RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION and EDUCATION

African Spotted Eagle owl

The Raptor Research Foundation (RRF) is a non-profit scientific society whose primary goal is the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls). This information is used to inform the public (both scientific and lay) about the role of raptors in nature, and to promote the conservation of raptors whose populations are threatened by human activities.

One of RRF’s primary roles is to inform the public about raptors and raptor conservation. Education is vital in meeting this goal. Through research, RRF contributes to the knowledge base of conservation professionals and other interested parties. The RRF’s Education Committee seeks to expand the ways it informs the public by revising research about raptors and making relevant information available to educators and the lay-public through a variety of methods.

Today, educators have a wide range of teaching tools and educational challenges that did not exist a generation ago. Techniques like listing terms or writing a book report about a species no longer inspire and motivate children to be active learners. Modern education seeks to take advantage of technology and “hands-on learning” techniques that excite the learner and make information applicable.

To assist educators and the general public, the RRF seeks to deliver its educational message through technology and experiential learning opportunities that both educate and motivate. To help fulfil the RRF’s purpose of informing the public “about the role of raptors in nature” and “promote the conservation of raptors’’ we seek to provide educational resources that lead people of all ages to explore raptors and become involved in their conservation.

Turkey Vultures

Through the RRF website we will strive to offer educational resources from a variety of perspectives. Some educational offerings will be crafted from published raptor research so learners can explore science from the experiences of professional researchers. Other offerings will come from experiential learning activities that help people learn first-hand from information they gather themselves.

It is important to remember that, as people, we never stop learning. As we learn we develop an appreciation for the topic. That appreciation often leads to a sense of value. Learners come in all ages. We all seek to help people of all ages appreciate the value of raptors and their conservation.