Student Camps in Northeast China

The two banded Siberian Cranes that we are tracking this fall are currently located in Northeast China near several wetland nature reserves that are involved in our Three White Cranes project. This area is an important migration "rest stop" for Siberian Cranes, which may gather in large flocks of over over one thousand birds to rest and feed before continuing their migration. The image below was taken by Russian researcher, Sergei Sleptsov, in October 2007 at Momoge Nature Reserve in northwestern Jilin Province. Perhaps our two banded cranes have stopped to rest in this same area as they journey south this fall!

Since 2000, the International Crane Foundation has partnered with nature reserves in Russia and China to host international environmental camps at the wetland reserves used by the migrating cranes. Summer camps are a strong tradition in both countries, and through this project we are able to combine this tradition with learning about the environment and cranes. Through these camps, teachers and students from the United States, Russia and China learn about wetlands and cranes, along with their shared responsibility in protecting these valuable resources.

This summer, four American teachers from Milwaukee and Racine WI, along with educators from the Amur Region in southeastern Russia, traveled to Northeast China to participate in two student camps at the Xianghai and Keerqin Nature Reserves. Nearly 50 Chinese students and 21 teachers and reserve staff participated in the Xianghai camp, which included training for the local teachers prior to the student activities and focused on the themes of water, wetlands, forests and waterbirds. Following the Xianghai camp, the Russian and American teachers traveled to neighboring Keerqin Nature Reserve to help lead a second camp for 20 local students.

Following are several images from the teacher training and student camp held in July 2008 at the Xianghai reserve (photos by Zhang Juan). To learn more about the Xianghai camp activities, read our previous post Crane Art Six Meters Long...Brings Students Together.