The Note Card Club

The Xianghai Note Card Club says thanks to their American friends!

By Jim Harris, International Crane Foundation

On January 14, I visited Xianghai Town, and met with the art teacher Shi Yanqiu and 12 students from Xianghai Primary and Middle Schools. Thanks to money raised by Farit and students at Tower Rock Elementary School in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin (USA), Ms. Shi was able to buy art supplies and take the Xianghai students out every Saturday to study nature, make art, and do conservation activities.

In winter at Xianghai, it is very cold. Livestock graze on the winter grass.

Sometimes there are too many goats that can damage the land.

The grass and goat herds have suffered because recent years have had little rain. The cranes could not nest because wetlands dried up. Last August, a big rain filled the wetlands. Now, in winter, the water waits, frozen over the land. The ice will melt in spring, and the birds will be able to nest again.


I call the Xianghai students the Note Card Club, because they are supported by sale of Farit’s note cards. But the Xianghai children also have made note cards, that ICF is selling on our website [please visit http://www.craneshop.org/]. Money from these cards helps the Chinese children continue their activities in 2009. We will be supporting more students in Inner Mongolia in summer.

Here is a picture of the Note Card Club. They have all raised their hands, because their art has improved during these last months, even the teacher’s art!


One of the students named Yue (below) told me,“Cranes are smart. If we love them, they will love us back. “Everyone here cares. I grew up in the nature reserve.

I want to help the cranes. My strength is little, but I will do my best.”


Another student, Gao Yue (below right), said, “We went to Crane Island several times. I remember especially after the water returned. In front of Crane Island was like autumn, behind – with water -- was like summer!

“We did a lot of environmental action, like picking up garbage.”


And a younger student from the primary school, Tianfeng (below right), has learned more about cranes, “After summer, under our teacher’s instruction, we went out every Saturday afternoon. I learned a lot.

“Before, I drew red-crowned cranes with green legs like grass. But then I noticed cranes legs are dark!”


Here are students doing their art. Some of their art has traveled to Milwaukee, where Americans can see how Chinese children love nature and work for conservation.


They thank the American children for their help!