as a WHC Signature of Sustainability. The students visited three stations for bird related fun. At the first station, “Build a Bluebird Box,” BP employees worked with students to build and decorate bluebird nest boxes for the students to take home. For the second station, the Charleston Audubon Society led students on a nature walk. The students learned to use binoculars and observed vultures, a rat snake and even bees. The third station was presided by WHC education staff, which led the students in Bird Olympics and Fill the Bill, lessons from Flying WILD’s curriculum. Kids and adults alike also enjoyed lunch and a “feather raising” presentation from the Center for Birds of Prey, based in Charleston, South Carolina.

The next day , WHC members looking to create CLL programming at their sites and local teachers participated in an all-day professional development experience. Attendees were trained in Flying WILD, the latest educational program from the creators of Project WILD, the Council for Environmental Edcuation. Flying WILD enables middle school age students and community members to learn about migratory bird species and encourages them to hold “bird festivals” to share their knowledge with others—and to celebrate the wonder of their discoveries. The informative and fun programs allow each festival to feature student and volunteer-led activities, along with experts from the local conservation community.

In addition to Flying WILD training, the group enjoyed a “Wood Duck Nest Box Tour” led by Ernie Nelson, habitat manager at BP Cooper River. He outlined the habitat at Cooper River facility, illustrated common tools and methods used to manage for this species, and led participants on trails throughout the site’s wildlife habitat area. Highlights of this tour included an up close look at wood duck eggs, and a view into local history. The group was shown old, abandoned brick kilns, used in the plantation era that still exist on the site.

Participants left their two day experience at Cooper River excited about the potential of Flying WILD for showcasing student research, promoting cooperation between schools and local companies, and using their own wildlife habitats as outdoor learning laboratories.