Weminuche Audubon Society Announces the

Michael P. Ward Memorial Scholarship

Thanks to the generosity of Joan Ward, in memory of her husband Michael Ward, Weminuche Audubon Society is offering an incredible opportunity for an area student between the ages of 15 and 17 to attend a week long camp this June.  If you have an interest in birds and exploring nature in beautiful surroundings, this is the camp for you.  On The Wing Camp, offered since 1993 by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, is based at the Cal-Wood Education Center outside Jamestown, CO near Boulder.  Cal-Wood offers a remote and beautiful mountain setting on 1200 acres of land.

A new adventure awaits each day when campers explore the birdlife in ecosystems from the grasslands, lakeside, aspen groves, and foothills to mountain areas within Rocky Mtn National Park.  Meet new friends from across the country with similar interests.  With the small number of campers in the program and friendly, knowledgeable staff, the camp is designed to make your experience a blast from beginning to end.

Exciting guest speakers, hiking, birding, fishing and all-camp evening games are just part of the fun.  Campers have the opportunity to work in small groups to experience the science behind bird conservation by learning from professionals the techniques used, and assist in designing a research project tailored to individual camper interests.

The camp in 2025 takes place from June 19 to 27.  Detailed information on the camp may be found on the website birdconservancy.org.

To apply for the scholarship, students should submit an essay of 400-600 words describing his or her experiences in the outdoors and reasons for wishing to attend the camp, along with a letter of recommendation from an adult who is not a relative. Proof of health insurance is required by the camp.  Submissions must be received by Weminuche Audubon Society by March 1 and may be sent by email to weminuche.audubon@gmail.com or by mail to PO Box 1087, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147.  Questions may be directed to Jean Zirnhelt at 970-731-2985. After attending camp, the student selected by the Weminuche Audubon Society Scholarship Committee is expected to meet with Weminuche Audubon representatives to share highlights of the camp experience.

Past recipients have been Martin Cuntz from Escalante Middle School (2015), Jack Maher from Escalante Middle School (2016), Olivia Gilbert from Pagosa Springs Middle School (2017) , Anneka Slead from Pagosa Springs Middle School(2018), Marie Smith from Pagosa Springs Middle School(2019), Lucas Huddleston from Pagosa Springs High School (2019) and Evan Tweedie from Durango Miller Middle School(2019), Peyton Jackson from Pagosa Springs High School(2023), and Lillian Graham from Goal Academy(2024).

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity and fun experience.