Youth Birding Mentors 2026

Are you interested in honing your birding skills and teaching young people to love birding? This seven part certificate course will help you improve your ID skills, help you learn the skills needed to teach youth effectively, and provide training and opportunities for working with NJ Audubon as a Youth Birding Mentor.

Class Dates:

April 30th from 6-7:30pm: Mentor Meet and Greet and Program Introduction

May 14th from 6-7:30pm: Birding by Shape and Color

June 6th from 8-10:30am: Wood Warblers (@ Ramapo Reservation)

July 16th from 6-7:30pm: Teaching Youth Pt. 1

September 17th from 6-7:30pm: Teaching Youth Pt. 2

October 10th from 10am-12pm: Raptor ID

November 28th from 9-11am: Winter Waterfowl (@ DeKorte Park)

December 12th from 10-11:30am: Holiday Potluck and Certification/Next Steps

All classes are in-person at Lorrimer Sanctuary unless stated otherwise.

Optional classes and opportunities to shadow public walks throughout this timeline.

Certified program graduates will be required to get a background check before working as NJ Audubon Youth Birding Mentors.

This program is for adults and teens 14+. All participants require a ticket for this program. One ticket will cover the entire series of classes. Contact Mary Birrer (908-396-6514) if you are interested in joining the program but are unable to make one or more classes.

Also check out other Workshops in Franklin Lakes, Food & Drink events in Franklin Lakes.