Mike,
Encouraging young birders in this country could in the long run be of
more benefit to these countries. Tourism, though it does not touch
everyone economically, brings a lot of influence. Who knows, maybe our
young birders will drop off their binoculars that have been donated when
they visit these countries that schools have piqued their interest in.
Students in this society usually choose a lot of material objects over
binoculars. If we put them in their hands, a lot of good things can happen.

Barry Levine
Newport High School
4333 128th St
Bellevue,Wa 98006
levineb at belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us

On Fri, 17 Jan 1997, Michael Seamans (Write Stuff) wrote:

> I fully support encouraging young birders, but I think if folks have
> binoculars they want to donate, they should donate them to organizations
> in developing countries that run environmental education programs. The
> woman who runs the Belize Zoo runs programs like this, as does ProNatura
> in Mexico. These organizations often run on budgets smaller than many
> American households. Donating binocs to suburban American kids or to
> American school systems (even with their tightening budgets) seems a bit
> much to me. The average kid could give up a pair or two of new Air
> Nikes if he or she wants some binocs. I can get some addresses from
> organizations that would be excited to receive your old binocs or scopes
> if you need them.
>
> Mike Seamans
> Seattle, WA
> a-mikese at microsoft.com
>
> >--------
> >From: Peggi & Ben Rodgers[SMTP:woodduck at cruzio.com]
> >At 11:01 AM 1/17/97 -0800, you wrote:
> >>
> >> ummmm... more mature age groups,
> >>and was there a way to encourage younger birders? Perhaps SAS or
> >>even Tweeters could start a fund specifically to supply binos and
> >>field guides for schools.
> >>
> >That's a great idea, Kelly! Perhaps when some of us upgrade we could donate
> >the old bins to the kids?
> >
> >"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
> > It sings because it has a song"
> >
> >
>