The benefits of Kids First Mini-Grants go far beyond the actual dollar amount granted. They provide kids the opportunity to participate actively in great educational programs, as opposed to sitting at a desk listening to lectures. They help kids learn from one another by socialization and working together. They also give kids practical experience through the application process, from writing the initial grant to follow-up reports. The Jamestown Audubon Society has many programs that provide this value to the younger generation, which is why they were awarded a 2007 Kids First Mini-Grant.

 

The program for which the Audubon received grant funding was titled “Teens Promoting Reptile and Amphibian Conservation.” The youth group that applied for the grant was the Audubon Animal Caretakers. This group is mostly composed of teens that care for various animals on display at the Audubon; however, it is Rex Everett who spearheads much of the group’s work. 

 

Rex is a 16-year-old who has been volunteering at the Audubon for three years, and it was Rex who applied for the Kids First Mini-Grant at the Community Foundation. According to his grant application, Rex stated that the goal of the “Teens Promoting Reptile and Amphibian Conservation” program was to buy quality carrying containers; so that animals kept at the Audubon, as well as some caught in the wild, could be transported to various community events and presentations. The focus of this particular project was on amphibians and reptiles. 

 

The benefit to the community with this project is very simple: The community is provided hands-on education on native wildlife, with many of the presentations given by Rex. Many schools today do not focus on native wildlife, so many youth are now growing up without any knowledge of what lives in the natural environment. Additionally, with reptiles and amphibians, there is a general fear among many young individuals because of a lack of knowledge of these living creatures. As a result, many species are experiencing population decline and even extinction. By bringing reptile and amphibians to local schools and community events, Rex and the Audubon are providing a greater awareness, understanding, and education to this living part of the local environment. Due to this, the fears of many youth are relinquished, and there is now an actual enthusiasm and respect when encountering these creatures.   

 

With his leadership in the “Teens Promoting Reptile and Amphibian Conservation” program, Rex Everett is the perfect example of the Kids First Mini-Grant concept of “kids helping kids.” Even beyond that, this grant is a greater example of one kid “teaching” many other kids. In his work with the Audubon and the Animal Caretakers, Rex has brought forth the point of view of a youth, which translates very well when teaching youth. This has not been lost on the Audubon staff, as they attribute much of the success of Animal Caretakers to Rex’s work.

“Kids helping kids” is what Kids First Mini-Grants are all about, and the aforementioned Audubon grant is this concept at work. If youth are provided an opportunity to learn on their own and succeed, they can accomplish many great things, not just for themselves, but for the entire community. And this equates to a bright future for everyone involved!