The Power of a Young Ambassador

What the Cavity Conservation Initiative did yesterday at Caspers Park in San Juan Capistrano, California was not unusual.  We participated in its annual Outdoors Adventures Day.    But the dollop of cream for our booth this year was fourteen year-old volunteer, Tomas Dardis.  He talked tirelessly about cavity nesting birds and their need for dead trees.  From 10am to 3pm!  All ages, from toddlers and seniors, were intrigued.  If you looked on from the shadows every once in a while as I did, you would have noticed several things.  When Tomas spoke kids usually listened more attentively.  They stayed longer.  Their parents took a greater interest in the topic.  Kids and parents were engaged with each other!!  This is the power of a young ambassador!

Tomas (far left) talks about the Barn Owl’s adaptations for silent flight

Yes, we know our eye-catching booth featuring our toy mascot, Mr. Edison Woodpecker, makes kids pull their parents in our direction.  But do we need a scientific study to tell us what we already know intuitively?  When a youngster publicly advocates for a natural resource, people pause.  Sometimes in the milliseconds of that pause there is an internal thought process that determines whether they turn away or stay.  We’ll never know exactly what it is, but I suspect it often goes like this:

This kid knows something I don’t.  He cares about it.  He has the courage to stand here and talk to strangers about  it.  It may be important.  It might even be interesting. Perhaps I should listen.

Let’s help our youth understand their power to make a difference.  And please join us in applauding Tomas Dardis and well as our host, Orange County Parks, for supporting such an engaging nature appreciation event!