BRONX RIVER-SOUND SHORE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM  

            One of the efforts that we are most proud of at Bronx River-Sound Shore Audubon is our youth scholarship program. Each summer we assist a few youngsters who could not otherwise attend conservation/wildlife camp experiences. Below is a letter we received from Adrian Lawrence from Mount Vernon . Adrian was the first boy we have sponsored to attend one of Audubon’s Vermont Youth Camps. This is what he had to say. When you finish reading it, we hope you’ll agree that this is a valuable program that we only wish we could afford to expand even more.  

            “Thank you for the opportunity to attend the Audubon Vermont Youth Camp this summer. I learned many things that I would not encounter in my normal day to day life and finally experienced what it is like to be in the great outdoors.  

            I enjoyed studying reptiles and was enlightened by the fact that a reptile or amphibian can be found under any rock, and how some reptiles look alike for protection. The most exciting part of my trip was when we caught a snake called the eastern racer. It was the first time this species was seen in Vermont in seventeen years! The best part about it is that it goes in the record books that we found it.

            Another great thing about camp was that most of us came from different backgrounds. Some people came from Pennsylvania , others from Vermont and a few from Massachusetts . I, however, was the only one from New York . Everyone wanted to know what it was like living in New York, what rap music was all about and what some of the phrases meant. I also learned to appreciate rock music and surprisingly even enjoyed listening to some of the songs.  

            All of those things were great but the best thing about camp was that all week we slept outdoors. It was my first time so I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it was going to be very comfortable, quiet, and serene. I didn’t expect the ground to be so hard. Then there were the bugs – a lot of bugs that seem to be immune to insect repellant. Last but not least, was that almost everyone else was snoring. Other than these couple of things the experience was good. Everyone had to pitch in and do chores. The only chore that I liked doing was cooking dinner. I even had the chance to describe a few Jamaican dishes to everyone.  

Overall I had a wonderful time. It was a very good and interesting experience and I appreciated the opportunity to be a part of it.”

                                                                                    Adrian Lawrence

Copyright©2004 Bronx River ~ Sound Shore Audubon Society

Dr. John Moyle (914) 723-4609